In the immigration process, it’s not uncommon for immigration officers to have significant questions or concerns regarding an applicant’s submission, potentially leading to a refusal of their application. In such instances, officers typically communicate their doubts or inquiries through official correspondence, often delivered via email. These correspondences are commonly referred to as Procedural Fairness Letters, or simply PFLs. They serve as a crucial means of ensuring fairness and transparency in the application process.

Instances of Receiving a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL)

There are various situations in which an applicant may receive a Procedural Fairness Letter. Some of these include:

• Suspected Misrepresentation: If an immigration officer suspects that an applicant has misrepresented themselves or provided false information in their application.
• External Source References: When officers refer to external sources, such as an applicant’s social media accounts, and contemplate refusal based on the information gathered from these sources.
• Incomplete Forms or Documents: When an officer believes that an application is missing required updates or necessary documents and considers refusal due to these omissions.
• Medical Inadmissibility Concerns: If there are concerns about an applicant’s medical admissibility to Canada.