Applying for your Canadian visa can be an exciting time because you’re one step closer to being able to travel to the country. The most potentially frustrating part is that time period between submitting your application and then receiving a decision.
The good news is that there are ways you can check on your application status during that time if you choose. This is great for making sure that your application has been received and to make sure that there aren’t any issues with your application that you need to make to help them with a decision.
No matter what type of visa you’re applying for, knowing how to check the status of your application online can be a lifesaver when you’re anticipating a decision. We’ll share everything there is to know about checking your application status and tips on what you can do to figure out what’s going on if you think it’s taking longer than it should.
Ways to Check Canada Visa Status
There are a few ways that you can check for your application status. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers three main ways to check.
You can check online with your IRCC account. This tends to be the most straightforward way of checking. You’ll head to the IRCC website, sign in with the credentials you used to create an online account, and then look at your dashboard with your application status.
Next, you can use the eCAS online tool. This is for those who submitted their application through teh mail or through a Visa Application Center (VAC). You’ll still visit the IRCC website but then you’ll go to the “check your application status online” page, click the eCAS tool and then enter your information.
Lastly, you an contact the IRCC directly if you want. You can call the IRCC Client Support Centre at 1-888-242-2100 if you’re in Canada. You can also submit an inquiry online from their web form. These options will take the longest to get a respond usually.
Required Information for Status Check
While you can check your application status online, there’s still a process you’ll need to follow. Before you look for an application status update, it’s important to know what you’ll need. That way, you can easily check without the task taking longer than necessary. You’ll need:
- Application Number or ICU (Unique Client Identifier): Every visa application has a UCI or number assigned to it.
- Passport Number: Make sure that you use the passport number of the passport that you used when you created your application.
- Date of Birth: The date of birth has to be the same one you put on your application.
- Visa Application Type: Know what type of visa you applied for, whether it’s an electronic travel authorization, work permit, study permit, etc.
- Login Credentials: If you’re using the IRCC website, you’ll need the username and password you created.
Understanding Status Updates
Once you’ve submitted your visa application, you can check your application status whenever you want. There are several application statuses that you might see when you do so:
- Submitted: This application status means that your visa application has been received by the IRCC but they haven’t begun processing it. This is the first application status you’ll see.
- In Progress: When you see this application status, the IRCC will start reviewing your application. You migh tsee this status for a long time as they go through your application details and make their decision.
- Decision Made: This means that you will receive an email or other communications from the IRCC that they’ve made a decision regarding your visa application.
- Approved: If your application is approved, then you’ll receive a message about the next steps you’ll need to take to complete the application process entirely.
- Refused: This means that they didn’t approve your visa application for one reason or another.
- Passport Request: You’ll see this application status when they approve your visa, and they need your passport for stamping.
Processing Times
Processing times after you’ve submitted your visa application will vary. Every application is different, and what causes the processing times to fluctuate are:
- How complete and accurate all the documents you submitted are
- Your country of residence
- The type of visa you applied for
- The current application volume at the time of submittal
The IRCC does a good job of providing processing times to people, but the times can change without reason. All the times they provide are estimates, and hypothetically, just because the processing time is two weeks for the visa category you applied for doesn’t mean your application might take longer.
What to Do If Your Application Is Delayed
If you’ve checked the estimated processing time for similar visas that you’ve applied to, but yours is taking longer, some things you can do are:
- Double-check the Processing Time: Make sure you look at the right visa category when you’re checking processing times. Some visas take longer to process than others. Also, make sure you’re counting days from the day that the IRCC received your application.
- Use the IRCC Web From: You can submit an application status inquiry to see if there are any issues with your application or if they just haven’t gotten to it yet.
- Check to See if Your Missed Any Communications: Be sure to look through your email folders to make sure you didn’t miss any messages from the IRCC about your visa application.
- Contact the IRCC Client Support Centre: If you prefer to speak with a real person about your status, you can call the IRCC Client Support Centre.
- Consulting with an Immigration Consultant or Lawyer: If you think there’s a significant reason your application is being delayed, you might want to speak with a professional who knows about immigration and Canadian visas.
Checking your application status is a great feature that the IRCC has provided so no one has to simply wonder what’s going on with their visa application. While it can be frustrating, being patient is always best. Delays happen and as long as you are prepared and know what to do if you fee like it’s taking abnormally long.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I check my visa status?
It’s recommended that you check your visa application status once a week or every two weeks. If you check too often, you’ll likely not see any real updates but regularly checking it can make sure that you’re aware of your status as the application is processed.
Can I check the status of my visa application if I applied through a VAC?
Yes, you can. You’ll need to use the eCAS tool on the IRCC website and include your application number and other personal information to identify yourself.
What should I do if I lose my application number or UCI?
If you don’t know what your application number or your UCI is, you can check for any messages you have from the IRCC to see if it’s on there, log into your IRCC account to request your application number, or use the IRCC web form to request the number.