tugrularas/irccfaq huggingface dataset:
Question: How do I cancel an application I submitted online?
Answer: To cancel or withdraw an online application, use this  web form.
Include in the form:

your name
your Unique Client Identifier (UCI) (if you have one)
your date of birth
your country of birth
your application type
the date you submitted your online application
your application number (if you know it)
your payment receipt number (if you know it)

We’ll find out if you can withdraw your application and will contact you if we need more information. If we find that you can withdraw your application, we’ll refund your fees.
If you withdraw your eTA application, we can’t refund your fee.
See: How do I withdraw my Express Entry profile?
Question: How can I qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades Program if the province or territory where I plan to live and work does not give Certificates of Qualification in my trade?
Answer: In that case, to qualify for the Federal  Skilled Trades Program you must have a qualifying  job offer in your trade from a Canadian employer.

Note: Completing an Express Entry profile is the first step to  immigrate to Canada permanently as a skilled worker. Completing an Express  Entry profile does not guarantee that you will receive an Invitation to Apply  for permanent residence. An Invitation to Apply for permanent residence will be  based on your score and rank in the Express Entry pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System.
Question: If I come to Canada under the Federal Skilled Trades Program, will I be qualified to work in any province or territory?
Answer: Not necessarily. Standards and conditions of training for specific trades vary depending on the province or territory. (for example, ways to register apprentices, training curriculum, how to get accredited/certified/licensed)
It is up to you and your employer to make sure you have the documents needed to practice in the province or territory where you will work.
When we assess your application, we may check that you meet the requirements to be certified, licensed or registered to work in a regulated occupation in Canada.
If you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer but do not meet the requirements, we must be satisfied that you are capable of doing the job you were offered and that you are likely to qualify to be licensed or certified when in Canada.
Note: Even if you get certified in one province or territory, you may not be able to practise in another. After you immigrate, if you want to work in a different province or territory, check the requirements of the regulatory body that governs trades for that province or territory.
Question: I’m a Canadian citizen living outside Canada. I mailed an application to the Sydney, Nova Scotia office. Who can I contact if I have a question?
Answer: There is no telephone number to reach IRCC outside Canada.
You can follow the status of your application using the Client Application Status (CAS) service. You can also check our processing times to see how long it should take to process your application.
Question: How do I get a transit visa?
Answer: You can apply for a transit visa by filling out the application for a Temporary Resident Visa and selecting transit visa from the list of options on the form.
You may not need a transit visa if you are travelling to or from the United States. The Transit Without Visa program (TWOV) and the China Transit Program (CTP) allow certain foreign nationals to transit through Canada on their way to and from the United States without a Canadian transit visa, if they meet certain requirements.
Question: Can I apply for a post-graduation work permit before I get my diploma?
Answer: You don’t have to wait until you physically receive your diploma or attend your graduation ceremony to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
All you need to apply for a PGWP is

an official letter from your school that confirms you’ve completed your study program or
an official transcript or a copy of your transcript from your school’s website

You have 180 days after your school issues your final marks to apply for a post-graduation work permit. To be eligible for a PGWP, your study permit must have been valid at some point during these 180 days.

When your study permit expires
Your study permit will expire on the date marked on the permit or 90 days after the day you complete your studies, whichever comes first.
If your study permit expires, you must either:

restore your status as a student when you apply for a PGWP, or
leave Canada and apply for a PGWP from outside Canada
Question: The refugee I sponsored is arriving next week but I’m not ready for them. What should I do?
Answer: If you’re part of a Constituent Group, contact the sponsorship agreement holder (SAH) for help preparing.
Any other sponsor group unable to support a refugee they agreed to sponsor must contact us as soon as possible (IRCC.INROCO-CORORI.IRCC@cic.gc.ca).
As a sponsor, you need to be ready to support the refugees you sponsor when they get to Canada. This includes

making arrangements to meet them when they arrive
resettling them in your community
integrating them into your community
Question: I went to the airport but the refugee I sponsored wasn’t there. What should I do?
Answer: If you sponsored a refugee who wasn’t at the airport at the time shown on your Notification of Arrival Transmission (NAT), let us know right away (IRCC.INROCO-CORORI.IRCC@cic.gc.ca).
Some airports also have Resettlement Assistance Program Service Provider Organizations that you can contact for help.

