Once the application is submitted, the candidate's work does not end.
Immigration and Immigration Canada (IRCC) reviews whether you have sufficient documents, reviews program eligibility and admissibility to Canada, may request biometrics, additional documents or clarification, and communicates a decision through your official account or other channel provided by your program.
During this period, it is important not to try to guess the outcome of each status change. It is much more useful to understand:
Once submitted, IRCC can process the application without visible changes in your personal account. Your task is to monitor messages and fulfill requests on time.
Submitting a file and starting a full review are not always the same thing.
After submitting online, you will receive confirmation that your application has been submitted.
Next, IRCC checks the completeness in accordance with the rules of the specific program.
In many programs, after such verification, an confirmation of receipt of the application (Acknowledgement of Receipt, AOR) appears.
AOR means that the application has been accepted into the system for further processing according to the rules of this program.
But there is no need to transfer the rules of one program to another. The order and timing of AORs may vary.
If the application is found to be incomplete, the consequences also depend on the program: it may be returned or rejected as incomplete before full review.
It is important to distinguish this from a refusal on the merits.
The reason and next steps are different.
The problem usually involves a missing required document, form, information, or payment.
In such a case, IRCC may not proceed to normal proceedings.
This is a decision on the application after assessing applicable requirements or admissibility issues.
These situations cannot be combined into one word “refusal”.
If you receive an IRCC letter, please read the exact wording of the decision first before deciding what to do next.
The details vary from program to program, but the logic usually involves several directions.
IRCC verifies that the requirements of the program for which an application is being made are met.
For Express Entry, this means re-evaluating the information and documents on which the candidate was invited and applied.
IRCC will use the results of the immigration medical examination and may issue new instructions if necessary.
IRCC evaluates documents and information related to admissibility to Canada.
In public statuses this may be called “background verification”.
IRCC reviews information that is relevant to admissibility and decision making.
Don't think of this line as one simple step with a known start and end date.
The “in progress” status does not mean that the exact stage or time frame for the resolution can be determined.
In available tools, IRCC can show individual blocks, for example:
Each block can have statuses like:
These statuses are useful to understand if IRCC is expecting something from you.
But they do not provide full access to the inner workings of the case.
Particularly important:
The progress bar or estimated date in the interface does not show the actual percentage of application completion.
IRCC explicitly explains that this scale is based on the date of receipt of the application and published processing time frames, and not on the actual progress of a particular case.
For permanent residence, old prints usually do not replace new ones.
Biometrics are fingerprints and photographs.
For most permanent residence applications, biometrics must be taken again with each new application, even if you have previously taken them for a visa, study permit or work permit.
There are exceptions, so you need to rely on the requirements for your situation and the IRCC letter.
For Express Entry, IRCC usually sends a separate letter with biometrics instructions after submitting a complete application.
If the letter sets a deadline, you must fulfill the requirement within this period or act on official instructions if it is objectively impossible to fulfill it.
Do not sign up again just because the status does not change for a long time.
Medical examination guidelines vary depending on the program and your previous medical history.
For example, for Express Entry, some candidates undergo a medical examination before applying, and in some situations, IRCC may use the previous result or issue new instructions.
After filing, you do not need to undergo a second inspection yourself just because:
If IRCC requires a new medical examination, follow the instructions provided.
First, read the letter in its entirety, then prepare your response.
Requesting additional documents does not automatically mean either a problem or a quick positive result.
IRCC may ask for example:
Before answering, check four things:
If IRCC provides an upload space in your account, please use it.
If a document is requested but there is no upload field or there is a technical problem, IRCC publishes separate instructions, including the use of the IRCC web form in appropriate situations.
Do not remain silent and do not replace the document with a random file.
If a required document cannot be objectively obtained, IRCC recommends that you explain why and provide evidence of attempts made.
For example:
But the clarification does not guarantee that IRCC will accept the package without the document or give additional time.
The decision is made by the officer on a particular case.
The application must remain current until the decision is made.
IRCC requires you to report changes that affect the information on your submitted application.
