What is an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) in immigration Canada?
Acknowledgment of Receipt or AOR in Canada is an official letter from IRCC. It marks the date IRCC has received your application. Of course, AOR is independent of the application type. For example, it could cover the following application types:
- Immigration (permanent residence)
- Work permit
- Study permit
- Citizenship
- Visit visa (TRV)
- Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
- Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC)
Of course, this list could go on and on. Let’s get to work and explain AOR in more detail.
Acknowledgement of Receipt for online and on-paper applications
An AOR letter reflects when the IRCC mail room receives a paper application. Consequently, when you submit your application, the AOR date must match when the courier registered the application’s receipt. Of course, if you use regular mail, you can’t compare the dates. Therefore, it is in your best interest to use a mailing service that offers to track information. If an anomaly happens, you could use the tracking information for reconsideration, appeal or judicial review cases.
When you submit an online application, the AOR date is when you pay the fees and click the submit button. However, the system may register the date one day later. Of course, this is usually due to the time zone difference or glitches in the system. To be on the safe side, submit your online applications before 2 pm EST. Of course, this timing is not mandatory and reflects my personal experience. Also, remember they post your official AOR on the online profile.
Why is the date on an AOR letter important in Canada?
The date on the AOR letter marks the date IRCC received your application. However, it becomes imperative in certain situations. Here are some examples:
- The age lock-in date of children in Federal immigration is the AOR date. Therefore, if your child was 21 at the AOR time, their age remains 21 for the rest of the application. Consequently, if they don’t marry, they remain as part of the application.
- In a Federal Self-employed Class, the AOR date is an essential component of the qualifying period.
- The date marked on your AOR letter for PR card renewals and citizenship applications plays a role in calculating your eligibility.
This list is not comprehensive but shows how the date on the Acknowledgement of Receipt letter could change an application’s direction.
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Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada
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