A Passport Request (PPR) is an official letter issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) after biometrics have been completed and all stages of the visa application process have been successfully finalized. This letter confirms that the applicant’s visa has been approved and requests that the passport be submitted to the embassy or visa office for visa stamping.

Unfortunately, this stage is also subject to various types of fraud. The unfortunate experience of Mr. Jack—who became a victim of immigration fraud after receiving a fake Passport Request letter—is a clear example of this type of scam:

Mr. Jack’s family (Mr. Jack, his spouse, and their 14-year-old child) applied for a Canadian visa through a fraudulent immigration agency. After paying significant fees and completing all required steps, including the submission of their application, the agency informed them that Passport Request letters had been issued for Mr. Jack and his child.

Overjoyed by the news, Mr. Jack sent both passports to the Canadian Embassy in Istanbul for visa pickup. However, after some time, the passports were returned, along with a notice stating that the Passport Request letters were fraudulent and had not been issued by IRCC.