We have heard about lots of people who got an ITA but their application got returned, or even worse, rejected. When you are doing something as big as moving to a new country, you’ve got to be extra careful when you submit your application. A small mistake can delay your plans by months.
Let’s talk about some of the most common mistakes made by people who applied before you. Please make sure you don’t make the same mistake otherwise you may have to start all over again.
1. Missing documents
This is one of the biggest reasons why many applications get returned. Thoroughly read the list of documents that you need to provide. Re-read the instructions in your ITA. If you are not sure which document to attach, just provide extra documents. More is never a problem, less is.
Some applicants make the mistake of uploading documents one on top of the other. You can upload only one file under each section. For example, under the education section, you will be able to upload only one PDF file even if you have multiple degrees. In such cases, combine all your files in one PDF and then attach. Some people think they can attach multiple files and keep uploading one document after another without realizing that every new document is replacing the previously uploaded document.
2. Misrepresentation
Mentioning anything untrue in your application can not only get your application rejected but can also get you barred from entering Canada. If you want to embellish your profile thinking it’s just a small thing, it will get noticed and IRCC won’t think of it as something small. For example, if you have a Master’s degree but your ECA report marks it as Bachelor’s then claim points for Bachelor’s in your Express Entry profile.
3. Mistakes in application
If your name is misspelled in your application or date of birth is incorrectly written, expect it to get rejected. It is easy to make mistakes in such a big process, so triple check everything yourself and also ask a family member to verify everything for you. Sometimes, there are mistakes that you won’t catch but someone else may point them out right away.
4. Not adding a Letter of Explanation
Not everyone needs to add a letter of explanation but if you have something that may be confusing for the visa officer, then you must add a letter of explanation. It’s just a regular letter with no template and where you can explain anything about any document.
For example, Trisha had the entire name written under the First Name section on the passport while the Last Name section was blank. Obviously, the name in the passport was different from every other document because of that. So, we added a letter of explanation mentioning that the entire name had been erroneously written under the First Name in the passport. At least the immigration officer was able to understand why the name was written differently in other documents.
5. Mismatch between NOC and work experience letter
You have to be very careful while selecting your NOC. Just having a matching job title is not enough. Your actual work duties on the work experience letter should also broadly match with the job duties mentioned in the NOC you select. In fact, it is okay to have a different job title as long as the job duties are matching. That’s what IRCC cares about – what you did, not what fancy title your company bestowed upon you.
6. Incomplete work experience letter
Your work experience letter should clearly spell out the details of your employment contract. For example, it should say that you were working full time with the number of hours you worked for per week, if you were indeed working full time. It should also mention your job title, remuneration, joining and leaving date, and whether you were a permanent employee or not. Most importantly, it should have your job duties listed. Failing to provide the experience letter with all the details will get your application rejected because you were claiming points for work experience.
7. Failing to disclose changes in situation
It won’t be a big deal if you fail to update your new address with IRCC. But after submitting the application, let’s say you got married or had a kid, or if you did anything that makes you ineligible to apply, and you did not disclose it, your application can get rejected on the grounds of misrepresentation. It’s better to withdraw the application and apply again than getting your application refused along with a ban on entry.
8. Appearing for incorrect language test
Not only do you need to write your language test through the IRCC’s approved agencies but you also need to select the right test format. For example, if you choose the IELTS test for English, then you must select the “General Training” test. If you did the “Academic” test by mistake, your test results will become invalid for immigration.
Related Topics
Process of PR application
Preparing your application
Express Entry draws and cut offs