tugrularas/irccfaq huggingface dataset:
Question: What happens if I owe IRCC money? Will you call to ask for unpaid fees?
Answer: Yes, if you owe IRCC money, a collection agent from IRCC might contact you by email, mail or phone. IRCC agents will always identify themselves.
You won’t be deported because you owe money. Collection agents will work with you to make a payment agreement.
If you have an immigration loan under the Immigration Loan Program (ILP), please call us toll-free at 1-800-667-7301 (available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., ET) or email us.
If you owe money to IRCC as a result of

an overpayment on Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)
an unpaid administrative monetary penalty (AMP) for businesses
a grants and contributions (G&Cs) overpayment
an employee debt
a chargeback on visa and permit applications
a chargeback on passport fees or
any other debt due (i.e., court costs)

Please call us toll free at 1-888-448-4426 (available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., ET) or email us.
Help protect yourself and others by reporting immigration fraud. Find out how to report suspicious calls, text messages or emails about your visa application or immigration status.
Question: How do I pay online if I don’t have a credit card or a bank account?
Answer: If you don’t have a credit card or a bank account, you can pay with a prepaid or secured credit card instead. We accept cards from:

Visa®
MasterCard®
American Express®
JCB®
UnionPay® (online applications only)

You can often find prepaid credit cards at grocery and convenience stores.
If you use a prepaid credit card, keep it for at least 18 months after you pay to make refunds easier.
Get a higher limit directly from a bank
If you need a higher limit than what you can get at the store, many banks offer prepaid and secured credit cards with limits between $1000 and $5000 per day.
Each bank has slightly different rules for prepaid and secured cards. In many cases, you will not need to have an account with the bank.
Check with a local bank branch for more information.
Don’t pay with anything else
We don't accept Western Union, MoneyGram or other similar forms of payment. We would never ask you to pay using one of these methods. If someone contacts you and asks you to pay this way, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Find out how to pay your fees.
Question: If I have not paid my fees, will you have me arrested or deported?
Answer: We would not use law enforcement agencies to arrest you for not paying fees. If someone threatens you with this, it is not a legitimate call.
If you think a call is suspicious, you should:

ask for the name and number of the agent, and
call the Call Centre to confirm the agent’s identity.

If you received a suspicious call, hang up immediately and:

call your local police if you lost money.
report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Question: Will you ask me for personal information over the phone?
Answer: No. We take many steps to protect the privacy of your information. If your file is closed or you are a permanent resident, we would not contact you by telephone. 
To avoid getting scammed, remember that IRCC does not:

collect money or payments by phone or prepaid credit cards or through a private money transfer service provider (e.g. Pay Pal or MoneyGram). See how to pay your fees to know how IRCC collects payments.
ask you to confirm basic personal information you already provided on a form.

If you think the caller is a scammer:

ask for the name and number of the agent, and 
call the Call Centre to confirm the agent’s identity.

If you received a suspicious call, hang up immediately and:

call your local police if you lost money.
report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Question: I received threats from someone who says they are from the immigration department. Is it a scam?
Answer: If someone posing as an immigration official threatens to arrest, deport, assault or kidnap you, it is a scam. Our staff would never behave in this way.
It is a scam if you are told you will be arrested, go to jail, lose your visa or status, be deported, or have your account suspended if you don’t pay money or give your personal information.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will not contact you in person, online or over the telephone to collect fees or fines to avoid deportation or other consequences. 
Be aware: Scammers often give a fake name and agent number to appear legitimate. If you think the caller is a scammer:

ask for the name and number of the agent, and 
call the Call Centre to confirm the agent’s identity.

If you received suspicious threats:

call your local police if you lost money.
Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. 

Find out more about how to report fraud.
Question: If you return my application, will I get a refund?
Answer: Yes, you’ll get a refund if we return your application. We’ll return your application if

it was incomplete
it was received before the program re-opened
the program was full

We’ll only refund the biometrics fee if

you didn’t give your biometrics, or
you gave your biometrics by mistake (for example, you provided biometrics even though you were exempt)

Refunds can take up to eight weeks to complete. If you’ve been waiting longer, submit a refund request.
Question: Why are there differences between the status I see in the Check application status tool (CAS) and in my account?
Answer: Your online statuses may be different depending on which tool you use because:

your online account:
    
provides status for each step needed to process your application and
is updated in real-time.


the Check application status tool:
    
provides a general status and 
is updated daily.



Your online account provides the most up-to-date status for your application.
Question: Which applications can I link to an IRCC secure account?
Answer: By linking an application to your secure IRCC online account, you can get more detailed status updates.

