tugrularas/irccfaq huggingface dataset:
Question: How do I get a GCKey credential?
Answer: To register for a GCKey, go to the sign in page and click the “Continue to GCKey” button.
Then, choose a user name and a password. It’ll ask you to create security questions. Keep a copy of this in a safe place in case you forget.
Question: What does the immigration category on my Confirmation of Permanent Residence document mean?
Answer: When we approve an immigrant for permanent residence in Canada, we will give them a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document. An immigration officer at the port of entry or an IRCC office signs and dates this document when permanent residence is finally granted. Permanent residents use this document to show to provincial and territorial organizations to access services. There is an immigration category printed on this document.
Learn more about the immigration categories used on the COPR.
Question: What is the application process for the Start-up Visa Program?
Answer: First, you must pitch your business idea to a designated organization and convince it to support your start-up company. Once a designated organization decides to support your business, it will send us a commitment certificate and give you a letter of support.
The process to pitch your idea varies for each designated organization. You must contact the designated organization to find out what you must do to seek its support. If you meet all eligibility criteria, you can submit a completed application, which must include your letter of support.
Question: What is the difference between support from venture capital funds, angel investor groups, and business incubators?
Answer: To get support from a venture capital fund or an angel investor group, you need a sizable investment from them.
To get support from a business incubator, you must be accepted into a designated Canadian business incubator program. Getting into these programs is a competitive process with limited spots available.
Contact a designated organization to find out how to get their support.
Question: Who will review my Start-up Visa Program application?
Answer: First, the designated organization(s) that you seek support from will review the viability of your business proposal.
Next, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will review your immigration application, if you have received the necessary support to apply, to make sure you’re eligible to become a permanent resident.
Finally, your application may also be subject to an independent peer review process. This is designed to protect against fraud and to ensure that your activities and those of the designated organization are in line with industry standards for this type of support.
Question: Is there an application form to get a letter of support from a designated organization?
Answer: No. To get a letter of support, you need to convince a designated organization that your business idea is worth supporting. To do that, contact the designated organization you think may be interested in your start-up business and find out how you can pitch your idea.
Each designated organization has its own requirements. For example, you may be asked to present your business concept in person or submit a detailed business plan.
Question: What do I do if I lost my GCKey username or password?
Answer: If you lost your GCKey password, you can create a new one. 

Go to the sign-in page for GCKey.
Create a new password after you answer the password recovery questions you previously set up while registering for a GCKey.

If you lost your GCKey username, you can recover it.

Go to the sign-in page for GCKey.
Click on “Forgot your username?”
Enter the email associated with your account.

Your username will be sent to that email.



If you lost your email, you have to create a new GCKey. If you create a new GCKey, you can access an application by linking the application to your new account.
See also: I recently reset my account, but I don’t see my application. How can I get it back?
Question: What do I do if an online application is down?
Answer: Scheduled down time
You’ll need to wait a few hours at most. If our online applications and access to online accounts are down for routine system maintenance

We post a message with details including the day, the start time and the planned duration of the maintenance on pages that lead to online applications and account sign in pages. We also tell you at what time everything should be available again. Messages are usually just above an “Apply” or “Sign in” button.
You can also follow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on Twitter for notifications on when online applications will be unavailable.

Unscheduled down time
If our online applications are down unexpectedly, we’ll post information and updates about it as soon as we can on our Twitter account and our website in the same locations as we post scheduled down time messages. We appreciate your patience as we endeavour to resolve the issue. Once resolved, we’ll announce it on Twitter and remove the messages on our website.
Question: What browser should I use to apply online?
Answer: Due to recent upgrades, you may not be able to access your account with certain web browsers. To prevent these difficulties, upgrade your browser to the newest version.

