How to view and fill out immigration forms
Leonardo, who is an Italian citizen, intends to immigrate to Canada. He realizes there are a few immigration forms he needs to fill out. However, Leonardo has difficulty in opening and filling out those forms. He wonders how to view and fill out Canadian immigration forms.
Table of contents
What is an immigration form?
IRCC is the authority that develops application forms for moving to Canada either temporarily or permanently. Nowadays, many immigration forms are online and in a format that most internet browsers support. However, many of them are still in PDF format. If you look at the lower left corner of these forms, their number appears. They always begin with IMM, indicating that the document belongs to the Canadian immigration system.
Other entities, such as ESDC and CBSA, may also produce immigration-related forms. These documents may follow their numbering system (e.g., ESDC EMP# or BSF#). Regardless, they are for immigration-related purposes.
How to view and fill out online immigration forms?
You must log in to your account first to access your online forms. Nowadays, IRCC offers several portals for various reasons. Here are some examples:
- The GCKey option or Sign-In Partner choice for a variety of applications, such as work permits, study permits, etc
- Application for Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- The IRCC portal for TRV and Refugee applications or downloading a Citizenship e-Certificate
- The Permanent Resident Portal for many PR applications and PR Travel Documents (PRTD)
This list is not inclusive and could change in the future. Nonetheless, licensed representatives may use different portals for PR applications, temporary resident applications, or handling immigration and refugee tribunal cases.
Most browsers support online forms, but here are the ones recommended by IRCC. Of course, you need to make sure your browser is up-to-date.
- Microsoft Edge (replacing Internet Explorer)
- Safari
- Firefox
- Google Chrome
Sometimes you need to fill out a PDF file and upload it to one of these portals.
How to view and fill out PDF forms
Most immigration forms are still in PDF format. These are the best practices to open, view, and fill out the PDF immigration or visa forms:
- Make sure to download the latest version of the form from the IRCC, CBSA, or ESDC websites.
- Use a desktop or laptop computer. Do not use your cell phone to fill out the immigration forms.
- Download and install the latest version of Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat. However, the latter is not free.
- Do not meddle with the file coding. For example, do not try to alter the form by printing it in PDF format. Most of these forms include special scripts that you may not modify.
- If the form has a validate button, validate them before submitting them.
Let us help!
One of our services is assisting clients in filling out their immigration forms. However, we usually do it as part of a service agreement. To help you, please book a consultation session with me. Alternatively, you may fill out our assessment forms. However, we will only contact you if we find an opportunity for you. For generic questions, you may fill out the following form.
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If you are interested in visiting or immigrating to Canada, please complete our free assessment form.
There is no fee for this assessment. We will review your information and contact you if we identify a suitable immigration pathway or other meaningful option for you.
If you would prefer direct advice about your specific situation, you may book a consultation session. This is a paid service and includes formal immigration advice from a licensed Canadian immigration practitioner.
Al Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Instructor, Ashton College, Immigration Consulting Program
Author of 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada and Inadmissibility to Canada for Human Rights Violations
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