Once your application is linked, we’ll send all of your messages about your application to your IRCC secure account.
If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to first create a secure IRCC account, then link your application.

The following applications can be linked to a secure IRCC online account:

Interim Federal Health Program
Permanent residence
		
Agri-Food Pilot
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
				
High-Skilled Program
Intermediate-Skilled Program
International Graduate Program


Atlantic Immigration Program
Canadian Experience Class
Caregivers
				
Home Child Care Provider Pilot
Home Support Worker Pilot
In-Canada live-in caregivers
Caring for children
Caring for people with high medical needs


Express Entry profile
Family sponsorship (excluding applications to become a sponsor)
Federal skilled trades
Federal skilled worker
In-Canada protected persons and convention refugees (excluding dependants’ applications)
Provincial Nominee Program
Quebec entrepreneurs
Quebec investors
Quebec-selected skilled worker
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Self-employed persons (including Quebec)
Start-up visa
Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway (TR to PR Pathway)


Permanent resident card
Temporary residence
		
International Experience Canada (IEC)
Study permit and extension
Visitor visa
Visitor record
Work permit and extension



More programs will be added at a later date.
If your application isn’t available to be linked to an IRCC secure account, use the Check application status tool or check application processing times.
Question: Why was I locked out of my IRCC secure account when I tried to link an application?
Answer: There could be a few reasons why you couldn’t link your application.

No applications were found that match the information you provided.

The information you enter to link an application must match exactly the information you put on the application when you submitted it.
				
If you contacted us after you applied and updated any information, including passport information, provide the most recent information.


For more troubleshooting tips, read When trying to link my application to my IRCC secure account, it says there are no matches. What’s going on?



You tried to link and application more than 5 times.
You can try to link an application up to 5 times. If it doesn’t work after 5 tries, you’ll be locked out for 24 hours.
Question: When trying to link my application to my IRCC secure account, it says there are no matches. What’s going on?
Answer: There could be a few reasons why you can’t link your application. 


Your application is not in our system yet.
If you applied by mail or in person, it may take some time before we enter your information in our system. Once we enter, you’ll be able to link your application.


You selected the wrong application category.
For some programs, there are different categories you can be invited to apply under. If you were invited to apply under a specific category, make sure you select the right one.

For the Canadian experience class, select “Canadian Experience Class” as the sub-category, not “Express Entry”. Similarly, for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program, choose the matching sub-category.
For any work permit through International Experience Canada (including open work permits), select the subcategory “International Experience Canada.”



The information provided does not match what is in our system
The system will only link an application if the information you enter matches the application exactly. Make sure you don’t have any extra spaces before or after what you type into each field.
If you contacted us after you applied and updated any information, including passport information, provide the most recent information.
These are the most common issues experienced when trying to link an application.

Enter your name as it appears on your passport if you applied on paper. This is what we enter into our system.
If you’re applying for family sponsorship, in the last question, “Number of family members, including the primary applicant, that are part of this application”, also include the sponsor and the co-signer (if applicable). The number entered will be at least 2.
If you selected the option Place of Birth under Applicant’s personal information, enter the “City/town of birth” as it appears on your passport (if applicable) or the IMM 0008 form, if no passport information was provided.
Question: What happens after I link an application to an IRCC secure account?
Answer: After you link the application, it appears under the “View my submitted applications or profiles” section on the main account page. Click “Check status and messages” to see the application status and messages about the application.
If you see “Linking in progress,” check back again later.
Once your application is linked, you’ll receive messages about your application through your IRCC secure account. You will no longer receive letters about your application by mail.
See also Why are there differences between the status I see in the Check application status tool (CAS) and in my account?
Question: I live in St. Pierre and Miquelon and am a citizen of France. I want to travel to Canada by air. Do I need an eTA?
Answer: You do not need an eTA to:

enter Canada directly from St. Pierre and Miquelon by air, or
to return to St. Pierre and Miquelon if you only visited Canada.

