Spousal Status Misrepresentation in Express Entry
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Accurate spousal information in Express Entry
Express Entry applicants must provide truthful and complete information about marital and common-law status and whether a spouse or partner is accompanying. A person’s accompanying status can affect Comprehensive Ranking System calculations, but it must reflect the actual immigration plan and disclosures required by IRCC.
Misrepresentation risk
Under section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts relating to a relevant matter can lead to serious consequences. Applicants should not manipulate declarations simply to obtain a higher CRS score.
Responding to concerns
If IRCC raises concerns through a procedural fairness process, the response should address the facts, the information originally provided and any supporting documentation. The legal test is fact-specific and should not be reduced to a general assumption that every non-accompanying spouse declaration constitutes misrepresentation.
Historical publication: Originally published June 9, 2025. Current Express Entry rules and CRS calculations should always be checked before relying on older examples.
General information only. It is not legal advice.