DECLARATION, IMMIGRATION DISCLAIMER & LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Please read carefully before confirming

This Declaration forms part of the application and participation terms of the Discover Canada – Cultural Exchange Program (“Discover Canada”, “the Program”, “we”, “us”, or “our”).

By submitting an application or electronically confirming this Declaration, the applicant acknowledges and agrees to the following.

1. APPLICANT DECLARATION

The applicant confirms that, to the best of their knowledge, all information and documents submitted to Discover Canada are accurate, complete, authentic, and provided in good faith.

The applicant agrees not to knowingly provide false, misleading, altered, fraudulent, or materially incomplete information.

Discover Canada may reject an application, withdraw an offer of participation, or terminate participation where material information has been falsified, misrepresented, or fraudulently submitted.

Nothing in this Declaration authorizes Discover Canada to make any determination that is reserved by law to Canadian immigration, border, law-enforcement, or other governmental authorities.

2. PURPOSE OF AN INVITATION OR PARTICIPATION LETTER

Where applicable, Discover Canada may issue an official invitation letter or confirmation of participation to an eligible or confirmed participant.

Such documentation is issued solely to confirm legitimate participation in a Discover Canada cultural exchange program and, where appropriate, may be submitted by the participant as supporting documentation in connection with a visa, travel authorization, or immigration application.

An invitation or participation letter:

• is not a visa;
• is not an immigration authorization;
• does not guarantee visa approval;
• does not guarantee admission to Canada;
• does not establish eligibility or admissibility under Canadian immigration law; and
• does not represent an assurance that any Canadian governmental authority will approve the applicant’s immigration or travel application.

Discover Canada does not sell invitation letters separately from legitimate program participation.

3. INDEPENDENCE OF CANADIAN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES

The applicant understands and acknowledges that all decisions concerning:

• visas;
• electronic travel authorizations;
• temporary resident status;
• admissibility;
• immigration examinations;
• border inspections; and
• admission to Canada

are made independently by the competent Canadian governmental authorities in accordance with applicable Canadian law.

Discover Canada does not make, control, or determine immigration decisions.

Discover Canada does not claim to have special access to, influence over, or preferential arrangements with:

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC);
• the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA);
• Canadian embassies;
• Canadian consulates;
• visa offices; or
• any other governmental immigration authority.

No employee, representative, partner, or agent of Discover Canada is authorized to guarantee a visa or admission to Canada.

4. APPLICANT’S IMMIGRATION RESPONSIBILITIES

The applicant is solely responsible for preparing and submitting their immigration or travel application, either personally or through an appropriately authorized representative where permitted by law.

The applicant is responsible for:

1. ensuring that information submitted to immigration authorities is complete and accurate;
2. providing authentic supporting documents;
3. complying with applicable immigration and travel requirements;
4. meeting application and travel deadlines;
5. paying applicable governmental visa, biometric, and immigration fees;
6. maintaining a valid passport and other required travel documents;
7. responding truthfully to questions from immigration and border authorities; and
8. complying with any conditions imposed by Canadian authorities.

Any review of program-related documents by Discover Canada does not constitute immigration or legal advice and does not transfer the applicant’s responsibilities to Discover Canada.

5. NO IMMIGRATION OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Unless expressly stated otherwise in a separate written agreement and provided by an individual legally authorized to offer such services, Discover Canada does not act as:

• an immigration consultant;
• an immigration lawyer;
• a legal representative;
• a visa agent; or
• an authorized representative before IRCC or CBSA.

General information provided by Discover Canada regarding program participation, supporting documents, or travel preparation is provided for administrative and informational purposes only.

Applicants should obtain independent professional advice where immigration or legal advice is required.

6. IMMIGRATION AND ADMISSIBILITY DISCLOSURE

The applicant is responsible for determining whether any personal circumstances may affect their ability or eligibility to travel to or enter Canada.

Where Canadian authorities legally require information concerning criminal history, previous immigration violations, visa refusals, removals, medical matters, or other admissibility issues, the applicant must provide such information completely and truthfully to the relevant authorities.

Discover Canada does not independently determine whether an individual is legally admissible to Canada.

Discover Canada is not responsible for conducting criminal, immigration, or security screening that falls within the responsibility of governmental authorities, except for any separate participant screening Discover Canada may lawfully conduct for legitimate program safety or eligibility purposes.

Nothing in this Declaration requires an applicant to disclose personal information to Discover Canada that is not reasonably necessary for a legitimate and identified program purpose.

7. PROHIBITED AND UNLAWFUL CONDUCT

Participation in Discover Canada programs is conditional upon compliance with applicable law and the Program’s participant conduct requirements.

Discover Canada may refuse or terminate participation where it reasonably determines that participation would:

• violate applicable law;
• create a serious and substantiated safety or security risk;
• involve fraudulent documentation or deliberate misrepresentation;
• facilitate unlawful activity; or
• materially violate the Program’s Terms and Conditions.