See also I live in St. Pierre and Miquelon and am a citizen of France returning to St. Pierre and Miquelon by air from a country other than Canada. Do I need an eTA?
Question: I live in St. Pierre and Miquelon and am a citizen of a country other than France. I want to travel to Canada by air. Do I need an eTA?
Answer: If you are a citizen of a country other than France, you may need an eTA or a visa. It depends on your nationality. Find out if you need an eTA or a visa to come to Canada.
Question: I live in St. Pierre and Miquelon and am a citizen of France returning to St. Pierre and Miquelon by air from a country other than Canada. Do I need an eTA?
Answer: If you are a citizen of France who plans to return to St. Pierre and Miquelon by air from a country other than Canada but transit through a Canadian airport, you need an eTA. Apply now.
Question: When I visit Canada, I want to travel to St. Pierre and Miquelon by air. What document(s) do I need to return to Canada?
Answer: You can come back to Canada with the documents you initially came in with, as long as they are still valid. Make sure your travel document, and eTA or visa has not expired.
Question: I applied for an eTA on a different website. How do I verify if I have a real eTA?
Answer: To confirm that you have a valid eTA, use the eTA Check Status tool. You need to provide the following information:

eTA application number, and 
details from the passport you used to apply
    
passport number
passport country of issuance
issue date, and
expiry date



After submitting these details, you will see information about your eTA on the status screen. The Government of Canada website is the official place to apply for an eTA. Even authorized third parties that apply on behalf of someone have to use this website to apply for an eTA.
If it has been more than 72 hours since you applied and if you do not see any information or get an error message when you use the Check Status tool, complete this enquiry form. Note: It can take us several days to answer your enquiry.
Question: I have been charged more than CAN$7 my eTA on another website. I think I have been scammed. How can I find out and can I get a refund?
Answer: You may have used a legitimate third party service that charges more to get an eTA. These companies do not operate on behalf of the Government of Canada, but have websites that charge extra fees to give information and submit an eTA application to the Government of Canada website. 
The Government of Canada does not issue refunds for extra fees charged by third party websites.
Find out if your eTA is valid
As a first step, use the eTA Check Status tool. Enter the following information:

eTA application number, and 
details from the passport you used to apply
    
passport number
passport country of issuance
issue date
expiry date



After submitting these details, you will see information about your eTA on the status screen. This information will confirm whether you are authorized to travel to Canada.
If it has been more than 72 hours since you applied and if you do not see any information or get an error message when you use the Check Status tool, complete this enquiry form. Note: It can take us several days to answer your enquiry.
If, once the Government of Canada reviews your enquiry, it is confirmed that you do not have an eTA and there is no application in your name, follow these steps:

If you are outside of Canada:
    
contact your local police. 


If you are in Canada:
    
follow the instructions at Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre or call 1-888-495-8501 toll-free.
Question: I see other websites advertising that I can apply for an eTA with them. Is there more than one website to apply for an eTA?
Answer: No. The Government of Canada website is the official place to apply for an eTA. Even authorized third parties that apply on behalf of someone else have to use this website to apply for an eTA. To find out if you need an eTA, answer the questions at the start of this website’s application form.
Travellers who apply for an eTA are advised to be cautious in all dealings with companies that claim to offer help in getting an eTA. Although many of these companies have created websites that charge a fee to provide information and submit eTA applications through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), these companies are NOT operating on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Read more on how to protect yourself.
Question: I have not been able to submit an eTA application because of technical issues (with the payment or the application form). Can I still fly to Canada?
Answer: No. eTA is a mandatory entry requirement. If you have not been able to get an eTA, you should not plan or undertake any travel to Canada.
If you try to apply again  but still have technical issues, complete this enquiry form.

Provide as many details  as possible about the problem you encountered. Note: It can take us several  days to answer your enquiry.

If you decide to travel to Canada without an eTA, you will experience delays or be prevented from boarding your flight to Canada.
Question: I submitted an eTA application, but have not received any emails from IRCC. Can I still travel to Canada?
Answer: No. eTA is a mandatory entry requirement. You should not travel to Canada until a decision is made on your eTA application.
In most cases, applicants receive a confirmation email from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within minutes of applying for an eTA. However, some applications can take several days to process.
If you are leaving for Canada soon, you may want to reschedule your flight.
Check the junk/spam mail folder of the email address you provided on your eTA application form. Some spam filters may block automated emails from IRCC. 
If you have not received an email confirmation with an application number within 72 hours of applying, you will need to fill out this Web form:

Under “Type of application” select “Electronic Travel Authorization”, then “Case Specific Enquiries”.
Provide as many details as possible about the problem you encountered. Note: It can take us several days to answer your inquiry.
Question: I got an email confirmation from IRCC that my eTA application was received, but nothing since then. Can I still travel to Canada?
Answer: No. eTA is a mandatory entry requirement. You should not travel to Canada until a decision is made on your application.
Some applications can take several days to process.
If you are leaving for Canada soon, you may want to reschedule your flight.
Check the junk/spam mail folder of the email address you provided on your eTA application form. Some spam filters may block automated emails from IRCC.
If you have not received an email confirmation with an application number within 72 hours of applying, you will need to fill out this Web form:

