Reconsideration request after refusal (Canada study permit)
Less formal than judicial review — direct request to the visa office to re-look at the file.
CanadaStudyReconsiderationIRCC
A reconsideration request is a non-statutory remedy in Canadian immigration. It is informal — IRCC may or may not act on it. It is faster (4-8 weeks) and cheaper (no fee) than judicial review (15-day filing window, CAD 50 fee, CAD 1,500-5,000 legal fees). Draft a reconsideration request for [CLIENT_NAME] (UCI: [UCI]) whose study permit was refused on [REFUSAL_DATE]. FORMAT Address to: "Visa Officer Re: Reconsideration Request — Study Permit Application Applicant: [CLIENT_NAME] (UCI: [UCI]) Original Refusal Date: [REFUSAL_DATE] Date: [TODAY]" §1 — ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (40-60 words) "I respectfully request that the Visa Officer reconsider the refusal of my study permit application dated [REFUSAL_DATE]. I appreciate that reconsideration is a discretionary remedy and submit the following grounds in support of this request." §2 — RESTATE REFUSAL GROUNDS (40-60 words) Quote [REFUSAL_GROUNDS] verbatim. Do not paraphrase — officers want to see the applicant understands what was decided. §3 — ADDRESS THE OFFICER'S CONCERNS WITH NEW EVIDENCE (200-300 words) For EACH ground in [REFUSAL_GROUNDS]: (a) State the concern. (b) Acknowledge it was a reasonable concern given the information available at the time of decision. (c) Present [NEW_EVIDENCE] that materially changes the picture. (d) Connect the new evidence directly to the specific concern. §4 — WHY RECONSIDERATION RATHER THAN REAPPLICATION (60-80 words) Briefly explain why reconsideration is appropriate here: • New evidence existed at the time but was not properly weighed • OR new evidence has emerged since (e.g. new bank statement, new employment letter) • Reapplying with the same facts likely yields the same result • Reapplying creates a longer record of refusals which itself becomes a future barrier §5 — REQUEST AND CLOSING (40-60 words) "In light of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Officer reconsider this application and approve a study permit. Should additional information be required, I am available at [EMAIL] / [PHONE]." ANNEXES — List each new document by letter. CRITICAL CONSTRAINTS: • Submit via the same channel as the original application (online portal — Web Form on canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-ircc/web-form.html). • Timing: as soon as possible after refusal, ideally within 30 days. After 90 days, reconsideration is unlikely to be granted; reapply or pursue JR. • Maximum 3 pages. • DO NOT include the original SOP again — only NEW material. • DO NOT use emotional appeals (financial hardship, family pressure) — officers discount these. PARALLEL TRACK NOTE: Always consider whether the 15-day Federal Court judicial review window has passed. If still open, file the JR application as a parallel track even while reconsideration is pending — JR rights are time-limited and cannot be revived. End with: "DRAFT RECONSIDERATION REQUEST — for RCIC review. URGENT: check if 15-day JR leave window is still open and advise client accordingly."
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