DIY Reconsideration Request: Do’s and Don’ts for Document Selection

Asking IRCC to reconsider a refusal is knowing which documents to send. It’s a trap many applicants fall into: you want to send more proof to show why you qualify.

But a reconsideration is not a new application. You are asking an officer to fix a mistake they made based on what you already gave them.

If you send brand new evidence, they will usually ignore it and tell you to re-apply. If you send documents that contradict what you said the first time, you could get banned for misrepresentation.

Use this checklist to make sure the documents you choose help your case instead of hurting it.

The "Dos" (How to Clarify Their Mistake)

• DO get the officer’s notes (GCMS notes) first. You can't fix a mistake if you don't know exactly what the mistake was. Order your GCMS notes so you can see the officer's actual, detailed reasons for saying "no." Your request needs to tackle those specific reasons head-on. Alternatively, use Officer decision notes (ODN), which now are included in refusal letters in brief form.

• DO point out things they missed. The best arguments happen when you can prove the answer was right there in your original application. Tell them exactly where to look: "Please see page 3 of the file named 'Employment_Letter.pdf' which shows my full-time hours."

• DO use new documents only to explain old ones. If you send something they haven't seen before, you must explain how it clarifies something you already sent.

  • Example: "I am attaching a letter from my bank manager. This letter explains what the code 'TRF-101' meant on the bank statement I submitted originally."

• DO focus only on the big mistakes. Only mention errors that actually caused the refusal. If they refused you because of finances, don't waste their time fixing a typo in your address. Focus on what matters.

• DO politely remind them they have the power to fix errors. You don't need to quote legal cases. Just politely state in your letter that you are requesting they exercise their discretion to correct a clear factual error made in the previous decision.

The "Don’ts" (How to Avoid Making It Worse)

• DON'T send anything that contradicts your first application. This is the biggest danger. If your new document proves your old application forms were wrong (for example, the new document shows you were working for Company B when your original form said Company A), they might accuse you of lying

  ("misrepresentation"). This can lead to a 5-year ban.

• DON'T just try to argue better. Don't send a slightly better version of a document they already saw. If they looked at your reference letter and decided it wasn't detailed enough, sending a longer version of the same letter usually won't work. They aren't required to look at the same thing twice.

• DON'T use documents dated after you were refused. These almost always count as "new evidence" and will be ignored. Save these for a brand-new application. (The only rare exception is a document dated later that proves something that was already true before the refusal, like receiving a physical degree certificate months after you actually graduated).

• DON'T wait too long. There isn't an official deadline, but time is against you. If you wait longer than about 30 days after getting the refusal letter, the officer is much less likely to look at your request. Act fast.