If I discover new evidence after a refusal, can that support a reconsideration request?

Yes, new evidence discovered after a refusal is one of the more legitimate grounds for asking IRCC to reconsider, particularly where it directly addresses the specific reason given for the refusal rather than simply adding general supporting material. Evidence that squarely answers the officer's stated concern gives IRCC an actual reason to look again, rather than asking it to revisit a decision it already made properly on the information it had at the time.

That said, IRCC retains full discretion over whether to accept and act on a reconsideration request, and there is no guarantee the file will be reopened just because new evidence exists. The strength of the connection between the new evidence and the original refusal reason matters a great deal, and the more time that has passed since the refusal, the less likely reconsideration is to be treated as the appropriate route rather than simply requiring a fresh application.

Given this discretion, submitting the new evidence promptly, clearly linked to the specific refusal reason, gives a reconsideration request the best realistic chance, while still preserving any other formal appeal or judicial review deadline that may also apply.