To keep your information secure and confidential when using your online account, use a browser that supports encryption using Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.2. These include

Firefox
Chrome
Safari
Edge
Question: How many applications to sponsor parents and grandparents do you accept each intake?
Answer: The application target (the number of applications we’ll accept) for each intake is determined by the number of applications needed to reach the future admission target (the number of persons we’ll admit each year for permanent residence). The admission target for the parents and grandparents category is set annually for the next 3 years in the Multi-Year Levels Plan.
For the 2024 intake, the application target is 20,500.
We send as many invitations as we estimate will be needed to reach the application target. This means we issue more invitations than the application target since not everyone who is invited to apply will actually do so. For the 2024  intake, we’ll send 35,700  invitations.
Number of invitations sent and the application targets in previous intake years:




Intake Year
Invitations Sent
Application Target




2023
24,200
15,000


2022
23,100
15,000


2021
34,500
30,000


2020
13,400
10,000


2019
26,376
20,000


2018
23,500
17,000


2017
16,500
10,000


2016
-
10,000


2015
-
5,000


2014
-
5,000
Question: Can I hand-deliver my application to sponsor a parent or grandparent?
Answer: No. You can’t deliver your application to sponsor a parent or grandparent in person. Processing offices aren’t open to the public and don’t accept in-person deliveries.
If you’re invited to apply, you (or your representative) must apply online using the

Permanent Residence (PR) Portal (if you’re applying by yourself)
Representative Permanent Residence (PR) Portal (if you’re using a representative)

If you can’t apply online and need accommodations, including for a disability, you can ask for the application in an alternate format (paper, braille or large print). We’ll give you instructions on where to send your application.
Check our website for information on how to apply.
Question: How can I show proof of income to sponsor my parents and grandparents?
Answer: You must provide your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for each of the three taxation years immediately preceding the date of your application.
There are two ways you can do this:
Option 1) Give us permission to get your tax information directly from CRA

On the form Financial Evaluation for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship [IMM 5768], under question 8, “Sponsor Statement of Consent”:
    
Check “Yes”, and
Provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN), signature and date.



Option 2) Send us the paper copies of your Notices of Assessment

Complete the form Income Sources for the Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents, and
Include the Notices of Assessment with your application package. If you don’t have the paper copies, login to CRA’s My Account to find them online.


Sponsors living in Quebec
If we approve your sponsorship application, we’ll instruct you to submit an undertaking application to the Quebec ministry in charge of immigration. This ministry will assess your income.
Don’t submit your undertaking application to Quebec before we’ve told you to do so. If you don’t wait for our confirmation, Quebec won’t process your application.

Read the instruction guide for more information about your proof of income.


Income Sources for the Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents


The form you need depends on whether you got your 2017 Notice of Assessment. You get it from Canada Revenue Agency after filing your taxes each year.



Did you get your 2017 Notice of Assessment?

Yes
No
Question: Do I need to ask the Canada Border Services Agency for a history of entries when applying for citizenship?
Answer: No. Provide consent by checking the “Yes” box for question 14B “Have you held travel documents and or passports during your eligibility period” on your citizenship application. This will give us permission to get your history of entries from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It will also take less time than you asking the CBSA for your history.
We use your history of entries to make sure that you have been in Canada long enough to qualify for citizenship.
If you do not provide  consent by checking the “Yes” box, you may be asked to send a request for personal information to the CBSA to get your history of entries. Doing this may make the time to  process your application longer than the routine processing times for citizenship.
Question: What happens if I check “Yes” on Question 14B (“Consent to the CBSA and IRCC”) on the application for citizenship?
Answer: When you check “Yes”, you are giving us permission to get your history of entries from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). We need this information to process your citizenship application.
You must check this box because one government department cannot share your personal information with another department without your permission. If you do not check the “Yes” box, you may be asked to request your history from the CBSA and then send it to us. This process takes longer and may make your application take longer than the routine processing times for citizenship.
Question: What is a personal document checklist?
Answer: A personal document checklist is a list of forms and documents you need to complete and send in with an application when you apply through your IRCC secure account or send a paper application.

If you’re applying for a visitor visa, study or work permit, this checklist is based on the answers you gave in the online immigration eligibility questionnaire.
If you’re applying for permanent residence online, the checklist is based on the answers you gave while completing your application.

Make sure to upload all the supporting documents listed on the checklist that you need to include when you submit an application through your IRCC secure account.
Question: What is a personal reference code?
Answer: A personal reference code is a unique code you get when you use the Come to Canada online eligibility tool.
You can use this code only in the IRCC secure account to:

start an online application for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit
carry your information from the Come to Canada tool to an Express Entry or International Experience Canada profile

You can find your personal reference code at the top of your results page after you answer all the questions in the tool.
Write the code down and print a copy of your results and checklist for your records.
Your code will expire 60 days after you get it.
Question: Why was I issued a single entry visa instead of a multiple entry visa?
Answer: All applicants who are eligible for a multiple entry visa will be issued one. However, not all applicants will be eligible for a multiple entry visa. This remains at the discretion of a visa officer. A single entry visa may be issued in cases where, for example:

