I’m a Nigerian citizen who was living in a non-EU European country when I applied for a Canadian visitor visa in 2024.
Before that, I had visa refusals from the UK, Belgium and Spain. I have the UK refusal letter, but the Belgium/Spain applications were handled by an agent at the time and I no longer have those letters.
For my 2024 Canadian application, a family friend in Ontario collected my documents and completed/submitted the application for me. I never saw or reviewed the form before submission. The previous-refusal question was answered “No.” The Canadian visitor visa was approved.
On September 21, 2026, while reviewing my old application before preparing a study permit application, I discovered the incorrect answer for the first time.
I understand I was ultimately responsible for reviewing the application, and I accept that not doing so was my oversight. However, I did not personally answer the question or knowingly instruct anyone to omit the refusals.
My main questions:
I’d appreciate experiences from anyone who has dealt with a similar third-party application error.
Before that, I had visa refusals from the UK, Belgium and Spain. I have the UK refusal letter, but the Belgium/Spain applications were handled by an agent at the time and I no longer have those letters.
For my 2024 Canadian application, a family friend in Ontario collected my documents and completed/submitted the application for me. I never saw or reviewed the form before submission. The previous-refusal question was answered “No.” The Canadian visitor visa was approved.
On September 21, 2026, while reviewing my old application before preparing a study permit application, I discovered the incorrect answer for the first time.
I understand I was ultimately responsible for reviewing the application, and I accept that not doing so was my oversight. However, I did not personally answer the question or knowingly instruct anyone to omit the refusals.
My main questions:
- Should I proactively correct/disclose this to IRCC before submitting my study permit application, or disclose it with the new application?
- Is it better to deal with the discrepancy now, or could proactively raising it create additional risk?
I’d appreciate experiences from anyone who has dealt with a similar third-party application error.
