How to order GCMS / CAIPS notes online

CAIPS is an acronym for Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System. The CAIPS computer system has been superseded by a new applicant tracking system called GCMS (Global Case Management System). It helps you track you immigration case progress.

You can order GCMS notes online now. Any one living in Canada can order these notes. So you or your spouse, whoever is in Canada, as long as they have a Canadian mailing address, they can make the request. 
You should order these notes after the initial review which is 10 to 12 months after the AOR or if there is unusually long delay in re-medicals or PPR to see if you  are in the interview quene and the reason for it etc.

Easiest way is to go to this link:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/atip/requests-atip.asp

1. Download the consent form IMM 5744. It should be signed by you and your spouse in Pakistan. 
         http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5475E.pdf


2. Now initiate the online request at top of link posted above. Fill in the information and proceed through the application.

3. When it says to upload the consent form, upload the above signed consent form.  

4. Before submission it will ask about payment. You can use credit card. Fee is 5$

The process is now complete and you will receive notes in 20 to 40 days.

If you have any confusion watch this video for more details:
                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_E_dq_uLVo

How to read GCMS notes

GCMS notes ssample:  http://www.gcmsnotes.com/Sample_GCMS_File.pdf
                                   http://paktocanada.blogspot.com/2013/07/how-to-read-gcms-notes.html

Applying TRV Canada from Pakistan while sponsorship application is in process

Tips for applying for TRV:

As sponsorship takes too long and it is very difficult for married couples to live apart for so long, so you should visit your spouses as much as you can. The one in Canada has no visa problem so you should go to visit but don't stay for more than 2 to 3 months if you are a permanent resident as they might think that you have no plan to settle back in Canada. If you are a citizen, you can stay with your spouse during the case processing time. The other option is to apply TRV of your spouse in Pakistan. The good news is that if you are able to satisfy visa officer, you can get a TRV(temporary resident visa)during your sponsorship case. Do your home work first and do it in such a way that visa officer has to think twice before rejecting. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR SPOUSE TO GET TRV DURING SPOUSE SPONSOR CASE TIME. I have seen someone who got his visa in first attempt and someone applied even 3 times and rejected every time. The fact is that they were not able to satisfy the visa officer in these 3 concerns which help them in accepting or refusing the application;

 
 1) Purpose of visit 
 2) Finances
 3) Why they would leave Canada.

I am trying to explain above three main points which I believe can make a application successful.
Take the help of cic's website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/letter.asp to draft an invitation letter. Provid each and every information which they want in the invitation letter. Get this letter notarized from Canada.
samples:  http://sampleinvitationletter.info/sample_invitiation_letter_visa_canada_spouse.php
                http://immig-canada.blogspot.com/2010/11/best-sample-invitation-letter-for.html

Write a separate letter to your spouse asking her to come to Canada (purpose of visit should be explained in that letter). This should be notarized too.

Finances:

Satisfy visa officer that you can afford a visit.Provide evidence of sufficient funds for  living expenses while in Canada and explain that who will be responsible for the expenses.
If it is husband then draft an independent affidavit / undertaking clearly mentioning your obligation for her financial needs and support during her visit to Canada. Get it Notarized too and explain that you have a good regular income which is sufficient to support your wife's expenses and also give information about any saving account just to meet any unforeseen expenses during visit. And if the wife has any savings, job, property mention that too. 

Purpose of Visit:   

It can be any thing as Family Visit, a wedding, wedding anniversary etc. In invitation letter explain the purpose of the visit. 

Why he/she would leave Canada:   

It is a very important section. I believe most of the people make a big mistake here. To show ties in Pakistan, give detail about job, studies, upcoming exams, or any event for which you have to be in Pakistan. Attach supporting documents like job letter, approved leave letter, pay stubs, land ownership documents, letter from deen of deparment that he/she is a ragular student and approved leave for duration of visit, last semester result card, current semester fees, and roll number slip for the upcoming exam, college card etc). If you are unable to satisfy visa officer in this section, don't expect visa

Documents to be attached:

For Sponsor

1)  Copy of PR card
2)  Copy of latest Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue
3)  Copy of pay stubs
4)  Original letter from employer
5)  Original letter from Member Parliament
6)  Original bank statement of 6 months
7)  Copy of sponsor approval letter from Mississauga
8)  Copy of Sponsorship Agreement 
9)  Original undertaking / affidavit for financial support during the visit
10) Natarized copy of passport


For spouse in Pakistan

11) Job letter(stating length of employment,salary, position), leave letter
12) If student college card, roll no. slips, leave letter etc.
13) 2 recent photos as per CIC specifications
14) NADRA ID card's copy with certified English translation
15) Travel itinerary showing the same date which is mentioned in the invitation letter
16) Copy of police certificate which you submitted in sponsorship case
17) Copy of marriage certificate
18) Copy of joint bank account in Pakistan(if you have)
19) Documents of land ownership in Pakistan(if any)
20) Motor vehical registration
21) Passport (recent and all expired)
22) Bank statement of last 6 months. ( If your wife does not own any assets, show her family assets)

They take about 60 to 80 days to make a decision on the visit visa case.