An applicant is eligible for a fee-exemption and where the purpose of entry to Canada is limited (e.g., for an official visit by a foreign national); 
An applicant is participating in a one-time special event in Canada (e.g., Pan-American Games); and/or
Country-specific procedures or guidelines are in place and approved by IRCC.
Question: How do I prove that I need urgent processing for my permanent resident card application?
Answer: To support a  request to have your permanent resident (PR) card application processed  urgently, you need:

proof of travel (e.g. a copy of your ticket or itinerary) showing your destination and travel dates;
a copy of your receipt with the date, amount paid, and your payment method;
a letter explaining the reason for the urgency; and
proof of the urgency (e.g. a doctor’s note, death certificate, or letter from your employer)

If you forget to include  something or your situation does not qualify for urgent processing, we will  process your application normally.
Question: Do I have to apply online for my International Experience Canada work permit or can I apply by mail or in person?
Answer: You must apply online for an International Experience Canada work permit. You will need a valid credit card and the ability to upload documents to apply online.
You cannot mail your application or submit it in person, and you cannot use the services of a visa application centre to submit your application.
Question: I have a question about a document I am asked to submit in my online account. Who can I ask?
Answer: To find out why you are being asked to submit a specific document, to get more information about what a document should be, or to let us know why you cannot provide a document

Write a letter with your questions or explanation.
In the online account you used to apply, upload the letter into the slot for the requested document you have questions about.
		
For example, if you used IRCC secure account to apply, upload the letter that contains your questions in that account.



The processing officer will read your letter and provide more information based on your case.
See also: What do I do if I run into technical problems with my online visa or permit application?
Question: Will my spouse or common-law partner get a work permit under International Experience Canada to come with me?
Answer: No. If your spouse or common-law partner wants to work in Canada, they have the following 2 options: 
Option 1: Apply for International Experience Canada
Your spouse or common-law partner can submit a profile to the International Experience Canada program. They must meet the requirements and follow the application steps if they are invited to apply for a work permit.
Option 2: Apply for a work permit outside the International Experience Canada program
In some cases, your spouse or common-law partner may be able to apply for an open work permit, which would allow them to accept a job from any employer.
Starting January 30, 2023, family members of most foreign workers can apply for an open work permit. Find out more about these changes.
In other cases, they must apply for an employer-specific work permit. The employer may have to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job. Find out if your spouse or common-law partner’s employer needs an LMIA to hire them.
How we assess their application
For both options, your spouse or common-law partner’s work permit application will be assessed separately from yours.
If your spouse or common-law partner is not eligible for a work permit, they may be able to come to Canada as a visitor.
See also Can my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children come with me to Canada?
Question: Why do I need to get a police certificate?
Answer: We use police certificates to find out if you have a criminal record. They help immigration officers make sure you are not a security risk to Canada.
Learn more about police certificates.
Question: Why do I need a medical examination?
Answer: You need to have a medical exam if you’re planning to:

visit for more than 6 months
work in healthcare or with children or
apply for permanent residence

It’s important for the public health of Canadians, and helps prevent the spread of diseases.
If you’re visiting for less than 6 months, you don’t need one.
Learn more about medical exams.
Question: My International Experience Canada application was refused because I didn't provide a document. What should I do?
Answer: If your work permit application was refused and you'd still like to take part in International Experience Canada (IEC), you need to start again by submitting a new profile.
If we invite you to apply for a work permit, you can submit a new work permit application. Read your document checklist carefully. Make sure that you upload all of the documents we ask you to give us.
Question: Can I get a refund if I cancel my International Experience Canada work permit application?
Answer: Yes, you can, but only if we haven’t issued your Port of Entry (POE) letter.
Find out how to withdraw your application.
Question: I recently reset my IRCC secure account, but I don’t see my application. How can I get it back?
Answer: If you have just reset your IRCC secure account because you lost your username or password, as a security measure we need to ask you questions about the application you submitted before we give you access to it.
To link an application you have in progress to your IRCC secure account, sign in to your account and click on “Link application to this account” under the heading “What would you like to do today?”
You will have to tell us specific information about the application you would like to access. Have a copy of your application form on hand as you will have to enter the information exactly as you did on your application form.
Question: How do I view the messages in my account?
Answer: To get messages about a specific application

Sign in to the account you used to apply (for example, IRCC secure account).
Then follow the instructions below. Exception: For citizenship applications, you can find any messages in “Check your actions.”
		
