As IRCC backlog continues to grow out of control, there are a few things you could do as an applicant to prevent your application from being stuck in the “Review Required” phase.

Ordering Global Case Management System notes is one of the common practices to know the status or details of your application.

You can get the notes by accessing information requests to IRCC via mail or online. The notes provide an overview of the processing details of your immigration/visa application.

Candidates can view specifics of the IRCC’s case evaluation through these notes. The evaluation looks at eligibility, local or international human rights violations, medical issues, criminal activity, etc.

These notes sometimes reflect a “review required” flag. The phrase “review required” theoretically enables a junior IRCC analyst to draw the attention of a more senior visa officer to a specific problem and seek action, such as rejecting the application or requesting more supporting documentation.

However, in reality, it just means that when the IRCC slowly attempts to clear its application backlog, your file is more likely to get trapped at the bottom of the stack.

Unfortunately, as a result, anything that requires more thought or extra effort is delegated lower on the list of priorities and frequently set aside for review at later time.

The issue for the IRCC is that visa officers are overwhelmed by a volume of applications, frequently leaving no one with the capacity to handle the more complex “review required” applications.

Three reasons why your application may receive a “review required” flag

Lack of sufficient funds

Candidates must demonstrate they have the financial resources necessary to settle in Canada to be considered for one of the permanent residence streams.

If IRCC staff believe that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates have reduced an applicant’s cash holdings below the Canadian dollar threshold, they may flag the file for review.

Another reason may include providing incorrect supporting documents, such as non-liquid assets like bonds or real estate, to satisfy the criteria.

Typically, the applicant will receive a notice and an opportunity to respond to a procedural fairness letter when currency fluctuations arise.

Failure to meet the proof of funds requirements and response to the letter may result in the application’s rejection.

When you first notice a “review required” flag, it is best to take proactive steps to resolve it as soon as possible rather than waiting for IRCC to reach out.

Depending on the category that received the review required tag, you should provide updated or more information to IRCC.

For example, if proof of funds is an issue, you should present updated bank statements proving your financial stability, preferably with enough extra funds to cover future currency fluctuations.

Employment history

Visa officers may flag the file for review if they believe your work experience is not verifiable or if there is a discrepancy between the employment confirmation documents and the qualifying NOC description.

In addition, a skilled worker’s eligibility is correlated with employment offers in specific National Occupation Classification (NOC) jobs.

To prevent the problem, ensure that you provide additional evidence or a sworn declaration outlining the probable problem.

Inadmissibility

Foreign nationals may be inadmissible to enter Canada for various reasons, such as past criminal activity abroad or domestically, health concerns, or application fraud.

When a person has previously been denied entry to Canada or any other country, IRCC officials frequently demand a review to determine whether the denial raises new concerns about their current admissibility.

Hence, revealing prior visa denials or immigration problems is crucial. However, not revealing may be viewed as a misrepresentation that could make you inadmissible to Canada for five years.

Additionally, even if you provided more information after receiving the dreaded notification that a review is required, your file would probably still be at the bottom of the list.

Therefore, ensure that you reveal all past visa rejections and entry denial along with a proper explanation to avoid getting flagged.