tugrularas/irccfaq huggingface dataset:
Question: I’m waiting for my post-graduation work permit. Can I travel outside Canada?
Answer: You can leave Canada and return as long as your visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA) is still valid. Your permit (study or work) is not a visa and doesn’t allow you to travel back to Canada.
If your visa or eTA is expired, you have to get a new one before you return to Canada.
When you return to Canada:

You may enter as a student if your study permit is still valid.
If we approve your post-graduation work permit (PGWP) while you’re away, you may enter as a worker.
If your study permit was valid when you applied and we’re still processing your PGWP, you may enter as a visitor and work without a work permit until we make a decision on your application.

If you applied to extend your PGWP to get the full duration of your PGWP because your passport expired and you left Canada while on maintained status, you can enter Canada as a visitor. However, you can’t work without a work permit until we make a decision on your application.


As of June 21, 2024, you can’t apply for a PGWP at the border. You must submit your application for a PGWP before coming to Canada, or after you’ve entered Canada as a visitor with your visa or eTA, if you’re eligible.
A border officer will have some questions for you when you arrive back in Canada. The officer may ask you for proof that you applied for a PGWP, such as a copy of your application or the fee payment receipt.
If the officer believes there is reason to refuse your re-entry, you won’t be able to enter Canada.
Question: You asked me for a new document. How do I submit it?
Answer: When we ask you for documents, we also included information on how to send them to us.

Make sure to send your documents the way we ask you to. Otherwise, you could experience delays.



If we sent you the request through your account

Follow the instructions in the email we sent you and in your account to upload your documents.


If you applied through the IRCC secure account


Sign in to your account. 
Look for your application under View the applications you submitted.
Under the Action column, click Check full application status.
At the top of the page, click View submitted application or upload documents.
Scroll down the page and click Continue.
Under  Documents submitted by the client, you can find
    
Document Name: the document we need
Instructions: more information on the type of document and how to get it
Required by: the latest date by when we need to receive the document


Click Upload file and follow the steps to upload your document to your account.
    
If you need to submit more than 1  document, read what to do if you have multiple documents before uploading any documents.
Make sure that your documents are under the file size limit for the online application you’re using.


Make sure the Details column shows the message Uploaded - not submitted to IRCC.
Click Next.
Provide your Signature by entering your Given name(s) and Last name(s).
Answer the Security Question.
Click Sign.
Click Transmit.
The following message should appear on your screen: “Congratulations! You have successfully submitted your application or profile. You have successfully transmitted your additional or replacement document(s).”
After you see the message, you’ll receive an email confirming you’ve added a new document. 





If we requested the documents through regular mail or email

Check the request message and follow the instructions on how to send us your documents.



If you have problems sending us your documents

Contact  us using our web form if you:

can’t find our request letter or  email 
have technical problems 

 Read  our instructions on how to tell us about your issue and send us your documents.
Question: I don’t see the option to upload documents in my account, even though IRCC has asked for it. What do I do?
Answer: If you don’t see the option to upload documents in your account, tell us through the IRCC web form.
In the form:

upload your documents
select the type of application you’re submitting
provide as many details as possible about the problem you had, and
include screen shots

Don’t send in multiple forms to report your issue, as it can slow down our review of the requests.
Question: I validated my form, but when I try to upload it to my account I get a validation error. What can I do?
Answer: When you upload your application form, our system checks the PDF to make sure it includes all the mandatory information. It also compares what you entered to the answers you entered in the online questionnaire.
If there is any missing information or differences, you might see the following message:

Validation error: You have not completed the mandatory fields or you have not completed them correctly. Please make corrections where indicated.

Error description: We are unable to validate your document at this time. Please try again later.


To avoid getting an error

Leave the UCI field empty if this is the first time you are applying or if you don’t remember your Client ID.
Make sure you are eligible to apply. Example: You can’t extend or change your status if it has been more than 90 days since your previous one expired.
Don’t upload a scanned version of the application form. When you apply online, you don’t need to physically sign the form.
Try uploading the form using the latest version of Edge, Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
Review your information and make sure your documents are not expired.

If you are still having issues, find out how to let us know about your technical problems.
Question: What is a hearing conducted by videoconference?
Answer: A hearing conducted by videoconference is the same as an in-person hearing except you speak to an IRCC official or Citizenship judge through one of our computers in an IRCC office. An IRCC official will be with you to make sure you can see and hear the interviewer properly. We use videoconferences so you have your hearing as quickly as possible.
Prepare for a videoconference hearing the same way that you would any other hearing. Review your Notice to Appear to make sure you bring everything you need. You do not need to bring any computer equipment of your own.
Question: How do I get a refund for International Experience Canada?
Answer: Normally, you’ll be issued a refund within eight weeks if

your work permit application has been refused, or
you withdrew your work permit application before we issued you your port of entry (POE) letter.

