---
title: Messages on a case
description: How to talk to your representative inside a case — the conversation panel, per-application threads, comments on a single file, and mentions.
product: Lexpoint — Individuals
audience: People managing their own Canadian immigration
doc_type: guide
canonical_url: https://docs.lexpoint.io/individuals/cases/messages/
app_routes: https://my.lexpoint.io/app/cases/[case]
requires: An open case with at least one application
last_verified: 2026-09-03
keywords: message representative, case messages, document comment, mention someone, case conversation
license: Documentation © Lexpoint. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL.
---
# Messages on a case

Every screen inside a case carries the same conversation panel, so you never have to leave what you
are doing to ask about it. Open it with the round button at the bottom right of a case.

The panel is headed **Conversations** and has two tabs: **Messages** and **Meetings**. Under the
heading it names which application you are talking about — program, application number, and the
person it belongs to.

Press **Escape** to close it.

```media
id: cases-conversation-panel
type: screenshot
caption: The conversation panel open on the Messages tab beside a case.
shot: /app/cases/[case]?tab=overview → open the conversation panel via the bottom-right button, Messages tab with a short exchange. Demo account, light mode, 1440×900. Redact the principal name in the context bar, the applicant name in the panel caption, and the sender names and message text in the thread.
src: /media/individuals/cases-conversation-panel.webp
```

## Messages

The **Messages** tab is the thread for one application, shared between you and your representative.
It is marked **Staff & client** so it is clear that what you write there is read by your
representative.

- Type in the box at the bottom and send. Messages appear in date order with day dividers.
- Type **@** to mention someone. Confirmed mentions become chips in the field — select one or press
  Backspace to remove it.
- While someone else is writing, the thread says *… is typing…*.

If the case has more than one application, a selector at the top of the panel switches threads. The
thread you are reading always belongs to the application named in the caption.

## Comments on one file

A question about a specific document belongs on that document.

1. Open the file from its requirement in the **Documents** tab.
2. The document viewer opens with a **Discussion** rail beside the preview, also marked
   **Staff & client**.
3. Write in the box — its prompt is *Leave a comment* — and send.

Where Lexpoint's assistant has read the file, a **Lexi** block sits above the thread with its
headline and summary, so the conversation starts from the same reading you can see.

On a narrow screen the viewer switches between **Preview** and **Discussion**. On a wide screen the
rail can be collapsed with **Collapse discussion** and reopened from the viewer toolbar.

```media
id: cases-file-discussion-rail
type: screenshot
caption: The document viewer with the Discussion rail open beside the file preview.
shot: /app/cases/[case]/members/[member]/applications/[application]?tab=documents → open any file → Discussion rail visible with one comment. Demo account, light mode, 1440×900. Redact the document content in the preview, the filename in the viewer title, and the commenter names.
src: /media/individuals/cases-file-discussion-rail.webp
```

## Knowing when there is a reply

| Where | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| The conversation button | Carries an unread marker when there is something new in Messages. |
| A file row in the checklist | A small dot on the right of the row means unread discussion on that file. |

Case activity also reaches you by email — see
[Notification preferences](/individuals/account/notifications/) for which categories are required
and which you control.

## Meetings

The **Meetings** tab lists meetings on the case: the next one coming up, a way to **Book time with
us**, and a **Past** section of previous meetings. When nothing has happened yet, the past list
reads *None yet*.

## What to send where

| Question | Where to put it |
|---|---|
| Why was this file sent back? | The **Discussion** rail on that file. |
| A requirement does not apply to me | **Messages**, on that application. |
| I cannot upload something | **Messages**, on that application. |
| A slot on the package looks wrong | **Messages**, on that application. |
| Anything about eligibility or program rules | **Messages** — or book a consultation. Documentation does not answer those. |

## Related

- [Document review statuses](/individuals/cases/review-statuses/) — read the review note before asking why
- [Uploading documents](/individuals/cases/uploading-documents/) — fixing what a comment asked for
- [Case Studio tour](/individuals/cases/case-studio-tour/) — where the panel sits in a case
- [Notification preferences](/individuals/account/notifications/) — how case activity reaches your inbox

## Frequently asked questions

### Is there one message thread for the whole case?

No. Messages are per application, so a case with two applications has two threads. When a case has more than one, a selector at the top of the panel switches between them without leaving the page.

### How do I ask about one specific file?

Open the file to get the document viewer, then use the Discussion rail beside the preview. That comment stays attached to that file, which is much easier to answer than a description of it in the general thread.

### How do I know there is a reply waiting?

The conversation button carries an unread marker, and a file with unread discussion shows a small dot on its row in the checklist.