FAQ

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes applications for citizenship and immigration through the new integrated electronic data processing system called GCMS (Global Case Management System). The outdated CAIPS (Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System) and FOSS (Field Operational Support System) systems that were in use prior to 2010 have been replaced with GCMS, a single integrated software system intended to process applications both inside and outside of Canada.

The Access to Information and Privacy Act (ATIP), a federal law in Canada, governs the issuance of the GCMS notes, which offer important details about the present and future processing of your application.

A request on your behalf can only be made by a qualified person, such as a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or someone in Canada with legitimate documentation.

If you have yet to get your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR), then your CAIPS/GCMS Notes are likely not generated yet – in which scenario the file request will return empty. Therefore, it is advisable to ask for CAIPS/GCMS Notes once you obtain your AOR. Nevertheless, there can occasionally be delays in dispatching AOR’s, and acquiring your CAIPS/GCMS Notes can verify if the Immigration office has commenced processing the application or not.

If you have yet to get your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR), then your CAIPS/GCMS Notes are likely not generated yet – in which scenario the file request will return empty. Therefore, it is advisable to ask for CAIPS/GCMS Notes once you obtain your AOR. Nevertheless, there can occasionally be delays in dispatching AOR’s, and acquiring your CAIPS/GCMS Notes can verify if the Immigration office has commenced processing the application or not.

The CAIPS/GCMS file can be obtained by providing your complete name, visa office, and date of birth. Even if you have not received or do not have your file number, a CAIPS/GCMS file can still be requested. Nevertheless, it is preferable to request your CAIPS/GCMS file using a file number. Having a file number guarantees quicker processing of your request.

This number, which is also known as an Application Number, can be found on any official document issued to you by the visa office where your application was submitted. Your Immigration File Number/Application Number begins with a letter and is followed by a series of nine (9) numbers or letters.
(Example: B-000-000-000 or E-P00-000-000)

CAIPS/GCMS files may be requested for ANY visa office. All CAIPS/GCMS requests are handled by the Canada Immigration office located in Ottawa, Canada, rather than the local visa office where your application was submitted.

CAIPS/GCMS files can typically be obtained within 4-5 weeks. The Ottawa office in Canada is obligated to reply to CAIPS/GCMS requests within 30 working days. Be aware that in exceptional situations, the Ottawa office may require more time to process requests.The legally mandated timeframe for processing a CAIPS/GCMS request is 30 calendar days. IRCC has the authority to extend the response time for a request beyond the 30 calendar days if: the request involves a substantial number of records or necessitates a search through a vast number of records, and the initial time limit would disrupt IRCC’s operations unreasonably external consultations are required and cannot be realistically expected to be finalized within the original timeframe or notification to a third party is necessary to inform him or her that his or her information is being requested.If all 3 steps are finalized today, the estimated date by which we could obtain your file is by 2025-02-20 (y-m-d) If the deadline occurs on a weekend or a holiday, the due date shifts to the next business day. Please note that due to the high volume of requests that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) handles, it is common for responses to be sent later in the day on the due date.

It requires a minimum of 30 working days to finalize the request and may take additional time if Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) needs to gather information from international offices. Documents maintained at a foreign mission are sent to Canada for evaluation via postal services, couriers, and diplomatic bags that are the property of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The dependability of these services differs from one country to another, leading to consistent and uncontrollable delays in retrieving records from missions, even with the diligent efforts of the mission personnel. In such scenarios, IRCC might need more than the 30 working days typically necessary to handle requests.

No, asking for the CAIPS/GCMS notes does not influence the progression of your visa application. Conversely, addressing any inconsistencies identified in the CAIPS notes may assist in the advancement of your application.

Yes, you are permitted to utilize our service for acquiring the CAIPS/GCMS Notes, Complete File, or Extra Services even if you have engaged an Immigration lawyer/consultant. The aforementioned requests require very specific Consent forms, are managed by a different office, and are processed separately from your visa application.