When applying for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to support an immigration or permanent residency application, one of the most common concerns applicants have is whether the results of the evaluation will be forwarded directly to the immigration authorities by the evaluation service provider. This question arises from the anxiety around ensuring that all critical documents reach the right destination on time, without delays or errors.
In this detailed guide, we’ll explore whether your ECA report will be sent automatically to immigration authorities, what you need to do to make that happen, and how to ensure that all steps are completed properly to avoid delays in your immigration process.
Understanding the Role of the ECA in Immigration
An Educational Credential Assessment is a process through which an authorized agency evaluates your academic qualifications to determine their equivalency to Canadian (or another country’s) educational standards. This assessment is mandatory for individuals seeking immigration under certain categories, particularly under skilled worker programs.
An ECA report verifies that:
-
Your credentials are valid and issued by a recognized institution.
-
The level of education you attained is comparable to the local equivalent (e.g., a Canadian bachelor’s degree).
While the report itself is prepared and issued by the credential evaluation agency, immigration authorities require access to this report and use it to assess your eligibility and points under various immigration streams.
Will the Evaluation Agency Send the ECA to Immigration Authorities?
The answer depends on a few key factors, including the evaluation agency’s protocols and how you complete your application. In most cases, the ECA report is sent to the applicant—you—and the immigration department accesses the report electronically through a reference number provided by you.
Let’s break it down in more detail:
1. Electronic Submission, Not Postal Delivery
The majority of credential evaluation services do not physically send your ECA report by mail to the immigration authority. Instead, they upload your report to a secure database that is accessible to immigration officers once you provide them with the necessary ECA reference number in your immigration application.
This electronic delivery system ensures faster, safer, and more reliable access to the information immigration officers need.
2. Your Role: Providing the ECA Reference Number
Once your ECA is complete, you will receive a unique reference number that is tied to your completed report. This number must be included in your immigration application under the appropriate section.
Failing to include this number can result in delays or processing issues, even if the report has been completed and is available in the database.
It is your responsibility to ensure that this number is correctly entered and that your name, date of birth, and other details in the immigration application exactly match the information in your ECA application. Discrepancies can prevent immigration authorities from retrieving your report.
3. Optional Add-On Services for Direct Transmission
Some credential evaluation agencies may offer optional services that allow you to select government bodies (like the immigration department) to receive a digital copy or notification of your completed ECA. While this does not replace the requirement to enter your ECA number into your immigration profile, it can serve as an additional layer of confirmation.
This is not always automatically included in the basic service and may involve an additional fee or require selecting the correct agency from a drop-down list during the application process.
Steps You Must Take to Ensure Proper Linking Between Your ECA and Immigration Profile
To ensure a seamless connection between your ECA and your immigration file, you should:
-
Use the same name and date of birth across both your ECA and immigration applications.
-
Enter your ECA reference number exactly as provided by the evaluation service into your immigration application.
-
Select the correct evaluation type intended for immigration use—some agencies offer multiple report formats, and not all are accepted for immigration.
-
Check if the evaluation agency has a designated data-sharing agreement with the immigration authority and whether any additional steps are required to enable access.
-
Retain a copy of the ECA report for your records. You may need to submit it again or provide clarification if requested later.
Common Myths and Misunderstandings
Let’s debunk a few common misconceptions:
-
“My ECA provider will mail my report to the immigration office.”
False. Immigration bodies typically do not receive hard copies; they retrieve reports electronically using the reference number you provide. -
“I don’t need to enter my ECA number on my immigration profile.”
False. Without your ECA number, immigration officials may not be able to locate your report—even if it’s in the database. -
“Once I receive my report, the immigration process continues automatically.”
False. You must take active steps to input your report number and continue your immigration submission independently.
What Happens If Immigration Cannot Find My ECA Report?
If the immigration department cannot locate your ECA, even after you’ve submitted your reference number, it could be due to:
-
A typo or error in the ECA number you submitted.
-
A mismatch in personal information (e.g., name spelling, date of birth).
-
Delays in report sharing between the evaluation body and the immigration database.
-
You accidentally selected the wrong report type or failed to mark it for immigration use.
In such cases, it’s best to reach out to both the credential evaluation agency and the immigration department for clarification. Most evaluation agencies also offer customer support and secure online dashboards where you can verify the status of your ECA and request updates or resubmissions.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, while credential evaluation agencies do not physically mail your ECA report to immigration departments, they typically make it available digitally through secure channels. It is your duty as the applicant to:
-
Provide accurate and consistent information
-
Include your ECA reference number in your immigration application
-
Ensure the right type of ECA report is chosen for immigration use
Being proactive, organized, and detail-oriented throughout the process will ensure that your ECA report is properly linked to your immigration file, helping your application proceed smoothly.
Our Services – FACTS Transcripts
We at FACTS Transcripts assist in various services, including:
- Mark Sheet Transcripts
- E-Transcripts
- Duplicate Mark Sheets & Degree Certificates
- Medium of Instructions Certificates
- Attestations
- HRD Attestation / Apostille Services
- ECA (Educational Credentials Assessment)
Trusted by leading global verification organizations, including WES, IQAS, PEBC, NDEB, NASBA, CAPR, NZQA, ICAS, NCESS, ICES, ECE, eduPASS, ACEI, GCEUS, Comparative Education Services, NNAS, NCA, SAQA, QMAS, FORAC, Australian Pharmacy Council, and more.
FACTS Transcripts – The preferred choice for university document verification worldwide. We ensure a hassle-free process for obtaining your transcripts.
