How to get an update on your file

[Bhooman]

I can check the status of the immigration application through CIC website, but it is not updating and just shows "In Process". Would calling CIC office bring me any more details on application? or they will just repeat the same from CIC website.

 

[Babyblue74]

I saw your posts about the embassy in Ghana.

Until the letter is issued for your interview date it will remain "in Process" I actually got the interview letter before they updated the website. So they dont really keep it
up to date when you are processing thru Ghana.

The best way to see whats going on with your file or if they have even opened it to have a peek is to contact your area MP.
If you email them and bug them they get mad and shuffle you to the bottom. But your MP (not MLA) has leverage and is
allowed to make professional inquires for members of their constituency. Dont get the MP to check more than once every 2 months
the interviewing officer for my husband was resentful that she was under watch...but hey who cares cause we paid right?

Ghana gets the work done but they are painfully slow. Also, ONE mistake will fail whoever you sponsor so study that file like it is your PHD. I have been in process since Aug 2006 and
we are still waiting.

 

[RobsLuv]

There's a better and easier way than getting the MP involved because most of them don't really care! You can order your CAIPS notes - it is a chronologically listed computer print out with notes from the IO concerning every step of your process to date.

 

[locolynn]

There's a better and easier way than getting the MP involved because most of them don't really care! You can order your CAIPS notes - it is a chronologically listed computer print out with notes from the IO concerning every step of your process to date.

I didn't really find the CAIPS notes very helpful. They really just confirmed info I already knew. Whereas my MP has been quite helpful. In fact, our visa office contacted my MP to update them spontaenously. But for the most part the MP also just confirms info I already know. I guess every mp and every visa office is different.

Lynn

 

[Bhooman]

Thanks a lot everybody,

Actually the application I mentioned is for my father, he is in India and so is his immigration application. He stayed in Ghana for 2 yrs, hence requires Police clearance from Ghana. I understand (and my understanding could be wrong, so please correct me if so) that CAIPS just shows status using CIC codes and not really helpful to public. Also, involving MP would only help if the application has passed the time frame CIC mentioned on AOR letter (which in my father's case is 36 months - 3 years).

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

[locolynn]

Thanks a lot everybody,

Actually the application I mentioned is for my father, he is in India and so is his immigration application. He stayed in Ghana for 2 yrs, hence requires Police clearance from Ghana. I understand (and my understanding could be wrong, so please correct me if so) that CAIPS just shows status using CIC codes and not really helpful to public. Also, involving MP would only help if the application has passed the time frame CIC mentioned on AOR letter (which in my father's case is 36 months - 3 years).

Please let me know your thoughts.

I think you are right about the MP and the CAIPS notes. Unfortunately there isn't much that can be done. The website has said "in process" for our case for 13 months now...

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

Lynn

 

[RobsLuv]

It is true - some MPs are more helpful than others . . . our MP's office wasn't helpful at all. The CAIPS notes, in our case, actually offered quite a bit of helpful information. It was not just codes - there was narrative (albeit prejudicial) about circumstances surrounding details of our application. If you look at the information provided on the Immepedia link I included above - you will find info to help you "interpret" the codes . . . but the most helpful part of CAIPS for me was seeing where we were in the process, date-wise - and reading what the IO was thinking in making her assessments. I found them very enlightening - but we had a "special case". I'm sure some CAIPS notes don't have much to them - but that, in itself, is a good sign that things are proceeding normally and you can expect to be finalized within the normal processing timelines. This process takes time - no doubt about that - and if nothing out of the ordinary is happening, there's not going to be much interesting info in the notes. After all - how much could there really be but a bunch of boring numbers, dates and details about when this info was received, what was requested from whom when, and so on?

 

[Babyblue74]

Hi Bhooman

CAIPS or MP its up to you. I have been dealing with the embassy in Ghana for over 2 years trying
to get my husband into Canada. This office is busy, understaffed and ony services 3 English speaking countries in West africa out of 15 nations total so im assuming most of their human power goes to the French speaking countries over there.

