ALL ABOUT GCMS - HOW TO ORDER, READ, & GENERAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED

[aquamex]

Does anyone know under which “Act” would Inland Spousal Sponsorships can apply to obtain the GCMS Notes? (Is it the Access to information or Privacy Act?)

 

[cindyestteacher]

Question: I ordered my GCMS notes last June. I never received them. I landed in London, ON last September 2019. Today, in my email, I received my GCMS notes. Why are they just now sending and what does this mean? if anything?

 

[legalfalcon]

Question: I ordered my GCMS notes last June. I never received them. I landed in London, ON last September 2019. Today, in my email, I received my GCMS notes. Why are they just now sending and what does this mean? if anything?

IRCC has been delaying many GCMS notes and your case is not unusual. On March 11, 2020 the Office of the Information Commissioner initiated a systematic investigation against IRCC. This was announced before a parliamentary committee. Now IRCC will have to give a record of all the requests they received, how many were released within 30 days etc. etc.


https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/en/resources/news-releases/information-commissioner-initiates-systemic-investigation-department

 

[cindyestteacher]

IRCC has been delaying many GCMS notes and your case is not unusual. On March 11, 2020 the Office of the Information Commissioner initiated a systematic investigation against IRCC. This was announced before a parliamentary committee. Now IRCC will have to give a record of all the requests they received, how many were released within 30 days etc. etc.


https://www.oic-ci.gc.ca/en/resources/news-releases/information-commissioner-initiates-systemic-investigation-department

Wow! Thank you SO much. This makes me feel better. I thought it was awfully odd. I don't like seeing an email from IRCC in my inbox. Brings back memories of "going through the process." I was so happy and grateful to them, though, when I landed in September. You answered my question thoroughly and completely. I can't thank you enough.

 

[ZOOZ]

Hi @legalfalcon , would appreciate your help to understand if security check has started based on our GCMS notes. We have passed interview and have a pre-arrival letter.

I have read that it can appear as “not started” but actually be in progress. Your feedback would be appreciated .

Eligibility: In progress
Security: Not Started
HIRV: blank
Criminality: passed
Org Crime: blank
Medical: in progress
Misrep: blank
Info Sharing: complete
Other reqs: blank
Final: blank

if you need any other info please let me know!

 

[legalfalcon]

Hi @legalfalcon , would appreciate your help to understand if security check has started based on our GCMS notes. We have passed interview and have a pre-arrival letter.

I have read that it can appear as “not started” but actually be in progress. Your feedback would be appreciated .

Eligibility: In progress
Security: Not Started
HIRV: blank
Criminality: passed
Org Crime: blank
Medical: in progress
Misrep: blank
Info Sharing: complete
Other reqs: blank
Final: blank

if you need any other info please let me know!

You should see the date of generation of your GCMS notes. The date is listed at the bottom of each page. Usually GCMS notes are 3-4 weeks old when they arrive, as in they reflect the applications as it was 3-4 weeks ago. Within this 3-4 weeks a lot can happen, and your security can also be initiated. If your security has initiated, you may see a change of status on your MyCIC account or a GU.

 

[AppleTalk]

@legalfalcon and other experts...could you please help deciphering these notes for me? It seems that there is a RR on POF but there are no further details given. I had the POF well above the required funds and all through valid source (salary). no gift deeds or FDs. I have no clue on why there would be a RR and getting worried now. AOR 2nd Oct 2019.

link to notes screenshot: GCMS notes

 

[ZOOZ]

You should see the date of generation of your GCMS notes. The date is listed at the bottom of each page. Usually GCMS notes are 3-4 weeks old when they arrive, as in they reflect the applications as it was 3-4 weeks ago. Within this 3-4 weeks a lot can happen, and your security can also be initiated. If your security has initiated, you may see a change of status on your MyCIC account or a GU.

Thanks @legalfalcon - yes, the notes were generated March 11,2020 and received April 10, 2020. I did get a GU 10 days ago and Background Check section in GCKEY now reads “Your application is in progress. We will send you a message when we start your background check.”
From this GU it would appear not started? Or is there something I am missing?

I’ve ordered them again to see what is updated.

Appreciate your feedback!

 

[legalfalcon]

Thanks @legalfalcon - yes, the notes were generated March 11,2020 and received April 10, 2020. I did get a GU 10 days ago and Background Check section in GCKEY now reads “Your application is in progress. We will send you a message when we start your background check.”
From this GU it would appear not started? Or is there something I am missing?

I’ve ordered them again to see what is updated.

Appreciate your feedback!

See the notes in the last 4-5 pages. Is your eligibility passed?