If you provide all above documents, chances to get a visa are quiet high. It depends on the situation you presented in the case. Provide documents to support the situation which you presented in the purpose, and explain in detail why the applicant will leave Canada as it is the  most common reason for rejection.  Put in as much evidence as possible to show that he/she will return back home after the visit.


See also:

• How to read GCMS notes
• Tips for a successful application
• Important information regarding spouse sponsorship...

Important information regarding spouse sponsorship

I am writing this to share my experiences and information about spouse sponsorship cases from Pakistan to Canada, to help them answer a few questions about this long process of sponsoring their husband or wife from Pakistan as it is taking unusually long with always increasing processing times of family applications from Islamabad Visa Office. 

The process consist of two stages.
1. sponsorship part(processed in Canada)
2. Immigration part(processed at CHC London)

PROCESSING TIMES:

The main issue is the processing time which is now longest for Pakistan according to cic website. You can check processing times at this site http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp.
Processing times keep on changing and are some where around 16 to 20 months for wife cases and 18 to 24 months for husband cases on an average, although some cases are processed faster and some are slow so it vary from case to case. 

GENERAL PROCESSING MILESTONES:

1) Stage 1 approval takes 1 to 2 months

2) Then the file is transferred to London Embassy and no further processing is done for 6 to 7 months 
3) Then the initial review of the application is started. 
4) They request some additional documents along with an updated police clearance certificate(but not in all cases).
5) Then comes request for Re-medical after some time.
6) If the background checks are clear and medical is clear, they request for Passport photocopy to be sent to the London Embassy by courier or email.
7) Then after 2 to 3 weeks, they request passport to be sent to Islamabad embassy.
7) Passport is returned in 2 to 3 weeks.

Visa Offices:

For stage 2 files were sent to Islamabad before December 2013 but due to increased number of cases, files are now sent to London office. This change will hopefully decrease the processing times.

How to check progress of your case 

Order GCMS notes:

You can always check the progress of your case if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Actually anyone residing in Canada with a valid mailing address can order GCMS notes with consent of applicant.

It helps you see your case progress and if there is any delay you can see the reason for it and try to resolve that issue by sending additional documents. The fee for ordering notes is 5$ and you can order online. Order GCMS notes after one year if there is no contact from CIC.

Requesting GCMS notes:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/atip/requests-atip.asp

see this link for details:

 http://paktocanada.blogspot.com/2013/07/how-to-order-gcms-caips-notes.html

See sample here: http://www.gcmsnotes.com/Sample_GCMS_File.pdf

Check online status:

You can check online on cic website on the follwing link once you have the UCI number

                    http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/status.asp

This will not be so useful however as they dont update status until your case is almost processed.

Contact your local MP:

Sometimes it is helpful but most of the time MPs don't help you much. If there is any delay in your case you should contact MP as they can directly ask about the case progress.

Call or email Canadian high commission: 

If you have any query you can call or email them and if you are lucky enough you will get a reply within a week or so.

Ottawa:        OttPilot-Immigration@cic.gc.ca

                CPR-OttPilot-Caseprocessing@cic.gc.ca

London:  london-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca

Background & Security Checks processing 

Background Check comprises of 2 parts:

1. The Standard Documentation Checks
2. The Security & Criminality Checks.

Standard Documentation Checks:

Background check is done at the CHC stage. It commences the moment file gets the 1st BFD by the visa officer.

It takes usually 4 to 6 months and involve many things. If the case is well presented with adequate documents and proofs, they might not actually visit or call the employers, references etc. They know how to do it. If there are any concerns, the visa officer will request additional documents and might ask for an interview.

         They send 'Medical Request' when fully satisfied

Security & Criminality Checks:

A part of the background checks is the 'Security Check'. It starts after medical results are uploaded by IOM centre.  

It involve many agencies and is a serious & time-consuming stage. Many things are considered here... travel history, nationality, ex-Servicemen [including Law Enforcement services], frequent travelling to certain nations, Inter-Religion/Nationality Marriages etc.

If everything is simple & straight, the file gets into the 'final review' stage. If there are any 'red flags', case goes into a 'spin' and thereby the time frame can be anything [sometimes beyond 1year]. But, usually this stage should be over by 2 to 5 months. 

         After security clearance we receive the passport request

With new system, sometimes passport request comes with Medical request

-eCAS: Still 'In Process', but 'Medical Results Received.' inside.

The Process in a Nutshell:

Stage-1: [CIO stage] Send Initial Apps+Processing Fees to CIO-NS > Qualitative Check > Issue of AOR

Stage-2: [CHC stage onwards] Send Full Docs+RPRF to the Local Visa Office > File on Queue > Eligibility Check > Issue of 2nd AOR > Background Check > Issue of Additional docs Request and re PCC > Send additional Docs > Issue of medical request

Stage-3: Medical done>uploaded by IOM centre > get passport request > Send Passport/s > Security Check > Visa/s Stamped > e-Cas: "Decision Made" 

*The Medical & PPR are sometimes 'clubbed' together.

Stage-4: Return of 'Stamped' Passport'

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