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BIL VAC online appointmet: Invalid file format : BIL Number

S

santor

Full Member
Jun 3, 2016
31
2
Hello All,
My wife gave a Biometric 10 days back and we received "Repeat Biometric Instruction Letter" from IRCC. We downloaded the PDF as it is and tried to book an online appointment via VAC india, but we kept getting "Invalid file format : BIL Number ". we contacted VAC helpline they asked us to download again - which we did but we get the same issue. we cannot book an appointment over Phone or In person. we are stuck. any suggestions?
P.S I noticed in the PDF my UCI number has a "-" which was not there in m original BIL letter. i.e UCI: xxxx-xxxx instead xxxxxxxx. is this a problem? could IRCC send the letter again?
 
akhirti

akhirti

Star Member
Aug 18, 2016
82
1
Toronto
santor said:
Hello All,
My wife gave a Biometric 10 days back and we received "Repeat Biometric Instruction Letter" from IRCC. We downloaded the PDF as it is and tried to book an online appointment via VAC india, but we kept getting "Invalid file format : BIL Number ". we contacted VAC helpline they asked us to download again - which we did but we get the same issue. we cannot book an appointment over Phone or In person. we are stuck. any suggestions?
P.S I noticed in the PDF my UCI number has a "-" which was not there in m original BIL letter. i.e UCI: xxxx-xxxx instead xxxxxxxx. is this a problem? could IRCC send the letter again?
Click to expand...
Hey I'm getting the same issue when uploading the BIL to the VAC. Did you get to resolve this?
 
akhirti

akhirti

Star Member
Aug 18, 2016
82
1
Toronto
I also got the same results, but when I tried again the next day, it was fine. They may have a temporary glitch on their system.
 
K

Karan_P

Newbie
Jun 21, 2024
1
0
I'm getting same error of 'invalid file format' from last 3 days, please suggest if other way to book appointment.
 
M

mutahirkiani

Newbie
Jul 12, 2024
3
0
wasimashfaqrana said:
I am facing same issue in VAC Pakistan. Is there any solution; or your guys were able to find one? Thank you
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Unfortunately, there isn't a shortcut to get this resolved. The best option is to email VAC Pakistan, as they usually respond within a day or two. I sent them an email, and they replied saying the issue was resolved, so I tried again, and it worked. Keep in mind that you only have one attempt to upload your BIL. If you try to refresh the page after uploading, you won't be able to book an appointment for the next 10 days because the portal will say that your BIL has already been used. Make sure once the BIL is uploaded then you read all the automatically populated information and submit it without refreshing ypur page. Good luck!
 
W

wasimashfaqrana

Newbie
Aug 24, 2024
2
0
Thank you very much for your quick response and for the advice
Can you please advise if appointments are available for next day or so? Actually I am travelling to KSA and USA after some days
Also, if you have some idea that how long usually it takes for the visa to be approved, and then will it need to be pasted physically on the passport? Where do we take our passport to for the visa? As I can not send or delivery passport and can not take risk my travel plan. Is it possible to get the visa stamped in some consulate or Visa office in KSA or USA?
 
M

mutahirkiani

Newbie
Jul 12, 2024
3
0
wasimashfaqrana said:
Thank you very much for your quick response and for the advice
Can you please advise if appointments are available for next day or so? Actually I am travelling to KSA and USA after some days
Also, if you have some idea that how long usually it takes for the visa to be approved, and then will it need to be pasted physically on the passport? Where do we take our passport to for the visa? As I can not send or delivery passport and can not take risk my travel plan. Is it possible to get the visa stamped in some consulate or Visa office in KSA or USA?
Click to expand...
After you upload your BIL and submit the required form, you will typically receive an appointment email within a few hours, if not minutes. You will most probably get appointment date for 2 days later. The processing time varies depending on the type of visa you applied for. Any type of Canadian visa, whether it is a visitor visa, permanent residence, or work permit, requires a sticker on your passport. Once a decision is made on your application, you will receive an email with a Passport Request Letter, similar to the BIL. You will then need to book an appointment with a VAC in Pakistan to submit your passport, just as you did for the BIL.

Canadian embassies worldwide do not directly handle applicants instead, VFS Global manages tasks like biometric collection and passport submission. VFS Global operates in every country, including Saudi so you can submit your passport there as well. The process may differ in the United States, as you typically need to provide your biometrics at some place called an Application Support Center which has offices throughout the USA. However, you should check the specific requirements for passport submission in USA.
 
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