Is this IRCC email my AOR, and when should we expect a biometric instruction letter?

[CANADADREAMER786]

Hello,

We submitted a family-class sponsorship application. IRCC confirmed that it received our application on August 18, 2026. The email we received on October 9, 2026 provides a UCI and application number, although it does not use the term “Acknowledgment of Receipt” (AOR). Based on similar experiences shared here, I understand this may be the AOR. Could someone confirm?

The email says the next step is to pay the biometric fee if it was not included with the application. We paid the required fees in full, including the $85 biometric fee for the spouse:

• $660 application processing fee for the spouse
• $180 application processing fee for a child under one year old
• $85 biometric fee for the spouse

Since the biometric fee was already paid, should we simply wait for IRCC to issue the Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL), or should we send proof of payment through the IRCC web form? If we should send it, where can we find the visa office handling the application if it is not listed in the email?

We are also unable to link the application to an online account to check its status. Is this common at this stage, and is there anything we should do?

Thank you for any advice.

 

[Ash G.]

Not a consultant, just my take. Yes, that email is your AOR. IRCC doesn't always use the exact words "Acknowledgment of Receipt" in the email, but if it includes your UCI and application number and confirms they received your application, that's it.

Since you already paid the biometric fee with your application, you don't need to send proof of payment. Just wait for the Biometrics Instruction Letter (BIL) to come by email. It usually arrives within a few weeks of the AOR, but timelines can vary.

For linking the application to your online account, that can sometimes take a few weeks after AOR before the system lets you link it. Try again in a week or two using the UCI and application number from your email. If it still doesn't work after that, calling IRCC and asking them to help you link it over the phone has worked for others on this forum.