Reconsideration request after refusal (Canada study permit)

A reconsideration request is a non-statutory remedy in Canadian immigration. It is informal — IRCC may or may not act on it. It is faster (4-8 weeks) and cheaper (no fee) than judicial review (15-day filing window, CAD 50 fee, CAD 1,500-5,000 legal fees).

Draft a reconsideration request for [CLIENT_NAME] (UCI: [UCI]) whose study permit was refused on [REFUSAL_DATE].

FORMAT
Address to: "Visa Officer
Re: Reconsideration Request — Study Permit Application
Applicant: [CLIENT_NAME] (UCI: [UCI])
Original Refusal Date: [REFUSAL_DATE]
Date: [TODAY]"

§1 — ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (40-60 words)
"I respectfully request that the Visa Officer reconsider the refusal of my study permit application dated [REFUSAL_DATE]. I appreciate that reconsideration is a discretionary remedy and submit the following grounds in support of this request."

§2 — RESTATE REFUSAL GROUNDS (40-60 words)
Quote [REFUSAL_GROUNDS] verbatim. Do not paraphrase — officers want to see the applicant understands what was decided.

§3 — ADDRESS THE OFFICER'S CONCERNS WITH NEW EVIDENCE (200-300 words)
For EACH ground in [REFUSAL_GROUNDS]:
  (a) State the concern.
  (b) Acknowledge it was a reasonable concern given the information available at the time of decision.
  (c) Present [NEW_EVIDENCE] that materially changes the picture.
  (d) Connect the new evidence directly to the specific concern.

§4 — WHY RECONSIDERATION RATHER THAN REAPPLICATION (60-80 words)
Briefly explain why reconsideration is appropriate here:
  • New evidence existed at the time but was not properly weighed
  • OR new evidence has emerged since (e.g. new bank statement, new employment letter)
  • Reapplying with the same facts likely yields the same result
  • Reapplying creates a longer record of refusals which itself becomes a future barrier

§5 — REQUEST AND CLOSING (40-60 words)
"In light of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Officer reconsider this application and approve a study permit. Should additional information be required, I am available at [EMAIL] / [PHONE]."

ANNEXES — List each new document by letter.

CRITICAL CONSTRAINTS:
• Submit via the same channel as the original application (online portal — Web Form on canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-ircc/web-form.html).
• Timing: as soon as possible after refusal, ideally within 30 days. After 90 days, reconsideration is unlikely to be granted; reapply or pursue JR.
• Maximum 3 pages.
• DO NOT include the original SOP again — only NEW material.
• DO NOT use emotional appeals (financial hardship, family pressure) — officers discount these.

PARALLEL TRACK NOTE:
Always consider whether the 15-day Federal Court judicial review window has passed. If still open, file the JR application as a parallel track even while reconsideration is pending — JR rights are time-limited and cannot be revived.

End with: "DRAFT RECONSIDERATION REQUEST — for RCIC review. URGENT: check if 15-day JR leave window is still open and advise client accordingly."