Your passport is ready for pickup means visa approved?

After you submit your visa application, the immigration authorities will start working on it.

During this period, they’ll request that you submit your passport.

This request means that your application has moved to the final processing stages.

At this stage, all your documents have been reviewed.

Read also: I made a mistake on my Canadian visa application, what should I do?

The request comes with specific instructions that you must follow, like how and where to submit your passport.

Which is usually at a visa application centre (VAC) or consulate or embassy.

If all goes well, the authorities will physically place the visa sticker in your passport, meaning your application has been approved.

However, this is not always the case. If you get this request, here’s what to expect – what it means.

Your passport is ready for pickup means visa approved

When you receive a message stating that “your passport is ready for pickup,” it means that the visa application process is complete, and your passport has been returned to the visa application centre (VAC) or consulate.

However, this message does not explicitly confirm whether your visa has been approved or denied.

Read also: Why is my Australian student visa taking so long?

Ordinarily, it just means that the processing of your application is finished, and your passport is ready for you to collect it.

Is it possible for your visa application to be rejected even after receiving a message that your passport is ready for pickup?

Of course, yes, the message does not in any way mean that your application has been approved.

You can go and pick up your passport only to discover that your application was rejected.

They just want you to come and pick up your passport – because they’re done with it.

Read also: How do I know if my Canadian visa is approved

They have made their decision – you’ll find out what the decision is when you open your passport.

When you get the message, it does not call for jubilation, wait until you see what’s on the inside.

What could be in the passport?

When you go to pick up your passport, there are two outcomes:

• Visa approval: Your passport will contain a visa stamp or visa sticker indicating that your visa application has been approved.

This is the outcome we all love the most, however, it’s not always what we get.

• Visa refusal: Alternatively, the passport can contain a refusal letter explaining why your visa application was denied.

The refusal letter will explain everything – the reasons for the denial and whether you can reapply or appeal the decision.

What to do if your visa is refused

If you open your passport and find a refusal letter instead of a visa, you have options.

• The refusal letter will outline the reasons why your visa application was denied.
• Depending on the reasons for refusal, you have the option to reapply.
• Take your time to address the issues mentioned in the refusal letter
• And strengthen your application.
• Reapply afterwords.
• If you believe that your visa was unfairly denied, you can appeal the decision.

What to do if your visa is approved

If you open your passport and find that your visa has been approved, congratulations!

The question is what next?

Check the visa sticker or stamp for accuracy. Make sure that your name, passport number, visa type, and dates of validity are all correct.

Read also: How long after my visa interview will I get my visa?

If you spot any errors, contact the visa office immediately to get them corrected.

Your visa will come with specific conditions, like entry and exit dates, the number of allowed entries, and any restrictions on work or study.

Read also: What happens after my visa is approved?

Read and understand these conditions, you need to follow them during your stay.

How long after a visa interview will I get my passport?

The time it takes to receive your passport after a visa interview ranges from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the processing time of the specific embassy or consulate.

How long can an embassy hold your passport?

An embassy can hold your passport for as long as it takes to process your visa application.

The exact time they’ll hold your visa depends on the complexity of your case and the current workload of the embassy.

Read also: Can I withdraw my Canada visa application and reapply?

Until they’re done processing your application and a decision is made, you won’t be asked to pick your passport.