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Application Stages + What They Mean (MEP, IP1, IP2, Ghost Update...) - Version 2019

lina_ballerina

Hero Member
May 17, 2018
211
289
Could someone lend their analysis to my timeline please? :)

AOR Feb 15th
BG = "we are processing..." which is false ip2

Ghost *email* Apr 6
MEP + Bio update email Apr 8th

File moved to Local Office after this (not sure of date)

Ghost update July 31
Current BG = "in progress.." which is ip1

Cant figure out is this ip1 or ip2? At first I thought it was ip2 given my file was moved and I got one ghost email some months back... but could it be from false ip2 to ip1 after 6 whole months?
 
Last edited:

Mr_Chang

Star Member
Dec 14, 2018
185
124
Could someone lend their analysis to my timeline please? :)

AOR Feb 15th
BG = "we are processing..." which is false ip2

Ghost *email* Apr 6
MEP + Bio update email Apr 8th

File moved to Local Office after this (not sure of date)

Ghost update July 31
Current BG = "in progress.." which is ip1

Cant figure out is this ip1 or ip2? At first I thought it was ip2 given my file was moved and I got one ghost email some months back... but could it be from false ip2 to ip1 after 6 whole months?
There's nothing like a "ghost email" You get the email for medical and biometrics update saying "application has been updated" a couple of hours before the actual application gets updated. What you saw on Apr 6 was simply an email for the update that reflected on your account on Apr 8th.

Based on your query, your application is in IP1.
 
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lina_ballerina

Hero Member
May 17, 2018
211
289
There's nothing like a "ghost email" You get the email for medical and biometrics update saying "application has been updated" a couple of hours before the actual application gets updated. What you saw on Apr 6 was simply an email for the update that reflected on your account on Apr 8th.

Based on your query, your application is in IP1.

Thanks, I couldn't tell if that email was a ghost or just un-timed update. Thanks, I guess 6 months to ip1 means many more to come!
 

will2009

Full Member
Dec 27, 2017
40
12
Thanks, I couldn't tell if that email was a ghost or just un-timed update. Thanks, I guess 6 months to ip1 means many more to come!
Usually most people get MEP within 5 to 6 weeks. Recently it has been reduced to 4 weeks, in most recent cases 3 weeks. Is there a reason you can think of that delay your file so much?
 

lina_ballerina

Hero Member
May 17, 2018
211
289
Usually most people get MEP within 5 to 6 weeks. Recently it has been reduced to 4 weeks, in most recent cases 3 weeks. Is there a reason you can think of that delay your file so much?
Thanks... but I think you misunderstood. I already got MEP. I was trying to figure out at which stage I'm at after the ghost update :)
 

milin4ever

Star Member
Aug 28, 2018
82
82
Can someone lend their analysis on my profile i.e., what stage it is?

CRS: 475 |
IELTS: 8.0 |
AOR:
8th Jan 2019 |
MEP: 16th Feb 2019 |
Marital status change: 25th May 2019 |
Informed IRCC: 20th June 2019 |
ADR for spouse: 11th July 2019 |
Biometrics: 29th July 2019 |
Eligibility: Passed |
Security: Passed |
Criminality: Passed |
ADR submitted: 6th Aug 2019 |
VO: Ottawa
 

Nsidhu

Hero Member
Apr 27, 2019
613
173
Category........
CEC
NOC Code......
3219
AOR Received.
29-06-2019
IRCC has introduced a number of changes in recent months and it is time to update our understanding of the post-AOR stages. I am simply building on the amazing work of @northern sunshine in developing an explanation of the various stages we can use - informally - to track the progress of our application. Huge thanks in particular to @USProgrammer who has posited the underlying trends and found evidence for them. In short, the traditional transition from IP1 to IP2 to ghost update to PPR still holds but in a modified way due to these changes.

From 31 Dec 2018, everyone except for Inland candidates has to provide their biometrics which means the default starting stage applicants will see for their Background Check is ‘IP2’ (“We are processing your background check…”), however, this is a ‘False IP2’, meaning an IP2 that has appeared before it is actually due as the application has not in fact progressed to the IP2 stage yet.

If you have an AOR of 31 Dec 2018 or later, follow the chart below to track your progress. Candidates will remain in a state of 'False IP2' throughout their application and only see a series of 'ghost updates' following their MEP; the first such ghost update (which should follow shortly after MEP) will signify your Real IP1, the second ghost update will signify your Real IP2, and the third will be your ‘Final’ Ghost Update, following which you are likely to receive your PPR.

If you have an AOR date of up to 30 Dec 2018
, the chart also applies to you if you meet one or more of these conditions: you are a CEC or PNP-Inland candidate, you were required to provide your biometrics or you did not pay your RPRF upfront.

Note for FSW-Outland candidates who have an AOR date of up to 30 Dec 2018: If you did not need to provide biometrics and paid your RPRF upfront, the old transition from NA1 all the way to a Final Ghost Update will still apply to you. Your Background Check should have started in NA1 ("Not Applicable" 1), meaning your Background Check status said "Not Applicable" right after you submitted your application.

