Operational Bulletin 358 - November 10, 2011

Confirmation of Permanent Residence Document Amendments

Issue

The purpose of this Operational Bulletin (OB) is to update procedures for corrections and modifications of information on the Record of Landing (ROL) or the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document.

Background

The ROL or COPR document is the official record of the grant of permanent resident (PR) status, as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). The ROL or COPR is an historical document that contains information that was relevant at the time permanent residence status was granted. It is not an ongoing identity document and may only be amended under certain circumstances.

The Information on the ROL or COPR corresponds to the information in the original passport or travel documents used for the client’s permanent residence application. Changes to this document will only be done when it is established that a departmental error was made at the time permanent residence was granted. For such instances, an amendment to the ROL or COPR may be requested as per the instruction guide and forms available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.

Amendment Policy

A ROL or COPR may only be amended to correct errors made by CIC in recording the information an applicant provided when applying to come to Canada. The process ensures, to the greatest extent possible, that information contained on a ROL or COPR is protected against misrepresentation when a request to amend information form is submitted. Where discrepancy exists, the data on ROL or COPR is recognized as being the most reliable and accurate information available, since it was given under a certified statement at the time permanent residence was granted. An applicant has the opportunity to review and correct the information contained in the document, and as well as correct any errors which may have occurred, before the document is issued.

Inland CIC Offices

In cases where a departmental error is discovered by either CIC staff or a client on a COPR before permanent residence is granted, the CIC staff will verify that the information is in fact incorrectand then proceed to notify the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville (CPC-V) of the error by e-mail. CPC-V will delete the COPR and generate a new one in the Field Operations Support System.

In cases where a client claims there is an error on the COPR after permanent residence has already been granted, they will be instructed to visit the CIC website to request an amendment to the ROL or COPR. The instruction guide informs clients which documents are required to complete the request for an amendment form.

Visa Offices

Visa offices will only correct errors made on PR visas that

• were issued by that office;
• are still valid; and
• have not yet been used for entry to Canada as a PR

The Visa office will amend the active record and reissue the PR visa. The original incorrect PR visa will be retained by the Visa officer for destruction as per standard controlled-form protocol. Visa officers will not consider requests to amend any documents after permanent residence has been granted. Applicants making such requests will be instructed to make such requests at a Port of Entry or an inland CIC office upon their return to Canada. Visa officers may, at their discretion, update the individual’s electronic file.

Contacts

For further information on any of the procedures outlined in this OB, please contact the Operational Management and Coordination Branch at OMC-GOC-Immigration@cic.gc.ca.