Interviews with IRCC and CBSA
It is important to note that every interview experience is different and depends largely on the circumstances of the interview, the individual attending and the CBSA/IRCC officer. Nonetheless, what follows is a general summary of what you can expect.
Interviews at Port of Entries
A CBSA officer (or two officers) can conduct an interview at borders and airports in two parts. The first is to review official documents. An officer may ask to see your passport, visas and travel documents as well as those of any family members travelling with you to ensure that you are authorized to enter Canada. They may also ask questions about your health as well as other generic questions regarding criminal history, the purpose and duration of your stay, if you have come to Canada before and the circumstances of your departure. The second portion of the interview is a review of any items you are bringing into Canada. The CBSA officer will ask if you are bringing anything with you into Canada. If you are, then they will ensure that none of them are restricted or prohibited such as live animals or plants, firearms, ammunitions, fireworks, meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables or items from endangered or invasive species. If you are truthful, authorized to enter Canada and do not carry any prohibited items, these interviews are over relatively quickly. However, if an issue arises, a secondary investigation may be launched by the officer and you may be denied entry into the country.
Interviews Conducted by CBSA in-land
There are several reasons why CBSA may request your presence for an interview after you have entered Canada. The below is not an exhaustive list of all possible circumstances in which CBSA may ask you to attend an interview.
Some reasons include to provide you with a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment application or a decision on that application. They may also request your presence to fill out a section 44 report (also known as an admissibility report, prepared if there is reason to suspect an individual may be inadmissible). If you lose valid status in Canada (or if you never had status), you may be asked to report to an interview with CBSA. They may also ask you to bring documents with you such as valid and/or expired passports for you and all of your dependants, birth certificate(s) identity card, OHIP card, Social Insurance Card, proof of any matters pending before the Immigration and Refugee Board or Federal Court, any other documents issued by the Government of Canada, any documents regarding criminal matters. At the interview, you will be asked various questions, confirming your identity, immigration history, current activities, status in Canada and the status of any appeal you have. They will ask you about any family you have in the country.
If you have already been issued a removal order (by the Immigration and Refugee Board, for example), an interview will be requested, generally, to facilitate your removal. At the interview, they may ask you to come for another interview and purchase tickets to bring to the next interview to schedule removal. The tickets must be on or before a date on the removal order. Click here for more information on removal orders.
If the CBSA officer believes that you will not show up to the interview, they may detain you and directly facilitate your removal. Alternatively, if a removal order has not been issued, CBSA may call you for an interview and issue you a removal order at the interview. For these interviews, you do not have a right to bring counsel/a representative to the interview, but it is up to the CBSA officer to allow counsel/a representative to remain in the interview room.
The content and experience at an interview with the CBSA officer depend largely on your circumstances and the reason for the interview. They are not all positive or negative; for example, sometimes individuals are called in for interviews to provide further information regarding a specific matter. However, a consistent theme in all interviews is the requirement to provide truthful answers and bring any documentation that is requested of you, if possible.
Interviews Conducted by IRCC
When you make an application to enter Canada, you may be required to appear at an IRCC office before a visa officer who may ask you questions in order to assess your application. Although interviews are most commonly convoked for spousal sponsorship applications, IRCC may request an interview for any type of application. Interviews can take place in Canada or overseas. When you receive a letter requesting your presence for an interview, you are required to attend. If you are unable to attend, you must inform IRCC and provide an explanation before the date of the interview at which point, they may reschedule your interview for a different day. You can do this by sending a letter to the IRCC office that scheduled your appointment or by filling out a Web form online. If you miss the interview, you must contact IRCC with an explanation within a certain amount of time.
The
time that you have to contact IRCC is indicated in the letter IRCC sent you
with the interview information. You can inform IRCC why you missed the
appointment by letter or by using the online Web form. If you fail to inform
IRCC why you missed the interview in the prescribed time limit, your
application may be closed and you must apply again. IRCC may also request that
you bring certain documents with you to the interview such as passports,
identity documents and any other evidence they believe is relevant to your
application.
At the interview, the officer may ask generic questions such as why you want to move to Canada, religious views, hobbies, employment and education. The visa officer will also ask questions tailored to your application. For example, if you have applied for spousal sponsorship, they will ask questions to ensure that your marriage is genuine. These questions can cover when you and your spouse met, details about each other lives and families as well as if you have consummated the relationship. It is important to note that the officer will most likely make notes during the interview and anything you say can be used to make a decision in your application. It is therefore important that you answer truthfully. If the officer believes you are not being truthful, your application may be refused and you may have been found to misrepresented which carries a ban from Canada for 5 years. Preparation makes a big difference.
What to do next?
If you are scheduled for an interview with IRCC or CBSA and would like assistance, we encourage you to contact Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC.
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What Our Clients Say
Our special thanks to Ms Keely Anderson and Ms Alexandra Goncharova for their efforts and due diligence in pulling together a compelling submission in support of my husband’s rehabilitation application due to criminal inadmissibility. This was a complex case, refused once because of incompleteness and lack of transparency then put on hold for 2 years due to the covid pandemic. We subsequently reapplied with BLG upon the advice that they were the best. It was a long journey and they don’t come cheap but the result speaks for itself. We were invited to meet with the Reviewing Officer in IRCC London who said the application was so well documented that no questions remained and we were granted approval then and there. It’s been a 5-year journey but the freedom one feels to be able to travel back and forth with my husband to Canada cannot be underestimated. We are now free to apply for my husband’s permanent residency for which we will always be grateful to BLG for making it possible. Thank you.