General:
EE
- Express Entry: Canada's score-based program for economic immigrants
CRS - Comprehensive Ranking System: System for ranking candidates for EE
ITA - Invitation to Apply: an invitation to apply for permanent residence
e-APR - electronic Application for Permanent Residence: the online application for PR after receiving an ITA
RPRF - Right of Permanent Residence Fee: a fee collected as part of your PR application
AOR - Acknowledgement of Receipt (of application): email confirming receipt of your application after you submit and pay your fees
ADR - Additional Document Request: IRCC sends a message asking you to provide a specific document to supplement your application.

Post-submission stages:
False IP2
- Usually right from AOR or just after MEP. Background Check shows "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information.”
MEP - Medicals passed: review of medical results changes from "You do not need a medical exam." to "You have passed the medical exam." There is no email for MEP.
Ghost Update - When you log in, the application says it's been "updated" but none of the fields have changed. Once you logout and log back in, the application returns to being "submitted". Ghost updates are not announced by email and a candidate must check their profile daily to not miss them.
Ghost Update #1 or Real IP1 - "In progress" 1: Background Check changes to "Your application is in progress. We will send you a message when we start your background check." Usually follows MEP. Some applicants (especially Inland and CEC) skip this stage. You should receive an email for your Real IP1 - the email will not provide any details, just that your application has been updated.
NA2 - "Not Applicable" 2: Background Check changes to "Not Applicable" again after IP1. Some applicants skip this stage and it is easily missed. No email.
Ghost Update #2 or Real IP2 - "In progress" 2: Background Check changes to "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information." No email.
NA3 - "Not Applicable" 3: Background Check changes to "Not Applicable" again after IP2 (uncommon).
Ghost Update #3 or Final Ghost Update - Often considered a sign that PPR is coming soon. Not seen by all applicants.
PPR - Passport request: IRCC sends "Ready for visa" e-mail asking you to submit your documents to your visa office so they can issue your CoPR and entry visa if applicable. A PPR is announced only by email, and there may be no changes made directly to the profile. If you are worried you might miss it, you can whitelist the email domain @cic.gc.ca to ensure the email comes straight to your inbox.
CoPR - Confirmation of Permanent Residence: A document that says you've been approved for permanent residence.

Other notes:
1. The ‘eligibility’ and ‘final decision’ fields in your profile will not change to passed until after you receive your CoPR. This is an example of what a profile may look like following a CoPR.
2. Remember that these are not "official" stages, but they are used frequently throughout the forum to track the processing of applications.

This is a combined effort of @northern sunshine, @USProgrammer and myself. Please share your feedback - it is likely we have missed a few things!
Medical passed nd got email then next day i got ghost update and email with no update and IP2 together.... now its showing IP2 .. will it be false then?
 
Last edited:

lina_ballerina

Hero Member
May 17, 2018
211
289
There's nothing like a "ghost email" You get the email for medical and biometrics update saying "application has been updated" a couple of hours before the actual application gets updated. What you saw on Apr 6 was simply an email for the update that reflected on your account on Apr 8th.

Based on your query, your application is in IP1.
Just confirmed that the ghost update was my eligibilty passed. So I would be in ip2 now. I think the email at MEP must have been ip1.
 

Indayclariss

Star Member
Jan 29, 2019
55
46
Congrats to you... Could you please share your timeline?
Thank you! Here is my timeline:
March 22 - Application Received
March 16 - Sponsor Approval
May 23 - Transferred to Manila Visa Office
May 27 - Started processing application PA
May 30 - Biometrics Completed
June 8 - Medical Passed
July 29 - Ghost Update
August 7 - PPR (Email and GCKEY) and Pre Arrival Letter (GCKEY) DM on ECAS
August 8 - submitted passport
 

amirfarrokh

Member
Aug 4, 2019
10
4
Dear friends:
My time line is:
ar 10 Aug 2018
aor 22 Sep 2018
mr and adr 30 May 2019
mep 13 Jun 2019
GU 13 Jun 2019
GU 19 Jul 2019
pal 20 Jul 2019
GU 30 Jul 2019

Pnp paper based, outland, my visa office is Paris
Can anyone tell me how long does it take to ppr? Am I passed ip2???
 

RIVAVE

Full Member
Jun 13, 2019
41
2
Can anyone comment on my case please! Thanks a lot!

Basic information:
FSW - Inland, Express Entry
AOR: June 17 (biometrics included as I applied for study permit two years earlier)
MEP: July 22
Email Update: July 23 saying that my application has been updated, but I did not see any changes on my application status page.

A bit of confusion here:
- 7pm July 22, I checked my application and it said "Application updated" (no email). I opened up the page and saw that my biometrics was linkedin to my express entry application
- 9pm July 22, I checked my application again (yes, I am obsessed), and it said "Application updated) again (no email). I opened up the page and saw MEP.
- 8pm July 23, I received an email saying that my application has been updated. I opened my account and nothing changed.
- Since 7pm July 22, my BG check status has always been "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information". And that causes my confusion.