Scroll down to the section “View my submitted applications or profiles.”
Click on the “Check status and messages” button in the last column.




There you’ll see your application status and any messages about that application.
Click on the arrow next to the message you want to read.

The arrow will turn downward and you’ll see a line that says, “To view this message, click here.” Click the link and the message will open in PDF format.

To get general messages about your account
These messages are on the main account page at the bottom, under the heading “Account messages.”
Question: I can't get a bank statement before I come to Canada. What do I do?
Answer: International Experience Canada participants who can't get a bank statement may show the following as proof of funds when they arrive at a Canadian port of entry:

A letter on official letterhead from your banking institution, that:
    
is issued no more than one (1) week before your departure for Canada.
clearly shows your account balance.
is signed and preferably stamped.



Bring the original letter provided by your banking institution, not a photocopy.
See also Prepare for arrival – International Experience Canada
Question: How can I get help with my immigration or citizenship application?
Answer: There are several ways to get help with your application, depending on what you need help with. The fastest and most affordable way to get help with your application is to use our online resources.
Instruction guides
Most programs you can apply for have an application package with an instruction guide. The guide provides tips and information on

how to fill out your forms
pay your fees
submit your application

Find the instruction guide for your program.
There are also some online applications that allow you to apply without a guide. The online application will take you through all the forms you need to fill out, as well as paying your fees and submitting your application. If you need help with a question or document, click on the help icon (a question mark).
Before you apply, you should still visit the website to understand eligibility requirements, the application process and what to expect after you apply:

Express Entry (permanent residence for skilled workers)
International Experience Canada (work and travel program for youth)

Frequently asked questions and how-to videos
Our online Help Centre has answers to over 800 questions to help you with your application. Type a topic or keyword into the search field to find questions about it.

List of all topics
Top questions about technical problems
Definitions of common words we use

You can also find how-to videos in our video centre. Type the topic you’re interested in into the search bar to find videos about it.
In-person help
For help in person, you can use a representative. If you’re outside Canada, you can also go to a visa application centre (VAC).
Use a representative
A representative is anyone (family, friend or paid advisor) who helps you with your application and who has your consent to get information about your file.
You don’t need to hire anyone to help you with your application. You can get all the forms and information you need to apply for free. Hiring someone doesn’t guarantee that we’ll approve your application or process it faster.

Learn about using a representative
How to fill out the “Use of representative” form to appoint a representative

Go to a visa application centre (if you’re outside Canada)
Visa application centres (VAC) are private businesses that accept applications and make sure they get to the right visa office. There is a fee to use a VAC.
A VAC can

serve you in your local language
make sure your application is complete
collect your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

VAC don’t have services for every application. They can help you with

study or work permits
visitor visas (temporary resident visas)
travel documents for permanent residents

Find your closest VAC.
If you’re currently in the United States, you can also give your biometrics at an Application Support Center.
If we haven’t answered your question
If you already have an application in progress, learn how to update it or check its status.
If you have general questions about a program or service, contact us through our Web form.
Question: I have lost, deleted or damaged my POE Letter. What should I do?
Answer: Contact us using the Web form and ask us to re-send your Port of Entry (POE) Letter.
If you applied online, we will usually re-send your POE Letter to you through your account. If you cannot access or link to your original application in your account, make sure you include that detail in your message.
Question: How do I give my fingerprints and get an RCMP criminal record check from inside or outside Canada?
Answer: RCMP service delays
There’s currently a large demand for RCMP criminal record checks. Your request may be delayed. If this delay has affected you, we’ll automatically extend the deadline to provide the criminal record check by 30 days. You don’t need to contact us or the RCMP to extend the deadline.

If you have lived in Canada for more than 6 months since the age of 18, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) may ask you for fingerprints to complete your criminal record check.
Do not request a criminal record check unless we send you a letter asking for one.
If you need to submit fingerprints for a citizenship application, they must be collected inside Canada.
How to submit fingerprints for a criminal record check from inside or outside Canada.

If you need to give your fingerprints for a criminal record check, this is not the same as giving your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) for an application.