What the letter is
Procedural fairness means you must know the issue to be decided, and if the decision relies on evidence you did not provide, you must be able to learn of it and respond. On possible misrepresentation, IRCC's instruction is that a person should always be given the opportunity to respond to the concerns.
A PFL is therefore not a request for missing forms. It says an officer has concerns, and your reply is the chance to set out the facts before a decision. The deadline is the one stated in your letter.
Source: IRCC: Natural justice and procedural fairness (citizenship instructions); IRCC: Use of representatives, misrepresentation, checked 2026-10-17.
Common concerns
| Concern | What applies |
|---|---|
| Job duties that do not match the job, or copied from the NOC description | Possible refusal; section 40 if it amounts to misrepresentation |
| A past visa refusal by another country not declared | Withholding a material fact that could induce an error can be misrepresentation under section 40 |
| Whether a marriage or partnership is genuine | A relationship that is not genuine, or entered into mainly to get status, is not recognised |
| A health condition that might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services | Section 38(1)(c); does not apply to sponsored spouses, common-law partners and children |
Source: IRPA section 40; IRPA section 38; IRCC: Assessing the relationship, checked 2026-10-17.
What a misrepresentation finding means
- Inadmissible for 5 years: from the final determination if it was made outside Canada, or from the date the removal order is enforced if it was made in Canada.
- No permanent residence application during that period.
- Also: the application is refused, you could have a permanent record of fraud with IRCC, and misrepresentation in a citizenship application bars a new one for 5 years.
Source: IRPA section 40; IRCC: Consequences of immigration and citizenship fraud, checked 2026-10-17.
Preparing your reply
- Read the concerns: list every point the letter raises; answer each one.
- One account: stop sending scattered emails and web form questions; inconsistent explanations go on your file.
- Written statements: declarations from you and relevant witnesses, setting out the facts in order.
- Third-party evidence: records that can be checked, such as tax notices of assessment, payroll records and employer documents.
- One complete reply: submitted within the deadline in the letter, matched point by point to the concerns.
If a representative filled in your application
You are responsible for all the information in your application, even if a representative completes it. For immigration applications, the officer weighs whether you should have known your representative was not authorized; for citizenship, a representative's misrepresentation can count against you even without your knowledge or consent.
Source: IRCC: Consequences of immigration and citizenship fraud; IRCC: Use of representatives, misrepresentation, checked 2026-10-17.
If you have received a PFL, book a consultation.