I was immigrating from the United States to Canada. Whole process went very smooth. Viola Gniadek provided me with very clear Instructions and was there any time I had a question to help me through the process. She deserves more than 5 stars! I would recommend this firm to anyone interested in immigrating.
My wife and I worked with Bellissimo Law Group on a very complex spousal sponsorship application. Our relationship started long-distance and lasted three years before we got married, without having met in person. This raised several red flags in the immigration process. From the beginning, we knew we were facing a difficult case that needed serious legal guidance. After doing thorough research, Bellissimo stood out for their experience with complicated immigration cases, and they lived up to that reputation.
Our consultant and main point of contact was Viola Gniadek. She was professional, honest, and very precise. She responded to our concerns whenever something about the case worried us and was always flexible with us in terms of availability. I remember it was during a weekend and she was still double-checking and completing our forms as we had a submission deadline on Monday. You will be lucky to have her handle your case. The firm took time to understand the complexity of our case and worked closely with us over several months to prepare over 300 pages of documentation. What I appreciated most was how careful they were with every word submitted. In immigration law, even one unnecessary detail can be used against you, and Bellissimo knew how to manage that risk with skill and strategy.
With their guidance, we submitted a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application, even though they had warned us clearly that, due to the circumstances and the country involved, there was a high chance of refusal. But they also had a plan in place from the start to appeal it if that happened. The TRV was refused, as expected, but we followed through on the appeal. IRCC later offered us a settlement, and our application was reopened. We were given a second chance, and even without much new documentation, the TRV was approved within 15 days of reopening. That moment changed everything.
Thanks to that approval, my wife and I have been together in Canada since March 20. Her spousal sponsorship application was finalized and approved shortly after, but had we not pursued and won the TRV appeal, we would likely still be separated due to delays with passport stamping and processing. That TRV win was a turning point not just legally, but personally.
Later, we were invited for a spousal sponsorship interview, which showed that the officer remained skeptical of our case. Bellissimo helped us prepare thoroughly for the interview, which was a separate legal process with additional fees. But the preparation paid off. After seeing how our TRV refusal had been overturned and how well our case had been built, it would have been very difficult for an officer to justify a refusal at that point. It was clear to them that we were not only committed but had the legal backing to defend ourselves through every stage of the system.
One important thing I want to stress is that just because you can apply on your own does not mean you always should. I have seen people succeed without a lawyer, and I have seen many people fail and remain stuck in the system for years due to refusals or misrepresentation. Legal support is expensive, yes, but you need to consider what is truly at stake. Your future, your time, your peace of mind, and your chance to be with the person you love, these are far more valuable than saving a bit of money upfront.
Also, do not assume that a cheaper option means better value. It might cost less, but if they do not understand the complexity of your case or submit something careless, it could cost you far more in the long run. This is your life. Do not cheap out.
If your case is complicated like ours, Bellissimo Law Group is absolutely worth it. They do not make empty promises. They know exactly what they are doing. I am deeply grateful for their work and recommend them without hesitation. Thank you, Mr. Bellissimo and the entire team.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Bellissimo Law Group to resolve a misrepresentation issue on my permanent residency application, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. From the very beginning, their team was incredibly responsive and attentive, making sure I was informed and comfortable with every step of the process.
Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout my case. They meticulously reviewed all the details, provided clear and professional advice, and guided me through the complex legal landscape with ease. Their support was unwavering, and they always made themselves available to answer any questions or concerns I had.
Thanks to Bellissimo Law Group, my permanent residency application was successfully resolved, and I am now a proud resident of Canada. If you are looking for a law firm that truly cares about their clients and delivers outstanding results, look no further than Bellissimo Law Group.
I highly recommended Bellissimo Law Group for both legal and the process of application for immigration. The team handled my 2 cases brilliantly. They are very knowledgeable and the work and service are outstanding and very professionally done. Viola Gniadek, Christopher Colette and Punya Bagga handled my first case for my nephews and Michelle Boeriu on the second case for my brother. These two cases have been approved. Thank you with all my heart for the job well done. I really appreciate your valuable work and services. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the team and Belllissimo Law Group.
I scheduled a consultation with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group and was incredibly pleased with how helpful they were. Not one, but two lawyers were on the call to advise me, and they took the time to look into all possible immigration options for me and my family. I had done a lot of research prior to speaking with them, but that consultation made me realize how difficult the process would be without a law firm that keeps up with the frequent policy changes. They offered invaluable advice and I will definitely hire them to create my profile when I have everything together.
Lijing was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions in great detail. I highly recommend Bellissimo for immigration issues!
Thank you Belissimo Law Group for helping my husband and I navigate through his PR application. It’s difficult to know who to trust, especially with matters as sensitive and complex as immigration but I am so happy that I made the choice and chose BLG. They not only have an incredible comprehension of immigration law but also a great deal of compassion and consideration for their clients. I truly enjoyed working with them and I feel grateful that there are people out there working hard to make a positive impact on someone else’s life like they did with mine. Thank you again BLG, I would recommend your services to anyone in the same or similar situations!
On a side note, for people out there who are thinking about hiring an immigration consultant, please talk to a law firm first. Some consultants charge the same or more for their services without needing to have a good comprehension of immigration laws.
I highly recommend Bellissimo Law Group for their exceptional expertise and dedication to immigration law. Their team demonstrates a deep understanding of complex legal matters and provides thorough, personalized guidance throughout the entire process. They are professional, responsive, and committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for their clients. Especially, thanks to Lijing and Shuai for assisting us on our case to achieve great outcome.
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