You’ve finally received your long-awaited Invitation To Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada! Congratulations! It’s a huge accomplishment and the first step towards making your Canadian dreams a reality.

But unfortunately, not everyone who receives an ITA will be approved for permanent residence. In fact, each year, thousands of ITAs are issued but only a fraction of those people will ultimately be successful in their applications. Why? Because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is very particular about who they invite to apply and who they ultimately approve for permanent residence.

There are many reasons why an application can be refused, we’ll be focusing on the top 5 reasons why applicants are refused after receiving an ITA. Avoiding these 5 reasons will significantly increase your chances of having a successful application. So without further ado, here they are:

1. Non-Compliance with IRCC Regulations
The first and most common reason for refusal is non-compliance with Canadian immigration regulations. This can take many different forms such as providing inaccurate or false information on your application, failing to meet the eligibility criteria for your program, or failing to provide required documentation.

It’s important to remember that IRCC officers are trained to spot inaccuracies and inconsistencies in applications and supporting documents. They have access to many different resources and databases and if something doesn’t add up, they will refuse your application. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that everything in your application is accurate and up-to-date before you submit it. If you’re not sure about something or need help understanding immigration regulations, please consult with a qualified immigration professional.

2. Medical Inadmissibility
One of the most common reasons for refusal is medical inadmissibility. In order for applicants to be eligible for permanent residence, they must not pose a danger to public health or safety or put undue strain on Canada’s healthcare system.

Applicants who have certain health conditions or who have been diagnosed with a communicable disease may be found medically inadmissible. Pregnant women and children under 22 years old must also undergo a medical exam but are typically not found medically inadmissible unless they have a serious health condition.

3. Criminal Inadmissibility
Another common reason for refusal is criminal inadmissibility which means that applicants with certain types of criminal convictions may not be eligible for permanent residence. The severity of the crime as well as how long ago it occurred are factors that will be considered when determining criminal inadmissibility.

For example, someone who was convicted of a minor offense such as shoplifting may still be eligible for permanent residence while someone convicted of murder would not be eligible regardless of how long ago the conviction occurred. If you have any concerns about whether your criminal history will affect your eligibility, please consult with a qualified immigration professional prior to applying for permanent residence.

4. Missing Documents
Another unavoidable and common mistake that applicants do, is they do not provide the correct documentation when submitting the application. An example would be not proving the correct form of marriage certificates, birth certificates, educational qualifications, or work experience letters, the list can go on. IRCC needs the documents in specific formats, issued by specific authorities depending on which authority issued them. It is important to note every document has a requirement to meet for it to be accepted by IRCC, consult a qualified immigration professional, if in doubt.

Not to forget all documents not in English or French are to be translated by an authorized translator.

5. Eligibility Issues
Getting an ITA does not automatically make you eligible for permanent residence in Canada. An interesting aspect of getting an ITA is that you always have to reverify your eligibility again before submitting your application.

ITAs are issued for information that is on the IRCC system on the date and time the applicant received the ITA. However, there are certain conditions in which you could lose points and you may no longer be eligible. For example, you just married immediately after getting ITA but before submitting your application, your points will need to be recalculated, to ensure you are still eligible.

Another example is you put incorrect work experience in error, you got more points than you should have, so you got the ITA, now when you submit the application you realize the information you entered did not match with your work experience letter, again you need to recalculate and ensure you are still eligible.

There are many nuts and bolts to a Canadian permanent residence application, and as you can see, there are many different reasons why an application for permanent residence can be refused by IRCC. Some of these reasons are within the control of the applicant while others are not. The best way to avoid having your application refused is by ensuring that you meet all the eligibility criteria and providing accurate and up-to-date information on your application form as well as ALL required supporting documents.

It is important to note that these reasons for refusal are not exhaustive, and each application is evaluated on its own merits. Consulting with an authorized immigration representative or seeking guidance from the appropriate Canadian immigration authorities can provide valuable assistance in preparing an application and avoiding potential refusal.

If you’re ever unsure about anything or need help understanding immigration regulations, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified immigration professional for assistance.

You can book a consultation for case-specific queries.

Turningstone Immigration Consulting is a full-service Immigration consultancy. Our services are provided by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB).

We deal in all types of immigration-related applications, like Permanent Residence (PR), Study Permits, Work Permits, PGWP, Visit Visa (Temporary Resident Visas), Super Visa, Family Sponsorships for PR Applications, Refusals, and much more. Contact Us Today.