Pearson International Airport (Toronto)
  Malton Neighbourhood Services
  905-677-6270 
Vancouver International Airport
  Community Airport Newcomers Network 
  604-270-0077
Calgary International Airport
  Calgary Catholic Immigration Society 
  403-262-2006
Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (Montreal)
  Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration 
  514-864-9191
Question: Can I communicate with a refugee I sponsor before they arrive in Canada?
Answer: Yes, you can. When we approve your sponsorship application, we give you a name and contact number for the refugee you’re sponsoring.
We also give them your contact information so they can reach out to you if they want to.
Question: Can I go to a port of entry to give biometrics if it’s closer than a Service Canada location?
Answer: No. Only certain people can give their fingerprints and photo (biometrics) at a Canadian port of entry (POE).
For example, students and workers who meet the specific eligibility requirements can give their biometrics at a POE only if they begin and complete their application for a study or work permit at the POE.
All other applicants must give their biometrics at an official biometrics collection location. If you already have a biometrics instruction letter, this means you can’t give your biometrics at a POE.
Find out if you need to give biometrics, and if you do, how to give you biometrics.
Question: How can I show a potential employer I’m allowed to work while I wait for my post-graduation work permit?
Answer: You can show a potential employer you’re allowed to work by giving them a copy of all of the following documents:

proof that you completed your program(s) of study, such as
    
the official letter from your school that confirms you’ve completed your study program or
an official transcript or a copy of your transcript from your school’s website


a copy of your study permit
    
To be allowed to work right away, your permit should say: “May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria per paragraph R186(f), (v) or (w); must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria”


a copy of the acknowledgement of receipt from your post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application, if you applied online
    
To be allowed to work right away, the acknowledgement of receipt must have been received before your study permit expired


a copy of your WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127 E) letter (if you received one) to prove you’re authorized to keep working, even if the 120-day validity period has expired

If you need proof of authorization to continue working, you can ask for it by using our web form.



You can use these documents to work only until a decision is made on your application.
If your application for a PGWP is rejected or refused, you need to stop working as soon as we notify you.
If you don’t, any future work or study permits may not be approved, and you may be asked to leave the country.
Check current processing times for PGWPs.
Question: What’s the pilot project to improve the family reunification process for protected persons?
Answer: We’re working to improve the family reunification process for eligible protected persons through 2 changes:

Easier submission and communication: protected persons in Canada can submit applications for eligible family members living outside Canada with their own application. They can also help us contact their families when we need more information.
Simplified processing: we will process the applications of eligible protected persons and their family members at the same time and same office in Canada.

See also: Am I eligible to apply to the pilot project for my dependent family members living outside Canada?
Question: Am I eligible to apply to the pilot project for my dependent family members living outside Canada?
Answer: You and your dependent family members may be eligible for this pilot project if

you’re a protected person in Canada
you submit your permanent residence application during the pilot (from December 4, 2019 to December 3, 2020)
your dependent family members live abroad in one of the eligible regions

We automatically process all eligible applications under the pilot. You don’t need to make a special request.
Check the Application for Permanent Residence in Canada – Protected Persons and Convention Refugees for more information on whom you can include in your application.
Question: I applied for permanent residence as a protected person. Does my family abroad qualify for the processing pilot?
Answer: It depends on when you applied.
If you applied before December 4, 2019
No. We can only consider applications received on or after December 4, 2019, for the pilot project to improve the family reunification process for protected persons. 
You can still submit applications for your dependent family members without changing your existing application. They won’t be included in the pilot project, but you can help us contact them while we process their applications. This can make processing simpler.
While you can withdraw your current permanent residence application and resubmit it with your dependent family members included, there are risks. For example:

you may not be eligible for a refund
your new application will move to the back of the processing queue
you’ll need to pay your fees again 
we cannot guarantee that you will qualify for the pilot 

If you applied on or after December 4, 2019
Yes. We’ll contact you to explain how to apply for family members who

you included on your own application
are living outside Canada
haven’t applied for permanent residence yet

If you’re eligible, we’ll process your application and your family’s at the same time.
You need to complete and include the Use of Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 1.48 MB) form with your family’s applications if you want to

be their main contact
submit documents for them
Question: What regions are included in the pilot project to improve the family reunification process for protected persons?
Answer: The pilot project includes 9 regions served by Canadian missions in the following cities:

Bogota 
Buenos Aires 
Kingston (Jamaica) 
Lima 
London 
Nairobi 
Mexico City 
Port of Spain 
Sao Paulo 

If you have family members in these regions who can be included in the pilot, we’ll contact you with next steps.
Question: What should I do if I’m eligible for the protected persons family reunification pilot, but I can’t find my dependent family members, or they don’t want to come to Canada?
Answer: List all family members on your application when you apply for permanent residence, even if you can’t find them or they don’t want to come to Canada yet.
If they change their mind within a year of the date you get permanent resident status, they can still apply as your dependants using the one-year time limit process. This option only applies to family members you list on your application.
Question: How can I pay for biometrics after I submitted my application?
Answer: To pay for your biometrics fee after you already applied:

If you applied online

pay online
upload your receipt in your IRCC secure account or by using our Web form

If you applied on paper

pay online
upload your receipt using our Web form
Question: How can I prove I’m a resident of a country when applying to International Experience Canada (IEC)?
Answer: You may need to prove you’re a resident of a country or territory when you apply to IEC.
To do this, provide us with your mailing or permanent address in that country or territory. You don’t have to be in that country or territory when you apply.
Example: Elsa is a resident of Sweden, but she’s temporarily studying in France. She just needs to give us her address in Sweden.
If you’re an Italian citizen, you’ll also need to provide a residence certificate (certificato di residenza). Make sure you include a certified English or French translation of the certificate. Upload the certificate and translation in the Optional documents slot at the bottom of the Document Checklist page in your account.
Learn more about IEC’s eligibility requirements.
Question: My citizenship application was returned to me. Do I have to recalculate my physical presence (time lived in Canada) before I resubmit it?
Answer: If you applied online
Yes, you need to update your calculation in your online account before you resubmit your application.
On the “Physical presence calculator” section, you’ll find a question that asks, “Has anything changed in your physical presence in Canada between [last calculation date] and [yesterday’s date]?”
If yes (you left Canada or served a sentence in that time range):

update these sections where applicable:
    
Time spent outside Canada
Time spent serving a sentence


click on the “Calculate my physical presence” button to recalculate your physical presence

If no (you didn’t leave Canada or serve a sentence), click on the “Calculate my physical presence” button.  
If you applied on paper
Check the letter we sent with your incomplete application. It tells you if you have to recalculate your physical presence.
You must recalculate your physical presence if your application was returned because

your calculation is incorrect

Double-check your calculation.
Include all the times you spent outside Canada during your 5-year eligibility period (5 years before the date you sign your application).


you didn’t sign or date your application form
the application date in your application form and physical presence calculation are different (they must be the same)
you submitted an outdated application form
    
Use the newest version of the form.


it’s dated either
    
more than 90 days before we received it, or
into the future (post-dated)



Make sure the application date in the calculator and date of signature on the application form are the same.
Question: What is an application number?
Answer: An application number is different from a unique client identifier (UCI) or client ID.
If you have multiple applications with us, they’ll have

the same UCI or client ID
different application numbers

An application number is specific to your application. We send it to you when we start processing your application.
To find it

look at the top corner of the letters you receive from us, such as
	
the acknowledgement of receipt letter (we send this after you submit an application)
an invitation to a citizenship test or ceremony (a letter or an email)
other letters

sign in to your account if you applied online (under View the applications you submitted or Account messages section)

Application numbers usually have 1 letter and 9 numbers. For example:

Citizenship: C123456789
Work permit: W993830598
Economic class: E099977028
Question: How do I fill out and validate IRCC application forms with 2D barcodes?
Answer: Some of our forms have a Validate button at the top and bottom. We call these forms “2D barcode forms.”
2D barcode forms help:

you make sure that you completed all the required fields
us process your application faster

Follow these instructions to complete, sign and submit a 2D barcode form:

Download and open the form.
		
You’ll need Acrobat Reader 10 (or higher). If you need help, find out how to download and open forms.


Fill out the form.
		
If you’re not sure about the information you must provide, check your application guide.


Click the “Validate” button, at the top or bottom of the form.
		
You must always click the Validate button on 2D barcode forms, whether you submit your application online or by mail.

If you provided all the information, a new page with barcodes will appear at end of the document. It will look like this:


If you’re missing information, the fields you need to fill out will be outlined in red with a description of what is missing.
If a barcode does not appear, find out why and how to fix the issue.