You don’t have to do anything else to get your refund. Learn more about refunds and International Experience Canada.
Question: I don't have a document I need to submit. What should I do?
Answer: If there is a document (either listed on the checklist or that we asked you to give us) that you don’t have, your application could be:

delayed
returned to you
refused

There are sometimes situations you can’t control (like war or natural disasters) that prevent you from getting a document.
If you can’t send us a document

Write us a letter explaining why you can’t get the document or why it’s taking longer to get it.
Include any supporting documents (like a receipt) with your letter.
    
If you’re applying online, combine your letter and any supporting documents into 1 file.


Send us the letter in place of the required document by:
    
mailing it to us if you’re applying on paper
uploading it in place of the missing document if you’re applying online (make sure you use an accepted file format)



What happens next
We’ll read your letter and may contact you for more information.
Each case is different. The officer reviewing your application will decide if your application is complete without the document.
See also What if I can’t get a police certificate for my immigration application?
Question: I’m having technical issues. My invitation to apply for a work permit expires soon. What do I do?
Answer: If you’re having problems with your International Experience Canada invitation to apply or work permit application, these tips may help:

Try linking to your application, if you can no longer see it in your account. 
Click “Validate” at the end of each form to make sure there are no errors or blank fields in your application.
Try using a different browser or clearing your browser cache.
Check the Help Centre for more technical help and information on accessing online services.

What to do if you’re still having problems
Your next step is to report your technical issue. We need as much detail as possible to know what’s wrong.
Click on the “Report a technical issue” button at the top of your account.
Fill out the form with all the required information, including the following:

Date of birth
Country or territory of birth
Unique client identifier/client ID number, if available
Application number, if available
Type of application (select ”International Experience Canada”)
Description of the problem or error message, with a screenshot of the page where you are experiencing the problem
As much information as possible about the steps you took before you experienced the problem

It can take us some time to fix technical issues. Please do not send more than one report for the same issue, as it may slow down our response.
If your invitation to apply or application expires
If your invitation to apply or work permit application expires before we can help you, don’t panic.
To ensure the application process is fair for all clients, we can re-invite clients who have technical problems. Follow these steps:

Sign in to your account and go to the messages section at the bottom of the main page.
Click on the technical issue report that you submitted, and take a screen shot.
Go to the Web form.
Select “International Experience Canada” as the type of application. Do not select any other option from the list.
In the “Your enquiry” box, tell us that your invitation to apply or work permit application expired before you received help with the technical issue you reported.
Provide the rest of the required information and be sure to include your client ID number.
Upload a screen shot of the technical issue report that you submitted before your invitation expired.

An officer will assess your request. Normally, you’ll receive a response within five business days. If the officer approves your request, you’ll receive instructions on how to reapply.
Please do not submit another request before five business days have passed.
Question: When I try to submit my Express Entry profile or my application, I get an error. What can I do?
Answer: We changed some questions in the education history section in both the online profile and application for Express Entry. Because of this, some people are getting errors when they try to move on to the next step. 
To fix it: 


In your profile, go to the Study and languages section of the form. Open the Education history sub-section. Scroll to the bottom and click Modify.



You will see the information you already entered. To make sure you filled all the fields, click Check for Completeness at the top of the form.



If there is a field you need to correct, you will see a red error message at the top. The question text will also be in red. Fill in the field(s) and click Save and exit.

Questions you need to answer are in red


Repeat these steps for each entry in the section.

If you have been invited to apply, you also need to validate the Personal activities section:

Go to the Personal history section of the web form.
Open the Personal activities sub-section and scroll down to the grid of saved entries.
Click Modify and repeat the steps above for each entry.
Question: Can I travel with a specific person for International Experience Canada?
Answer: There is no guarantee that you will both be invited to apply for a work permit through International Experience Canada (IEC).
If you both have profiles in an IEC pool, it is possible that you could both be invited to apply. This applies even if that person is your

boyfriend or girlfriend;
spouse or common-law partner;
sibling;
best friend.