 

[legalfalcon]

@legalfalcon and other experts...could you please help deciphering these notes for me? It seems that there is a RR on POF but there are no further details given. I had the POF well above the required funds and all through valid source (salary). no gift deeds or FDs. I have no clue on why there would be a RR and getting worried now. AOR 2nd Oct 2019.

link to notes screenshot: GCMS notes

This is an old post, re-posting to here:


Understanding “Review Required”

A lot of applicants see “review required” in their GCMS notes for eligibility. There are many theories floating around with regard to what “review required” means and if it is alarming.

Before I venture into explaining the significance, it is important to understand that each application goes through the following stages as per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the regulations (Canadian Immigration Law):

R10 – Completeness Check
Criminality
Medicals
A11.2 – eligibility
Security

Out of the above, the most important stage is eligibility. This is also the most time-consuming stage because your documents have to be verified, evaluated and assessed to ascertain that you meet the eligibility criteria for the program you have applied (FSW / CEC / FTW). To stream line this process and make it easier for an immigration officer (decision making authority), all applications are first evaluated by case analysts or program assistants. They review the documents and summarize it in the GCMS. If they have any concerns with any document or want the immigration officer to carefully look into a specific document, they will flag it as “review required.” It is the content of the note that is important here. If the review required is for a specific document, while the summary of the note says that an applicant has met the eligibility, or “ready to finalize” it simply means that while the applicant has met the eligibility criteria, but the specific document needs a careful examination form the officer before promoting (eligibility pass) by the officer.

However, if there are concerns, there will be a review required for the eligibility, and there will be no text to the effect “ready to finalize” or pass. The note will specifically state job duties do not match, or the employment cannot be verified, or the number of years of work experience claimed cannot be verified. This is where an application can land in muddy waters. But the final decision rests on the immigration officer. He may override the decision of the analyst / assistant or go with the analysis of the analyst / assistant.

Even in cases where the analyst / assistant is of the opinion that the applicant has met the eligibility, and there is no “review required,” the officer can replace it with his own opinion. Though rare, but it does happen. This is why the eligibility is only passed when an officer conclusively marks the eligibility as passed.

Finally, there is “review required” for PoF. This is the most common in many applications. This is because, the financial and banking practices of each country are different. Eg. Fixed deposits are know as Certificate of Deposit (CD) in the US. Similarly, treasury bonds, mutual funds, stocks, and many other investment vehicles are there. If your PoF anything other than a bank deposit, it is more likely that it will be marked as “review required.” Also, IRCC does not go by day to day fluctuations in FOREX. Instead, the Canadian federal government issued a quarterly conversion rate for all FOREX vis-a-via CAD. If your PoF is in a foreign currency, then you may have “review required” for the officer to make a determination.

Just because you have “review required” does not mean that you hit the panic mode. Instead, read the context in which it is there. If there is a concern regarding a document, you can send a replacement document via CSE. The most common reasons for RR are:

1. Work reference letter without job duties
2. Work reference letters missing all the details requested by IRCC
3. If you submitted a letter from a colleague because you were unable to get one from your employer, but did not have a LoE on file, this too will lead to RR.
4. Not sufficient work experience in the primary NOC.
5. Inability to verify your employment as your employer details are missing.

There are just some of the scenarios.

Hope this helps.

 

[ZOOZ]

See the notes in the last 4-5 pages. Is your eligibility passed?

The last 4-5 pages Of the current set I have end with a note in Feb 17, 2020 with confirmation of our attendance at interview, which we have since passed and received pre arrival. Eligibility in this set of notes still says in progress.

 

[AppleTalk]

This is an old post, re-posting to here:


Understanding “Review Required”

A lot of applicants see “review required” in their GCMS notes for eligibility. There are many theories floating around with regard to what “review required” means and if it is alarming.

Before I venture into explaining the significance, it is important to understand that each application goes through the following stages as per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the regulations (Canadian Immigration Law):

R10 – Completeness Check
Criminality
Medicals
A11.2 – eligibility
Security

Out of the above, the most important stage is eligibility. This is also the most time-consuming stage because your documents have to be verified, evaluated and assessed to ascertain that you meet the eligibility criteria for the program you have applied (FSW / CEC / FTW). To stream line this process and make it easier for an immigration officer (decision making authority), all applications are first evaluated by case analysts or program assistants. They review the documents and summarize it in the GCMS. If they have any concerns with any document or want the immigration officer to carefully look into a specific document, they will flag it as “review required.” It is the content of the note that is important here. If the review required is for a specific document, while the summary of the note says that an applicant has met the eligibility, or “ready to finalize” it simply means that while the applicant has met the eligibility criteria, but the specific document needs a careful examination form the officer before promoting (eligibility pass) by the officer.

However, if there are concerns, there will be a review required for the eligibility, and there will be no text to the effect “ready to finalize” or pass. The note will specifically state job duties do not match, or the employment cannot be verified, or the number of years of work experience claimed cannot be verified. This is where an application can land in muddy waters. But the final decision rests on the immigration officer. He may override the decision of the analyst / assistant or go with the analysis of the analyst / assistant.