Get ready to submit the form.


If you apply online:

Do not print the 2D barcode form.
Do not use the “signature panel” button at the top of the application.
Save the form on your computer in a place you’ll remember.
Upload the form to your account.
After you upload all the forms for your application, click the “Next” button that appeared below your uploaded documents.
Enter your name and answer a security question

This is your electronic signature.







If you apply on paper:

Print the application form, including the barcodes on the last page.
						
The barcodes must be clear. Distortions, smudges or fading can cause processing delays.
For best results print on white, bond-quality, non-glossy paper using a laser printer.


Sign and date your application in pen.
Put the page with the barcodes on the top of your application package before mailing it.
						
The mailing instructions are in your application guide.
Question: What counts as income for sponsoring my parents and grandparents?
Answer: To find out if you have enough income to be eligible to sponsor your parents or grandparents, we

use your total income on line 15000 of your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and
subtract any income that must be excluded:
    
provincial or territorial allowances for an instruction or training program (such as taxable scholarships, bursaries, or fellowships if included on line 13000 of the NOA)
social assistance from a province or territory
payments from the Government of Canada under a resettlement assistance program
regular Employment Insurance earnings (except for the 2021 tax year)
Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement payments



If you live outside of Quebec, you must meet the income requirement for each of the 3 tax years before the year you apply.
If you live in Quebec, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration will .
Income sources that count toward your total income
These income sources will count toward your total income (as long as they’re reported on your NOA):

Employment Insurance special benefits, such as maternity and parental benefits
any Employment Insurance earnings for the 2021 tax year only
Canada Emergency Response Benefit
other temporary COVID-19-related benefits

as long as they’re not part of provincial or territorial social assistance programs



How to get your NOAs
If you don’t have paper copies of your NOAs, you can view and print your tax returns using the CRA’s My Account online service. The easiest way to prove your income is to give us permission to get your NOAs directly from the CRA.
Question: What’s considered social assistance when sponsoring my parents and grandparents?
Answer: Under Canada’s immigration law, if you get social assistance other than for a disability, you aren’t eligible to sponsor a family member.
Social assistance income doesn’t count toward your total income when we assess if you meet the income requirement.
Also, if you sponsor someone and they get social assistance during the time you agreed to be financially responsible for them, you have to pay it back.
What is considered social assistance
Some benefits (money, goods or services) from provinces or territories are considered to be social assistance for the purpose of sponsoring. This includes assistance from the government to cover basic needs like:

food
shelter
clothing
fuel
utilities
household supplies
health care not covered by public health care (extra benefits paid by the government to low-income people or others in need)

What isn’t considered social assistance
Social assistance doesn’t include:

Employment Insurance
provincial student loans
immigration loans
subsidized housing
tax credits
child care subsidies
public health care (services your province or territory gives to all people who live there)
other benefits widely available to residents, including people who are working

Provinces and territories had temporary programs to help people cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. We don’t consider these benefits to be social assistance if they aren’t considered as such by the province or territory.
Also not considered social assistance:

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (now closed)
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (now closed)
Canada Recovery Benefit (now closed)
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (now closed)
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (now closed)
Question: I applied as a caregiver, but haven’t received a confirmation letter. What should I do?
Answer: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused service issues for our offices. The office that processes caregiver applications has been seriously affected.
If you applied for permanent residence as a caregiver in 2020, we may not have sent you a confirmation letter ("acknowledgement of receipt”) yet. We are working to send confirmation letters to applicants but it may take longer due to the challenges the pandemic has caused.
If you applied in 2019 and you did not receive a confirmation from us, you may contact us to verify if we received your application. If you applied in 2020, we will not be able to answer, so please wait.
Question: I have a new employer. How do I give you my new job offer form?
Answer: You may send us your new offer of employment form online if

we already sent you a confirmation letter (“acknowledgement of receipt”) for your Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker permanent residence application, and
we haven’t issued your occupation-restricted open work permit yet

You can also send supporting documents, if you need to.  
If you didn’t get the letter yet, wait until you do. It will include your application number. Once you have it, send us the new job offer form as soon as you can.
Question: I’m not sure if my Home Child Care Provider Pilot application made it under the cap. Should I reapply?
Answer: Unless you get a letter from us saying we rejected or refused your application, you don’t need to apply again the next year.