Step 5: Submitting Your Application

Deemed Rehabilitation

If you are applying for deemed rehabilitation, you do not need to submit an official application form. However, you can apply to a Canadian visa office for an opinion as to whether or not you will be deemed rehabilitated. For more information on this, click here. (Deemed Rehabilitation)

Individual Rehabilitation

If you are applying for individual rehabilitation and are living in Canada, you must mail your application to the Immigration Centre assigned to your area.

If you are applying for individual rehabilitation, living outside of Canada, and don’t have the proper visa to enter Canada (visitor, study or work), you must submit your application, along with all relevant visa applications (visitor, work or study) to the nearest Visa Application Center. To find the closest Visa Application Center, click here.

If you are living outside of Canada, already have the proper visa, and are only submitting an application for individual rehabilitation, you must submit your application by mail or courier to the visa office responsible for your area. For more information, click here.

TRP

Usually, a person can apply for a TRP from abroad or at a Canadian port of entry.  A person who was convicted of involvement in organized crime, however, has to apply for a TRP from abroad. Different application locations have different application procedures. To find out how to submit your application for a TRP, be sure to contact the specific visa office or Canadian port of entry at which you plan on applying for a TRP.

What Happens Next?

If you have submitted an application for individual rehabilitation or a TRP, your application will be reviewed and a positive or negative decision will be made. The decision will usually depend on the following factors:

• The number of crimes you have committed.
• The context in which the crime was committed.
• How serious the crime was.
• Your behaviour since committing the crime.
• Your explanation of the crimes.
• Your explanations on why you are not likely to re-offend.
• References you have received from members of your community.
• Reasons why you think you are rehabilitated.
• Your present circumstances.

Applications for individual rehabilitation can take more than a year to process.

Application times for TRPs can vary depending on whether or not it is important that the applicant enter Canada by a certain time.

If you have applied to a visa office for an opinion on whether you can be deemed rehabilitated, these application can take up to six months to process.

The following factors can speed up application processing:

• Making sure that you have provided all the documents and information that has been requested.
• Advising the visa office of a change to your contact information. This includes:
  • Mailing address.
  • Phone number(s).
  • Fax number.
  • E-mail address.

The following factors may delay the processing of an application:

• Missing signature on forms.
• Unclear photocopies of documents.
• Certified English or French translation not provided when required.
• The government deciding that additional analysis of information and documents is required.
• A medical condition that may require further tests.
• A criminal or security problem.
• Whether or not Canadian immigration officials need to consult with other government departments in Canada or abroad regarding your application.

Please click on How to Overcome a Finding of Inadmissibility for Past Criminal Activity for previous steps.