My eTA has not been automatically approved, what could have happened?

The eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is a requirement imposed by Canada for those foreigners exempted from the visa requirement who wish to arrive by air to the country. This authorization to fly to Canada is linked to the applicant's passport and is valid for a maximum of 5 years.

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Did you know that if you are a national of a visa-exempt country you do not need an eTA if you arrive by land, sea or train ?

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The eTA application process is done online, and normally takes a few minutes to be approved. However, in certain circumstances, this response does not occur automatically and you receive an email stating that your file is being reviewed, and that you will receive more information in the next 72 hours. This process, although not frequent, is more normal than you might think, and can generate anxiety if you do not know the possible causes of it.

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In these cases, the review, which is normally automatic, is transformed into a manual review by an immigration officer.

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 What can cause the process to go through a manual review:

1.Mistakes: It could be that you have made a mistake in your passport number, date of passport issuance or expiration, date of birth, or even that you have interchanged the order of your first and last names. These errors are easily avoided by carefully checking the form before making the payment. These errors rarely result in a rejection of the eTA, but could result in a delay in approval. 

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2. Have health problems: Among the questions included in the application, there are questions about the person's health, to verify that he/she is not a risk for the Canadian population. Therefore, if you answer that you have had health problems or have been in contact with people with certain diseases, they may review whether it is still a risk to allow you to travel to the country. 

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3. Being on a security database: If your name appears on any record related to security issues, criminal record, drunk driving (considered a crime in Canada), or if unfortunately, your name matches the name of someone who is, a manual check occurs to verify that you do not pose a danger to Canada. You may also experience delays in the processing of your application if it is related to any other problem of violence, human rights violations or organized crime.

4. Previous immigration problems: If you have had previous visa refusals in Canada or other countries, or have been asked to leave a country, or have been deported, it is likely that the immigration officer will review your application manually. This does not mean that the application will be rejected, they just want to make sure that you meet the requirements to allow you to enter Canada. It is very important not to hide or omit any information. 

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5. Lying: Misrepresentation includes omitting or misrepresenting the truth, as well as withholding relevant information when completing the questions on your eTA application. If the system considers that the information obtained does not match previous information that may be found in a Canadian immigration record, or that of any other country that shares information for security reasons with Canada, an immigration officer will assess whether you are lying or concealing information. You may be asked for more information or proof of facts at that time, and a determination will be made. If the immigration officer finds that you have committed fraud (misrepresentation), your eTA application will be rejected and you may be banned from entering Canada for up to 5 years.

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In short, after analyzing the possible causes of delay of your eTA application, make sure that you have not made any of the mistakes described above and in any case, cooperate with the immigration officer if you require any additional clarifying information. We recommend that you start the application process as soon as possible to avoid any complications that could delay your trip to Canada. 

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If you would like us to help you with your eTA application, you can click on the link.

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With Love,

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Immiland.

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