Hope someone can shed some light on my case like what happened and which step am I in now?
Hi , what’s the update on your application now ?
 

Blackcrow

Newbie
Jun 8, 2017
5
0
Hi group, has anyone been delayed in the process due to futherance test because of high blood pressure.? And how long have/ did you waited for the medical updated since the futherance test sent? ( only problem with hbpressure, other test results were okay). Thank you very much for your response( which i am desperatedly waiting for) ! Already in my 3rd month waiting since the futherance test result sent. Check by webform and was replied that document recieve, keep waiting.
 

Aseefasad

Newbie
Sep 23, 2018
7
0
IRCC has introduced a number of changes in recent months and it is time to update our understanding of the post-AOR stages. I am simply building on the amazing work of @northern sunshine in developing an explanation of the various stages we can use - informally - to track the progress of our application. Huge thanks in particular to @USProgrammer who has posited the underlying trends and found evidence for them. In short, the traditional transition from IP1 to IP2 to ghost update to PPR still holds but in a modified way due to these changes.

From 31 Dec 2018, everyone except for Inland candidates has to provide their biometrics which means the default starting stage applicants will see for their Background Check is ‘IP2’ (“We are processing your background check…”), however, this is a ‘False IP2’, meaning an IP2 that has appeared before it is actually due as the application has not in fact progressed to the IP2 stage yet.

If you have an AOR of 31 Dec 2018 or later, follow the chart below to track your progress. Candidates will remain in a state of 'False IP2' throughout their application and only see a series of 'ghost updates' following their MEP; the first such ghost update (which should follow shortly after MEP) will signify your Real IP1, the second ghost update will signify your Real IP2, and the third will be your ‘Final’ Ghost Update, following which you are likely to receive your PPR.

If you have an AOR date of up to 30 Dec 2018
, the chart also applies to you if you meet one or more of these conditions: you are a CEC or PNP-Inland candidate, you were required to provide your biometrics or you did not pay your RPRF upfront.

Note for FSW-Outland candidates who have an AOR date of up to 30 Dec 2018: If you did not need to provide biometrics and paid your RPRF upfront, the old transition from NA1 all the way to a Final Ghost Update will still apply to you. Your Background Check should have started in NA1 ("Not Applicable" 1), meaning your Background Check status said "Not Applicable" right after you submitted your application.

General:
EE
- Express Entry: Canada's score-based program for economic immigrants
CRS - Comprehensive Ranking System: System for ranking candidates for EE
ITA - Invitation to Apply: an invitation to apply for permanent residence
e-APR - electronic Application for Permanent Residence: the online application for PR after receiving an ITA
RPRF - Right of Permanent Residence Fee: a fee collected as part of your PR application
AOR - Acknowledgement of Receipt (of application): email confirming receipt of your application after you submit and pay your fees
ADR - Additional Document Request: IRCC sends a message asking you to provide a specific document to supplement your application.

Post-submission stages:
False IP2
- Usually right from AOR or just after MEP. Background Check shows "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information.”
MEP - Medicals passed: review of medical results changes from "You do not need a medical exam." to "You have passed the medical exam." There is no email for MEP.
Ghost Update - When you log in, the application says it's been "updated" but none of the fields have changed. Once you logout and log back in, the application returns to being "submitted". Ghost updates are not announced by email and a candidate must check their profile daily to not miss them.
Ghost Update #1 or Real IP1 - "In progress" 1: Background Check changes to "Your application is in progress. We will send you a message when we start your background check." Usually follows MEP. Some applicants (especially Inland and CEC) skip this stage. You should receive an email for your Real IP1 - the email will not provide any details, just that your application has been updated.
NA2 - "Not Applicable" 2: Background Check changes to "Not Applicable" again after IP1. Some applicants skip this stage and it is easily missed. No email.
Ghost Update #2 or Real IP2 - "In progress" 2: Background Check changes to "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information." No email.
NA3 - "Not Applicable" 3: Background Check changes to "Not Applicable" again after IP2 (uncommon).
Ghost Update #3 or Final Ghost Update - Often considered a sign that PPR is coming soon. Not seen by all applicants.
PPR - Passport request: IRCC sends "Ready for visa" e-mail asking you to submit your documents to your visa office so they can issue your CoPR and entry visa if applicable. A PPR is announced only by email, and there may be no changes made directly to the profile. If you are worried you might miss it, you can whitelist the email domain @cic.gc.ca to ensure the email comes straight to your inbox.
CoPR - Confirmation of Permanent Residence: A document that says you've been approved for permanent residence.

Other notes:
1. The ‘eligibility’ and ‘final decision’ fields in your profile will not change to passed until after you receive your CoPR. This is an example of what a profile may look like following a CoPR.
2. Remember that these are not "official" stages, but they are used frequently throughout the forum to track the processing of applications.

This is a combined effort of @northern sunshine, @USProgrammer and myself. Please share your feedback - it is likely we have missed a few things!

waah nice observation, is this applicable for all VO?