Applying to Canada Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) online is an integral part of the immigration process, whether for those with a work or study permit, permanent residents and even tourists.
Due to this widespread use, newcomers may sometimes experience technical issues in different parts of the application process, whether opening and uploading documents, collecting necessary information, logging into their account, and much more. This article will cover many common technical issues that can occur when applying and best practices for fixing them.
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Documents downloaded from IRCC do not open or appear blank
A common problem for new users is not being able to open documents from IRCC, which can be frustrating, but there is a simple solution.
To open, IRCC documents require Adobe Reader 10 or higher. Adobe Reader is free software manufactured by Adobe that allows users to fill out and sign PDF files electronically. Other PDF viewers (such as Microsoft programs or “Preview” on Apple operating systems) will not be able to display the document or will display it as a blank file.
Downloading the software and opening IRCC documents with it should fix this problem. A link can be found here.
The “validate” button does not work and I do not see any barcode
When completing an IRCC document, applicants (or their representatives) must click a button at the bottom of the form with the word “validate.” This button verifies that all information provided by an applicant complies with the document formats and then generates a unique barcode for the application if this is the case.
If the validation button is not working, IRCC has identified the following troubleshooting options:
- Update Adobe Reader to the latest version;
- If you are completing the form on a tablet or mobile phone, try validating it on a laptop. Barcode forms typically do not work on other devices;
- Be sure to enter all information within the required fields (those marked with a “*”). Forms will not be validated unless information is entered in all required fields;
- Check the format of the dates entered. The valid format within the form is “YYYY-MM-DD”. Also make sure that any future dates (for example: “When are you planning to travel to Canada?”) do not have past dates entered, and vice versa; and
- Make sure no special characters have been entered in the form. IRCC forms cannot accept special characters, including spaces, in input fields. Removing these characters can help when trying to validate the form.
Receive an error when loading a validated form
When forms are uploaded to the IRCC system, they are checked in two ways to ensure that all necessary information is included in the assigned fields. The documents are first checked to see if all the necessary fields have been entered in the form. After this, the answers on the form are compared with the previous answers given by the applicant, to see if they match.
If there are differences or missing information on the form, applicants may receive the following error message:
To avoid receiving this error, IRCC recommends double-checking the following:
- Leave the Unique Customer Identifier (UCI) field blank if this is your first time submitting a request to IRCC;
- Determine if you are still eligible to apply under the program under which you are applying;
- Upload the original (digital) version of the form you downloaded from IRCC. When applying online, you do not need to physically sign the form (Adobe Reader provides a digital signature feature);
- Make sure your browser is updated to the latest version; and
- Review your documents to make sure none of them have expired.
The documents are too large to upload.
IRCC online services have file size limits on documents uploaded to support an application. Depending on the platform used, these size limits vary between two and four megabytes.
Therefore, if a file exceeds this approved limit, the requester will not be able to upload it. However, IRCC recommends specific steps to reduce file sizes in the following formats, which have been linked here: PDF, JPEG, TIFF and PNG, DOC and DOCX.
In addition to these options, some programs and applications work specifically to compress file sizes in different formats; However, newcomers should be aware that these programs may have their policies regarding access and use of user information. IRCC does not recommend the use of these programs and applications.
Online application is inactive
IRCC makes the distinction between scheduled and unscheduled downtime for online applications.
During scheduled downtime, the department typically performs maintenance on its online services. At these times, applicants will typically have to wait a few hours and will typically see messages on web pages leading to the application or login web pages. These messages are also usually displayed above the corresponding buttons.
During the unscheduled downtime, the department is dealing with a technical issue that caused the system to fail. At this time, IRCC recommends checking their X account (formerly Twitter), where they will post further updates on the situation as it develops.
Technical problems persist
If you have persistent technical issues that cannot be resolved even through these methods, IRCC suggests contacting them directly via IRCC web form. The web form is an online application run by the department that allows applicants to raise issues or queries related to a particular application, or specific issues related to online services.
Newcomers are encouraged to include as much relevant information as possible when submitting a web form request. On average, it takes approximately 30 days for IRCC to respond through this channel (although this may depend on the complexity of the request and whether more information is needed).
If your query concerns how long your application has been in processing, IRCC will not respond to your web form request if your application is still within the official processing time limits. Also, please note that it may take up to five business days for the department to update your request through information submitted through the web form.
IRCC also recommends using the web form if you do not see an “upload” option in your IRCC account or secure portal.
To learn more about specific use cases and access the web form, click here.
reference: www.cicnews.com