Receiving an Additional Document Request (ADR) from IRCC should be a positive step in your immigration journey. It means your application is being actively reviewed, and the officer needs more information to finalize a decision.
But what happens when the IRCC portal does not allow you to upload the requested documents?
This is not a rare glitch. It is a systemic problem — and when applicants don’t know how to respond correctly, it often leads to wrongful refusals.
At Fateh Law Corporation, we regularly see clients refused not because they failed to comply, but because IRCC failed to properly process the documents they submitted
This blog explains:
✔ What to do when no upload slot is available
✔ How to protect yourself legally
✔ Why screenshots and proof matter
✔ How wrongful refusals happen
✔ How the Federal Court can fix these mistakes
✔ Why you need a Canadian barrister, not just an agent
When IRCC Gives You an ADR but No Upload Option Exists
One of the most frustrating situations applicants face is this:
You receive an ADR.
You log into your IRCC portal.
There is no place to upload the documents.
You panic.
You wait.
You assume the system will update.
And then…You get refused.
IRCC later claims:
❌ You failed to comply
❌ You ignored the request
❌ You did not submit documents
❌ You violated Section 16(1) of IRPA
But in reality, you tried.
What You MUST Do When There Is No Upload Slot
If you ever receive an ADR and the portal does not allow uploads, you should immediately take these steps:
1. Submit Through the IRCC Web Form
The IRCC web form is the official alternative channel for document submission.
You can send multiple web forms if necessary.
This is not optional — it is critical.
2. Take Screenshots of EVERYTHING
This includes:
✔ Upload confirmation pages
✔ Submission screens
✔ Attachments
✔ Time stamps
Your screenshots become your legal evidence.
3. Save the Confirmation Emails
IRCC sends automated emails confirming:
✔ Your web form was received
✔ Your documents were forwarded to the responsible officer
These emails are not just notifications — they are legal proof.
How Wrongful Refusals Happen
We recently handled a case where:
• The client received an ADR
• There was no upload slot
• Documents were submitted via web form
• Screenshots were taken
• Confirmation emails were saved
Yet IRCC still refused the application under Section 16(1), claiming:
“The applicant failed to comply with the document request.”
This is a false refusal.
This is not a credibility issue.
This is not a merits issue.
This is an administrative failure.
Why Reconsideration Is Often Not Enough
Many applicants try to fix this by sending reconsideration emails.
But here’s the truth:
IRCC is not legally obligated to review reconsideration requests.
There is no deadline.
There is no duty.
There is no accountability.
Your file can simply be ignored.
Federal Court: The Only Real Remedy
When IRCC commits an administrative error like this, there is often only one real solution:
⚖️ Judicial Review in the Federal Court of Canada
Federal Court allows us to:
✔ Prove documents were submitted
✔ Expose system failures
✔ Show procedural unfairness
✔ Challenge unreasonable refusals
✔ Hold IRCC accountable
✔ Force redetermination
While the success rate in such cases is high, the process is:
• Legally complex
• Time-consuming
• Expensive
• Stressful
This is why prevention is always better than cure.
Deadlines Matter — And They Are Strict
If you miss your deadline, you lose your right to justice.
⏳ Inside Canada: 15 days
⏳ Outside Canada: 60 days
These are not flexible.
These are not suggestions.
These are statutory deadlines.
Once missed, your refusal becomes permanent.
Only a Canadian Barrister Can Go to Federal Court
Many people don’t realize this:
❌ Consultants cannot go to the Federal Court
❌ Agents cannot go to the Federal Court
❌ Foreign lawyers cannot go to the Federal Court
Only a Canadian Barrister & Solicitor can represent you in a judicial review.
This is why choosing the right legal team from the beginning matters.
Why Clients Choose Fateh Law Corporation
At Fateh Law Corporation, we don’t just file applications.
We build litigation-ready cases.
That means:
✔ Every document is preserved
✔ Every submission is recorded
✔ Every legal risk is anticipated
✔ Every refusal is analyzed
✔ Every deadline is tracked
✔ Every error is challenged
We regularly challenge:
• Wrongful refusals
• ADR compliance errors
• Portal failures
• Procedural unfairness
• Misinterpretation of evidence
• Systemic IRCC mistakes
Don’t Let a System Error Destroy Your Future
Many of our clients come to us after saying:
“I did everything right… but I was still refused.”
In many of these cases, they are correct.
The problem is not them.
The problem is the system.
And systems only change when they are challenged.
If You Have Been Wrongly Refused, Act Now
If IRCC refused you saying:
• You didn’t submit documents
• You ignored an ADR
• You failed to comply
• You violated Section 16(1
And you know you did — this is not the end.
This is the moment to fight back.
Contact Fateh Law Corporation
We specialize in:
✔ Federal Court litigation
✔ Wrongful refusal challenges
✔ Mandamus applications
✔ Procedural fairness cases
✔ Complex immigration matters
Your future deserves more than silence.
📞 Book a consultation with Fateh Law Corporation today.
⚖️ Let a Canadian barrister protect your rights.
🇨🇦 Don’t let an administrative error decide your destiny.