Such changes include, in particular:
For Express Entry, IRCC specifically specifies to also report if:
You do not need to decide for yourself that a change is “too small and unimportant” if it changes information that has already been reported to IRCC.
Not all documents can be simply added back to the application.
For Express Entry, new documents cannot be randomly uploaded through the personal account after filing unless IRCC has opened a space for them.
If IRCC itself has requested the document, follow the instructions in the request.
If you are reporting a change or submitting a new document that IRCC has not requested, the IRCC web form is typically used.
IRCC also publishes a separate "Update Application Details" page, which separates two scenarios:
This is a useful distinction: the method of sending may vary.
Use the tool that IRCC has provided for your type of submission.
IRCC does not have one universal interface for all programs.
Depending on the application, the status may be available:
You need to start from the official IRCC page “Check Application Status”, and then select the application type.
Do not create a new personal account or a new profile just because you do not see the expected status, until the official instructions say to do so.
The published figure does not mean that the decision must come on that very day.
IRCC explicitly states:
Estimated review time is an estimate and is not a maximum time limit or a guarantee.
The duration may be affected by:
Therefore it is incorrect to assume:
“the official deadline has passed by one day, which means the case is stuck.”
First, compare the application to the current official estimated deadline for your specific program.
The IRCC web form is useful, but does not speed things up on its own.
IRCC recommends first:
The IRCC web form can be used for example:
At the same time, IRCC specifically warns that calls and repeated requests do not in themselves speed up processing.
Applying for permanent residence does not in itself renew your work permit.
If you are in Canada and your work permit ends, a pending permanent residence application cannot be assumed to automatically retain your right to work.
For some candidates there is a bridging open work permit (BOWP).
But the right to it must be checked separately.
Just because you apply for permanent residence does not mean you qualify for BOWP.
If the expiration date of a valid permit is approaching, it is better to check the status issue in advance rather than after the expiration date.
This is not a refusal, but such a letter cannot be put off.
Sometimes, before an unfavorable decision, IRCC will give the person an opportunity to respond to a specific concern or concern.
This letter is commonly referred to as a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL).
In it, IRCC describes the doubt or problem and provides an opportunity to present an explanation and evidence before a final decision.
A PFL is different from a regular document request.
If you receive a letter like this:
Receiving a PFL does not automatically mean denial.
But this is a signal that IRCC is considering an issue that could influence the decision.
The public personal account does not show all internal checks.
On the Internet they often try to determine:
This usually cannot be determined by one status in a public personal account.
IRCC shows the user a limited view of the process.
If you really want to understand more about a case, you can request Immigration Application Management System (GCMS) records and other information maintained by agencies.
About what records you can get:
Which case records are available from IRCC, CBSA and CSIS.
But such records are not a real-time tracking system and do not speed up application processing.
What you do next depends on where you are.
IRCC typically verifies permanent resident status through the Permanent Residence Portal.
Once presence in Canada is confirmed, IRCC issues an Electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence (e-COPR).
Do not create a new personal portal account yourself if IRCC writes that it will create or connect it for you. Follow the letter.
IRCC issues a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and, if your country requires an entry visa, a permanent resident visa.
You must check your COPR details and follow IRCC entry instructions before the document's stated validity date.
Approval of the application and actual receipt of permanent resident status are related, but not always simultaneous actions.
Read the decision and reasons first.
If denied, IRCC will issue a letter stating the reason for the decision.
Since May 2026, IRCC has also indicated that for most applications for permanent residence, an officer decision note is provided along with the refusal letter, which outlines the logic of the final decision.
It helps to understand the logic of the refusal, but does not replace the decision letter itself.
Further options depend on:
You should not automatically submit the same application again without understanding the reason for the previous decision.
What to keep under control until the final decision.
Your selections remain only on this page and are not sent anywhere.
A separate analysis is especially useful if:
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Partially. IRCC may process an application without any visible action on your part, but you must check communications regularly, comply with request deadlines, and communicate important changes.
How to choose the agency and legal basis for the request.
Reason for the decision, possible procedures and deadlines.
What tasks can be delegated to a representative.
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The materials on the site are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute individual immigration advice.
