Attention travelers to Canada: IRCC requires a new application form for your visitor visa

Posted 09/09/2021

For all visitor visa applicants who submitted their applications before September 7, 2021, the Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship and Canada (IRCC) recommends that all must submit a new application through its portal if you are travelling due to either of the following reasons:

to unite with an immediate family member who is a Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or permanent resident of Canada
to unite with an immediate family member who is in Canada temporarily
to unite with an extended family member who is a Canadian citizen, person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or permanent resident of Canada.
to visit on business (meeting, special event, training)
to attend an end-of-life ceremony or funeral
to be present during the final moments of life of a loved one
to provide care to a critically ill person
to join a vessel as a marine crew member
to assume a posting as a diplomat or to travel as an accompanying immediate family member of a diplomat arriving on posting who will also be accredited in Canada
to handle the affairs of a victim of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 (source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html)

In submitting a new application, keep in mind that an applicant’s current information and previous application number must be included. Once the new application is submitted, the previous application will automatically be pulled out and there is no guarantee that for a refund nor a letter of confirmation that the previous application has been withdrawn.

If an applicant has no intention to travel to Canada at the moment, there is no need to submit a new application and their application process will carry on. However, if the applicant no longer wishes to travel to Canada, they can submit a request for their application to be withdrawn via IRCC’s web form, but there is also no guarantee that they will receive a refund.