If one of you gets an invitation to apply before the other, you can accept or decline your invitation.
Before you make a decision, check the rounds of invitations page to learn more about your chances of getting an invitation to apply.
If you accept your invitation to apply
You can complete and submit your work permit application. Be aware that once we issue your port of entry (POE) letter, you can’t get a refund.
If your travelling partner isn’t invited to apply, they may be eligible for a different type of work permit outside the IEC program. In most cases, they will need a job offer before they apply for their own work permit.
If you decline your invitation to apply
You and your travelling partner might both be invited in a future round. Again, there is no guarantee.
Question: Why do I need an offer of employment number if I’m applying for a Working Holiday work permit?
Answer: When you filled out your International Experience Canada (IEC) profile, you said that you have a job offer in Canada. That’s why you’re being asked in the form for an offer of employment number and other details about your employer in Canada.
To complete this part of the application, follow these steps:

Type “A9999999” in the offer of employment number field.
Select “No” to the question “Has your employer paid the Employer Compliance fee?”
Type “Non-applicable – Working Holiday” into the employer address fields.

See also Apply for a work permit – International Experience Canada.
Question: When should I send in my police certificates for my spousal sponsorship application?
Answer: You must provide police certificates when you submit your application package. See the application package for information about what police certificates you need to submit.
Find more answers to questions about police certificates.
Question: Can I sponsor more than one person through the Parents and Grandparents Program?
Answer: Yes, you may sponsor more than one person if you want to.
If you are invited to apply, you can sponsor your parents and grandparents.
To do so, you will need to submit separate applications for each person (or couple) you sponsor. We will process each application separately.
You’ll have to meet the income requirements for all people you apply to sponsor and their dependants.
Invitations to apply are not transferable. For example, you cannot use the invitation to sponsor your spouse’s parents and grandparents or give it to a friend or other family member.
If your spouse also wants to sponsor their parents and grandparents, they’ll need to tell us they want to sponsor separately and see if they’re invited to apply.
Find out more about who you can sponsor under the Parents and Grandparents Program.
Question: How does the Parents and Grandparents Program work?
Answer: The Parents and Grandparents Program intake typically opens once a year. It lets citizens and permanent residents of Canada sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada. 
Here is how the program works:
Step 1: If you’re eligible to become a sponsor, you must submit an interest to sponsor form. This form is currently closed. It was last available from October  13, 2020, to November  3, 2020.

Step 2: After the online form closes, we review the form submissions and remove any duplicates.
We randomly select and invite potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents. We email the invitations and post the invitation status on our website.
In 2024, we’ll invite potential sponsors from the remaining pool of interest to sponsor forms submitted in 2020.
Step 3: If you’re invited to apply, we must receive your application package by the deadline in your invitation. There are no exceptions. Complete and submit the required forms and supporting documents identified on the 2024 Document Checklist for Parents and Grandparents (IMM 5771).
Don’t prepare your application unless you’re invited to apply.If you apply without being invited, we’ll return your application without processing it.
Find out more about how to apply to sponsor your parents and grandparents.
If you live in Quebec, find out how to sponsor your parents and grandparents in Quebec.
Question: I need help with my mental health. Does the Interim Federal Health Program cover it?
Answer: Yes. The Interim Federal Health Program provides coverage for mental health services provided by:

general practitioners/family doctors,
mental health hospitals and
clinics.

Family doctors/general practitioners can diagnose and treat some mental health problems. Depending on your situation, they may refer you to other mental health professionals, such as:

clinical psychologists,
psychotherapists,
counselling therapists or
psychiatrists who specialize in mental health.

When your physician refers you, you are also covered for the mental health services these professionals provide. Mental health professionals can help you improve or maintain your mental health with:

therapy,
counselling,
medication or
a combination of these options.

Any health-care providers you see must be registered with the Interim Federal Health Program administrator, Medavie Blue Cross.
Question: Does the Interim Federal Health Program provide coverage for mental health services?
Answer: Yes. The IFHP Basic Coverage covers:

mental  health services provided by physicians (such as psychiatrists, general or  family practitioners), or
services  provided by mental health hospitals.

The  IFHP also covers mental health services provided by allied health professionals  (such as clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, or counselling therapists)  under the IFHP Supplemental Coverage (PDF, 484 KB). To become an IFHP registered provider, allied health professionals must be  licensed in the province or territory in which they practice with their  provincial or territorial licensing body.
Notes:

The  IFHP does not require prior approval for the services provided by physicians or  mental health hospitals.
Medavie Blue Cross  requires prior approval for mental health services provided by allied health  professionals.
Question: What is the prior approval criteria for mental health services provided by allied professionals?
Answer: Prior  approval requests must be accompanied by:

A letter from a  physician that indicates the diagnosis and referral for assessment / psychotherapy / counselling therapy and
the Initial  Assessment report.

