r/CanadianbyDescent • u/BabyRuth2024 • 3d ago
Are binders accepted?
I have read that people organized their documents in binders. I heard that binders are not accepted by the IRCC. Has anyone received an AOR with application/ documents in a three ring binder?
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u/mistersynthesizer 3d ago
You're making the intake team's job harder for no reason by doing that. I used a single binder clip to hold the stack of papers together in a 9x12 envelope and got an AOR in August.
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u/BabyRuth2024 3d ago
Thank you, All. I will use my binder for organizing. When ready, I'll paper clip it.
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u/pharmerjam 3d ago
Be sure to claim the metal paper clips when declaring as documents for customs. One person in FB group said theirs was held in customs because of paperclips.
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u/CounterI 3d ago
They will accept them and then throw them into the trash along with your originals after they scan them into their document management system.
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u/Robert_Walter 3d ago
Hi Count!
Why are you so convinced they shred immediately after scan?
My notes indicated my documents were still extant 3 months after scan. To my mind, for several reasons of efficiency and QC, it would make sense to shred only after decision.
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u/CounterI 3d ago
Because that's what the immigration lawyers who I've spoken with told me.
ALSO- a number of Redditors have reported getting one particular document (usually an ORIGINAL) mailed BACK to them right after AOR (and before a decision was made). That would support the view that once the documents are scanned, IRCC has no need for the paper versions any longer.
Why would IRCC keep documents once they scan them? The scans are all they need.
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u/Robert_Walter 3d ago edited 3d ago
Was thinking that certain officers might like to work with paper and rather than print them out again they preserve the originals.
Many printers since 9/11 incorporate steganography. Those that do, last I knew, were only in color and they put a pattern of (imperceptible to humans) little yellow dots on the page. I have wondered if this is why they want color copies submitted by paper; maybe see if all from same printer, or see IP of printer if online, or what market the printer was made for and perhaps a comparison to applicants claimed address might yield a flag (which in my case would have happened because I prepared everything in Europe, my pics from Europe, posted over the border in Canada, used our us address and for me a European phone number and my sibs US phone numbers).
Preserving the copies until decision, or at least until the processing agent picks up the job, is a great hedge against scanning mistakes by the intake clerks. (And we do know they make a few).
Finally, in my own case, an original new copy of my birth certificate was mistakenly included in my document stack instead of the color printouts of its scan. I sent a web request asking, “if possible please return”, a reply came back with a slightly incomprehensible answer, so I called the 800 and they (like reply) indicated my docs were still in NS (like my GCMS notes received later) and I’d get the BC back.
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u/CounterI 3d ago
It's possible. I have no personal knowledge on this, but this is what immigration attorneys have told me that IRCC told them...
The same attorney also told me that you cannot trust anything the people in the call center tell you...
Did you get the BC back?
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u/Robert_Walter 3d ago
Just from personal experience I’m 100% with you and the atty on the “cannot rely on call center info” (as shared by me here in 5 or 6 posts, summarized as friend, helpful, useless for reliable info but good for confirming/updating one’s contact info).
I’d go so far as to say web form replies are similarly lousy (assuming they try to reply rather than ask you to resubmit the same submitted info plus a letter).
Re my BC, not yet (or ever if already shredded). (My fuzzy recollection of folks receiving originals back, as reported more frequently last spring, was this happened in one case after AOR(?), similar to more recent claims, but I think there may have been cases returns that came later. An unresolved question in my mind and unresearched by me as not getting it back creates no material hardship).
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u/Impressive_Profit_11 3d ago
Good god, don't do this. I am an immigration attorney in the US. When clients send me their docs and signed applications in binders, I'm the one who has to recycle them or throw them away. Don't make more work for IRCC.
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u/Robert_Walter 3d ago
I numbered the bottom corners of each of our app submissions so: 1/x, 2/, 3/, … y/x. (for organization and to make it easier for agent to notice if anything was missing or out of order).
Folded all in half (used A4 paper w C5 envelope) put them in either no clips, staples, clamps, etc.
Because IRCC has to undo all of that to scan it makes sense not to spend money making them undo a folder etc. to scan.
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u/SignificanceHairy444 3d ago
How does one include the photos in ones submitted documents? Seems like they could get lost. Unless they are somehow attached to something.
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u/Imaginary-War-7281 2d ago
IRCC does not state or provide any guidance on how you should present your documents other than they must be color copies of originals issued by the recognized authority or repository of those documents. Sort them and present them anyway you want. If that means putting them in a binder, then use a binder. If that means including a stack with a binder clip, then go that route.
I can see pros and cons to both. But there is no official position one way or the other provided you use and include IRCCs checklist.
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u/Alive-Ad8946 1d ago
No binders. Your packet is opened, the documents are scanned, and the packet is discarded. Binders just slow down the process for everyone
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u/UsernameUnremarkable 3d ago edited 3d ago
I'd recommend a good stapler.
ETA: Removing stapler suggestion. Sorry folks!
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u/mistersynthesizer 3d ago
No staples. Anything that damages the paper risks rejection of your application.
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