Received a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL)?
📩 Received a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL)? Here's what to do next.
A PFL is not a refusal. It is your opportunity to respond to an IRCC officer's concerns before a final decision is made on your application.
Those concerns often relate to document authenticity, inconsistent information, unclear work history, or possible misrepresentation under s. 40 of IRPA — a finding that can carry a five-year bar on entering Canada.
If you receive a PFL:
▪️ Note the response deadline stated in your letter and diarize it immediately.
▪️ Identify every concern the officer raised — not just the main one.
▪️ Re-read your full application and all documents already submitted.
▪️ Address each concern directly, with a clear explanation and supporting evidence.
▪️ Consider requesting your GCMS notes through ATIP if the concerns are unclear.
▪️ Speak with an RCIC or immigration lawyer before you submit.
An effective response is specific, evidence-based, and tailored to your file. Generic or template replies tend to leave the officer's concerns unresolved.
Start reviewing your file now — well before the deadline.
If you have received a PFL and are unsure how to respond, we can review your file and prepare your submission.
Kamale Djangirova | RCIC-IRB R1041042
LLMS Immigration and Citizenship Consulting Inc. | Brampton, Ontario
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