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Inadmissibility · All applications

A11(1) — you must obtain the visa before you travel

The general authority officers cite when refusing. It confirms the officer must be satisfied you meet the requirements.

Common refusal groundThis is one of the most frequently cited grounds. It is fixable.
What the law actually saysIRPA s. 11(1)
A foreign national must, before entering Canada, apply to an officer for a visa or for any other document required by the regulations. The visa or document may be issued if, following an examination, the officer is satisfied that the foreign national is not inadmissible and meets the requirements of this Act.
Read it on the Government of Canada's site

What the officer actually meant

You will see A11(1) quoted in most refusal letters. On its own it is not a specific complaint — it is the provision that gives the officer the power to refuse when they are not satisfied.

Look past A11(1) in your notes to find the specific regulation cited beside it. That is the reason that actually matters.

Why this gets written

These are the situations that most often produce this finding. Your notes will usually name the specific one.

What actually fixes it

Fix the thing the officer named. Changing everything else at once usually makes a file look staged.

This is general information, not legal advice. Every file turns on its own facts. We have quoted the legislation above so you can check it yourself. For a misrepresentation finding under A40, speak to a Canadian immigration lawyer or an RCIC before you do anything.

Codes that usually appear with this one

Not sure this is the code in your notes?

Officers write several codes on one file, and only one of them is usually the real reason. Send us your notes and we will tell you which line actually decided your case — and what to do about it.

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