Any such decision will be made without unlawful discrimination and subject to applicable legal obligations.

8. VISA REFUSAL, DELAY, OR IMMIGRATION ACTION

Discover Canada is not responsible for a visa refusal, visa processing delay, immigration examination, border decision, or refusal of admission where the decision or delay is made by, or results from the actions of, an independent governmental authority and is outside Discover Canada’s reasonable control.

This includes circumstances arising from:

• the applicant’s immigration history;
• the applicant’s eligibility or admissibility;
• incomplete or inaccurate information supplied by the applicant;
• governmental processing delays;
• additional document requests;
• security or background screening;
• changes in immigration policy or law; or
• the independent assessment of a visa or border officer.

The applicant acknowledges that program selection or the issuance of an invitation letter does not affect or limit the authority of Canadian immigration or border officials.

9. ENTRY TO CANADA

The applicant understands that possession of a valid visa, electronic travel authorization, invitation letter, participation confirmation, or other travel document does not by itself guarantee admission to Canada.

The final determination regarding admission is made by the competent Canadian border authorities in accordance with applicable law.

10. TRAVEL RESPONSIBILITY

Unless expressly included in an official funded participation package, the applicant is responsible for:

• passports;
• visas and travel authorizations;
• travel insurance;
• medical insurance;
• transportation;
• additional accommodation;
• personal expenses; and
• compliance with airline, customs, immigration, and border requirements.

Participants are responsible for determining whether they are legally and practically able to travel before making personal travel arrangements or financial commitments.

11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Discover Canada, its authorized representatives, officers, volunteers, program partners, and affiliates will not be liable for loss, expense, delay, or damage arising solely from:

• visa refusal or processing delay;
• refusal of admission by immigration or border authorities;
• governmental immigration or enforcement action;
• information or documentation supplied by the applicant that is false, inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent;
• failure by the applicant to satisfy immigration or travel requirements;
• changes in immigration laws, policies, or governmental procedures; or
• acts or decisions of governmental authorities outside Discover Canada’s reasonable control.

This limitation applies only to the extent permitted by applicable law.

12. NO WAIVER OF NON-EXCLUDABLE RIGHTS

Nothing in this Declaration:

• excludes or limits liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited;
• excludes responsibility for fraud, wilful misconduct, or other liability where exclusion is prohibited by law;
• waives mandatory consumer, privacy, or human-rights protections;
• prevents an applicant from making a lawful complaint to a regulatory, governmental, law-enforcement, or judicial authority; or
• restricts any statutory remedy that cannot lawfully be waived.

Where any provision of this Declaration conflicts with a mandatory requirement of applicable law, the mandatory legal requirement will prevail.

13. PERSONAL INFORMATION

Any personal information collected in connection with this Declaration will be handled in accordance with the Discover Canada – Cultural Exchange Program Terms, Conditions & Privacy Policy and applicable privacy requirements.

Where consent is required for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, Discover Canada will seek consent appropriate to the nature and sensitivity of the information involved.

Applicants will not be required to consent to unnecessary collection, use, or disclosure of personal information as a condition of participation.

14. INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS

Discover Canada programs may accept participants from multiple jurisdictions.

Applicants remain responsible for complying with laws and requirements applicable to them in their country of residence, country of citizenship, countries of transit, and Canada.

Nothing in this Declaration constitutes legal advice or a legal opinion regarding the laws of another country.

Where mandatory local rights apply to an applicant and cannot lawfully be waived by contract, those rights remain unaffected.

15. ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE

The applicant may accept this Declaration electronically through an affirmative action, including selecting an “I Agree”checkbox or equivalent confirmation before submitting an application.

Discover Canada may maintain appropriate electronic records documenting acceptance, including:

• the date and time;
• application reference;
• version of the Declaration accepted; and
• other technical information reasonably necessary to establish the transaction.

Electronic acceptance will be handled in accordance with applicable law.

16. GOVERNING TERMS

This Declaration must be read together with the current:

Discover Canada – Cultural Exchange Program Terms, Conditions & Privacy Policy

and any program-specific participation conditions communicated to the applicant.

If any provision of this Declaration is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

APPLICANT CONFIRMATION

By selecting “I Agree”, I confirm that:

I have read and understood this Declaration, Immigration Disclaimer & Limitation of Liability. I confirm that the information I provide to Discover Canada is truthful and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that Discover Canada does not issue visas, guarantee visa approval, influence Canadian immigration authorities, or guarantee admission to Canada. I understand that immigration and border decisions are made independently by the appropriate Canadian authorities and that I remain responsible for my own immigration application, travel documentation, and compliance with applicable requirements. I accept this Declaration subject to all rights and protections that cannot legally be waived under applicable law.