In some cases, applicants may be required to provide a Letter of Explanation (LoE) with their application. This may be due to a missing document that could not be given, an incoherence that drew the notice of the immigration official examining your case, and so on. This letter could be needed for many different kinds of applications like Express Entry, a Work Visa, Student Visa, etc.
The LoE is also your means of sharing with immigration officials any additional information that is not on the submitted papers but that you believe is necessary for them to know.
You do not need to explain each supporting document that you are submitting along with your application – only the important parts you may have been missing or were incorrect in the first place.
When Do I Need to Write a Letter of Explanation Canada?
Here are a few situations when you may find a letter of explanation may be needed:
- Proof of work experience doesn’t include 100% of the required items
- Police certificate wasn’t ready in time
- Proof of funds doesn’t include 100% of the required items
How Do I Write a Letter of Explanation for a Canadian Visa?
Below are some simple guidelines for writing a successful Letter of Explanation:
- Only provide factual information
- Should be short and to the point. (You will want to keep the letter at about 1-2 pages)
- You do not need an index for your documents. The IRCC system gives you a personalized document checklist once you’ve completed all of the fields in the online form.
- You will ONLY want to write the LoE to explain an issue (ex: you didn’t meet the proof of funds or requirements, to explain something in your application which is not clear, etc.)
Remember that your letter will be examined by an immigration agent, not computers, so you will want to write it in a way that will persuade the agent that you have what it takes but just lack this or that piece of paper to prove it.
You will also want to provide any extra proof if it will allow you to build your case – but keep it simple. For example, if your letter of evidence of funds does not include your average account balance for the last six months (as needed), supplement it with bank statements.
How Do I Send a Letter of Explanation?
Make sure the letter of explanation is in the same file format (pdf, docx, etc.) as the document to which it refers. You will want to put the letter on the first page of the file so that it is the first thing the agent reads when they open it. Finally, upload the document normally, on the documents page on your “my application” page, on the “supporting documents” section.
You do not have to merge an LoE with every supporting document you provide along with your application.
Letter of Explanation Format
Below is a sample of a valid letter of explanation:
Do I Need a Letter of Explanation for a Canada Study Permit?
A Letter of Explanation is not a requirement for most when applying to study in Canada as an international student. Some Designated Learning Institutions require students to submit documents as part of the application process, while others do not.
When applying for a study permit, however, it is recommended that you submit a Letter of Explanation since it gives the immigration officer insight into your goals for studying in Canada.
Your LOE might be the deciding factor in getting you a study visa in Canada.
What About for a Canada Visitor Visa?
For the same reasons above, it is always recommended to submit an LoE with your visa application, but not required.
Do You Need Help with Your Canada Visa Application?
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VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor
Casey
Hello! I am one of VisaPlace's many immigration news contributors. Comment below if you have any questions or comments about this article.