The  Initial Assessment can be conducted upon referral from a physician and must  include a:

clinical  interview,
brief  psychometric screening (where appropriate) and
a  report to the IFHP indicating a treatment plan and expected duration of  treatment (if applicable).

This  assessment can be billed to a maximum of 2 hours. The provider should not  proceed with further treatment until they get prior approval.
For more information,  refer to the IFHP  Supplemental Benefit Grid (PDF, 484 KB), Note 2.
Question: How many counselling sessions are clients entitled to once prior approval is received?
Answer: The IFHP will initially  approve up to 10 one-hour sessions, not including the initial assessment. If more  treatment is needed, providers can submit a request to the IFHP. It must be accompanied by a  physician’s recommendation for more sessions. A discharge summary report must  be submitted to both the referring physician and IFHP once treatment is  completed.
The IFHP does not cover group psychotherapy sessions or the following services:

Psychoanalysis
Psycho-educational assessments
Life skills training
Expressive arts therapy
Hypnotherapy
Sex therapy
Question: Does the Interim Federal Health Program cover interpretation services for mental health therapy?
Answer: If  interpretation is needed during the treatment/counselling, the IFHP will  reimburse $28.95/per hour for interpretation services (i.e., for 10 hours of  therapy IFHP will reimburse 10 hours of interpretation services)
Interpreters must be  registered with the IFHP to be reimbursed for their services.
Question: Can I apply to International Experience Canada and Express Entry at the same time?
Answer: Yes. Create one profile for International Experience Canada and another one for Express Entry.
You can use the same account for both profiles.
Question: If I’m a dual citizen, can I have an International Experience Canada work permit under each citizenship?
Answer: Yes. For example, you can get a work permit once as a citizen of the United Kingdom and a second time as an Irish citizen
To do this, you need to: 

have a valid passport issued by the country you're applying under,
meet all of the eligibility criteria for this country, and 
provide a letter of explanation in your work permit application that says

you are a dual citizen
your other work permit is under your other country of citizenship.
Question: I am in the Express Entry pool. How do I find out what programs I am eligible for?
Answer: Find out which programs you’re eligible for by using these steps:

Sign in to your account.
Go to the section “View the applications you submitted.”
Click on “Check full application status.”
Scroll down to the section called “What am I eligible for?”
The programs are listed in the table. Beside each one, under Details, it will say “met’ or “not met.”
If it says “met,” that means you’re eligible for that program.

You may be eligible for more than one program. Find out more about eligibility.
Question: Can someone else pay for my fees?
Answer: Yes. The name on the receipt does not need to match the name on the application. As long as the amount is correct, we will accept the  payment towards your application.
Question: I got a refund but it was not the same amount I paid. Why?
Answer: This happens when you pay in your local currency instead of Canadian dollars. The amount of your refund depends on the exchange rate. When we refund you, the amount you get back reflects the exchange rate on the day we issue the refund. Exchange rates change every day so the amount you get back won’t match what you paid.
The Canadian dollar value of your payment and your refund will always be the same.
Refunding an online payment
We collect and refund online payments in Canadian dollars. When we issue a refund to a card using another currency, your bank will convert it from Canadian dollars for you. We are not involved in this exchange process.
Refunding cheques and other payment methods
If your mailing address at the time of your refund request is overseas, we will issue your refund by cheque or direct deposit in your local currency. We use the exchange rate from the day we issue the refund.
Question: The application / profile details in my online account have changed. Why are the details different?
Answer: We updated the application / profile details to give you more information about the status of your application. Use the Help “?” symbol for more information on the new details.
Question: Do I submit an offer of employment even if a foreign company will pay my company’s temporary worker?
Answer: Yes, if your Canadian company has contracted the services of a foreign company, you must submit the offer of employment in the Employer Portal. This is required under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. Even though the foreign company will pay the temporary worker’s salary, you have hired them to work in Canada.
Use the Alternate compensation scheme field in the offer of employment to explain that the foreign company will pay the temporary worker.
Question: Who submits the offer of employment if a temporary worker will work for two or more Canadian companies?
Answer: It depends on the relationship between you and the other employer(s).
If the job offers are separate, you and the other Canadian employers each have to submit an offer of employment in the Employer Portal. The temporary worker will need a work permit for each job in this case.
If you are hiring a temporary worker to provide services to another company, then you must submit the offer of employment. You must also meet the conditions of the International Mobility Program. Include details about the job arrangement in the offer of employment in one of these fields:

Explanation of how the job meets the requirements of the exemption being requested
Main duties of the job