Even in cases where the analyst / assistant is of the opinion that the applicant has met the eligibility, and there is no “review required,” the officer can replace it with his own opinion. Though rare, but it does happen. This is why the eligibility is only passed when an officer conclusively marks the eligibility as passed.

Finally, there is “review required” for PoF. This is the most common in many applications. This is because, the financial and banking practices of each country are different. Eg. Fixed deposits are know as Certificate of Deposit (CD) in the US. Similarly, treasury bonds, mutual funds, stocks, and many other investment vehicles are there. If your PoF anything other than a bank deposit, it is more likely that it will be marked as “review required.” Also, IRCC does not go by day to day fluctuations in FOREX. Instead, the Canadian federal government issued a quarterly conversion rate for all FOREX vis-a-via CAD. If your PoF is in a foreign currency, then you may have “review required” for the officer to make a determination.

Just because you have “review required” does not mean that you hit the panic mode. Instead, read the context in which it is there. If there is a concern regarding a document, you can send a replacement document via CSE. The most common reasons for RR are:

1. Work reference letter without job duties
2. Work reference letters missing all the details requested by IRCC
3. If you submitted a letter from a colleague because you were unable to get one from your employer, but did not have a LoE on file, this too will lead to RR.
4. Not sufficient work experience in the primary NOC.
5. Inability to verify your employment as your employer details are missing.

There are just some of the scenarios.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for your response @legalfalcon
Problem is that there is nothing in the notes that point to any particular issue with a document or any transaction. All my funds are through direct salary deposit from my and my spouse's employer. There was also a $3k deposit through dependent care FSA which I explained in LOE.
I am really not sure what additional documents or information to provide at this time since there is nothing adverse in the notes, except the blanket 'review required' statement.

Would you suggest uploading new bank letters and latest 6 months statements, again?

 

[bigKhalid]

@legalfalcon I didn't have the chance to real the whole thread, its a huge one. I was wondering if I can order GCMS notes without any ongoing application/ order for a successful application. Also, would you be aware if ordering GCMS notes can start raising eyebrows from IRCC?
Regards,
BK

 

[youngman]

@legalfalcon, first of all, thank you for your valued assistance here. Following's my case:

FSW (outland) - VO CPC-Ottawa

• AOR - July 21, 2019
• RPRF - 28 Nov (after 4 months) : verified status, Eligibility was recommended passed, criminality passed, security not started
• Ordered GCMS - 16 Jan (generated same day at about 6 month mark), received on 13 feb: everything was clean as a whistle (no redflags, no mention of S.15/16 or anything)
• Orderered CBSA - 24 Feb (generated 9 March, at about 8 Month mark), no change except info sharing is retracted (Eligibility Recommend passed and security still not started)

No ADRs received (exept for RPRF)

Although it's clear that Eligibility needs to be marked passed before security initiates, I read that sometimes security initiates after Eligibility is recommended passed, the only way to make sure it by ordering CBSA. Which I did and didn't find any indicator.

It has now been 9 months since AOR and the last action was taken on 28th Nov, the file hasn't been touched for almost 5 months. Any clue as to what could be wrong or is there anything specific I should look for in CBSA?

Will really appreciate your help.

Thanks again

 

[legalfalcon]

@legalfalcon, first of all, thank you for your valued assistance here. Following's my case:

FSW (outland) - VO CPC-Ottawa

• AOR - July 21, 2019
• RPRF - 28 Nov (after 4 months) : verified status, Eligibility was recommended passed, criminality passed, security not started
• Ordered GCMS - 16 Jan (generated same day at about 6 month mark), received on 13 feb: everything was clean as a whistle (no redflags, no mention of S.15/16 or anything)
• Orderered CBSA - 24 Feb (generated 9 March, at about 8 Month mark), no change except info sharing is retracted (Eligibility Recommend passed and security still not started)

No ADRs received (exept for RPRF)

Although it's clear that Eligibility needs to be marked passed before security initiates, I read that sometimes security initiates after Eligibility is recommended passed, the only way to make sure it by ordering CBSA. Which I did and didn't find any indicator.

It has now been 9 months since AOR and the last action was taken on 28th Nov, the file hasn't been touched for almost 5 months. Any clue as to what could be wrong or is there anything specific I should look for in CBSA?

Will really appreciate your help.

Thanks again

Only if you are an inland applicant your security may start before the eligibility is marked passed. However, in most case an eligibility has to be marked as passed and only then the security initiates.

If your eligibility has not been marked passed, which is reflected from your GCMS and CBSA notes, it means that it has not been reviewed by an officer yet and is in the queue.