Under “Type of application” select “Electronic Travel Authorization”, then “Case Specific Enquiries”.
Provide as many details as possible about the problem you encountered. Note: It can take us several days to answer your inquiry.
Question: I cannot submit the additional documents required for my eTA application by the requested deadline. Can I still travel to Canada?
Answer: No. Electronic travel authorization is a mandatory entry requirement. You should not travel to Canada until a decision is made on your application. If you’re leaving for Canada soon, you may want to consider rescheduling your flight.
If you’re not sure how to submit the documents requested for your eTA application, follow these step-by-step instructions.
If you’re waiting for someone (police department, doctor) to send you documents and can’t submit them by the deadline, you can submit an extension request through the IRCC secure account.

To find out how to submit an extension request, check step 4 of the step-by-step instructions and watch video 4: Find out what documents you need to submit.

If you’re having technical problems uploading the documents and can’t submit them by the deadline, use this web form to request an extension.
Question: My application for an eTA was refused. Can I still travel to Canada?
Answer: If your application was refused, you should not travel to Canada. If you try to travel to Canada with a refused eTA, you will be prevented from boarding your flight.
We encourage you to reapply for an eTA only once you have addressed the reason(s) leading to the refusal of your application.
Question: How can I get a copy of my receipt after paying my fees?
Answer: There are different ways to get a copy of your receipt depending on how you paid and applied.




Your application and payment method
How to get a copy of your receipt





You paid online

for an eTA
through the Employer Portal




Your receipt is only available on the receipt screen immediately following your payment.
You cannot get another copy of your receipt after you leave the receipt screen.





You applied online and paid directly within the application

Temporary resident visa
Study permit
Work permit
Express Entry
Proof of citizenship (citizenship certificate)
Search of citizenship records



We’ll email you a copy of your receipt when you apply. To get copies of your past receipts you’ll need your receipt number.
If you don’t already have your receipt number

Sign in to your account.
Check your status and messages
Your receipt number will be in your submission confirmation message.

Create a new account or log in with our payment service.

This is not the same account you used to apply.
Enter your receipt number in the search box under “My receipts”.




You applied online and attached a receipt to your online application

We’ll email you a copy of your receipt. To get copies of your past receipts

sign in to your payment service account
select “View all receipts” from the menu bar




You applied on paper and paid online

We’ll email you a copy of your receipt. To get copies of your past receipts

sign in to your payment service account
select “View all receipts” from the menu bar




You applied on paper and paid at a bank in Canada
Contact the bank you paid with to see if they have a copy of your receipt.



You paid any other way, such as

at a bank outside Canada
with a bank draft
with money order
with pre-authorized credit card form


Use the web form to ask for copy of your receipt.
Question: I can’t access my online payment account to get a copy of my receipt. What can I do?
Answer: If you paid online for a paper application and can’t see the receipt on your account or can’t access your account, contact us using our web form. 
See also: How can I get a copy of my receipt after paying my fees?
Question: Why is my online payment being refused?
Answer: You may be 

entering the wrong information
using a card that we don’t accept
using a card that doesn’t have 3DS 2.0 confirmation activated
entering your billing address before selecting your country

Check your payment details
The information you enter must match what your financial institution has on file for your account. Check your account statement to make sure you’re entering your payment details the same way.
Sometimes, when your payment details don’t match, your financial institution will hold the amount of the transaction for a few days. Delays might be different depending on your financial institution. Contact your financial institution for more information on holds.
Make sure we accept your card
We accept:

Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express® or JCB® credit cards (including prepaid cards)
Visa® Debit and Debit MasterCard® (for online applications only), and
UnionPay® (for online applications only; debit cards not accepted)

Debit card users must be enrolled in online banking to pay their fees online.
Check that your card has 3DS 2.0 confirmation activated

Online payments for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada services require 3DS 2.0 (3-D Secure protocol) confirmation. This adds an extra layer of security for online credit and debit card transactions. 
The confirmation process might be different depending on your financial institution. In most cases, you’ll have to enter a code received by phone to complete the transaction.
Contact your financial institution and confirm if

your credit or debit card is set up properly to accept 3DS 2.0 verification
the phone number associated with your card is accurate


When entering your billing address, select the country first
If you live outside Canada and the United States, the State/Province field will show Not Applicable and ZIP/Postal Code will not be required.
Question: I tried to pay online but it was incomplete. Why is it showing on my bank statement?
Answer: Normally, banks will remove an incomplete or refused payment from your account within a few days. Contact your bank to find out exactly how long it will take.
If your payment was incomplete but was still charged to your account, you can request a refund.