The CAIPS notes in Ghana dont say much. When the MP contacts Ghana they can actually find out what number in line you are at. My MP contacted them every 2-3 months. Also, remember if you get CAIPS notes from the government website they are under $10 but if you order them thru a company online it is over $40.

If you call there you wont find an option to talk to a person. Its all recorded so you will be wasting your money. Look on the timeline on CIC website to find out how long you will have to be in process.

Ghana doesnt forget about you they are just turtles.

Just curious, do you know that the emassy in India is VERY reasonable compared to Ghana? Sometimes west africans leave and go to India to apply because the timeline there is much shorter. Man, I would have had my hubby apply at any other embassy in the world rather than this one cause it taKES FOREVER! Is your dad a Ghanan National?

 

[Bhooman]

Thanks everyone for support,

Babyblue74, my dad is an Indian citizen, he worked in Ghana for 2 years in early 1990s. With the immigration application you have to submit police clearance from each country where you have lived more than 6 months since age 18, so my dad was required to obtain the police clearance from Ghana.

All readers who have got their MP involved....
Did your MP asked you to wait for the processing time mentioned in AOR before he/she could inquire about the case from Case Processing Center in Canada or outside Canada? I.e. If I go to my MP to see if he could make an inquiry, would he tell me to wait and complete 36 months from the AOR date before he would send an inquiry?

About CAIPS report, I am sponsoring my father but when we sent his immigration application, we did not send the "Use of Representative" form (IMM5476E) with the application. In this case, can I send the CAIPS report request? or my dad has to send the request? or does my did need to send me the signed "Use of Representative" form with my name as authorised representative for him and then I request the CAIPS report on behalf of him from within Canada?

I know I am asking a lot of questions, but I don't want to screw things up due to inadequate knowledge/assumption and delay the application process any further.

Thank you all for helping.

 

[Babyblue74]

Hi Bhooman,

I called my MP after sending an email to his secretary. Then I dealt with the secretary the whole time. We agreed together that contacting them too much might hurt our case.
All they do is send a short email stating, "I am making a formal inquiry on behalf of **** and any information would be appreciate. Please give us some indication of the time line"

Your MP will NOT ask you to wait the 36 months because this is a person that generally wants to be re-elected. So their support for you is in their best interest IF they have immigration issues as a part of their political platform. Go to your MP's website. If he/she lists "help with citizenship and immigration matters" as part of their services to the people in your area then definitely they will help you. If he/she doesnt listen then go to the office because face to face they have to hear you. My parents and I bugged our Mp until he cared about us.

Every time we did that they contacted the MP after about 7-10 days.

You only need the representative IMM 5476 if you have a representative. It can be a lawyer or you or anyone. Its not necessary especially if your dad speaks English well. If the form isnt included they will assume you dont want one. Use of a representative is optional.

CAIPS doesnt come from the CIC. It is an independent office. You can order them anytime and if you call their office they can give you an indication if they are busy or not. Call the immigration info line in Canada to find out their Number. if you cant find it email me and I will give it to you.

Your CAIPS file wont say much if nothing has happened in Ghana.

***Bhooman, I dont understand one thing. A police clearance in Ghana is done at the designated Ghanan office for it and not at the embassy. The embassy will just tell you where to go and get it. So, you can get it done up and then still apply from India. You dont need to also apply from Ghana if he is an Indian citizen. You just need a police clearance. Ghana is more expensive living than India and he shouldnt have to be there for more than a week.

For Example:
My husband is a Nigerian citizen. he lived in S Korea for 5 years. So we got a police clearance for him in S Korea and went to the police department for it. The police told us it has nothing to do with immigration because immigration Law and criminal law are different departments. My husband was an overstay in korea and even so the police granted him the clearance because he didnt commit any crimes they didnt even care if he was legal or not. They even told us to our face.

My suggestion, Get the police clearance from Ghana and get home to India. I read in a CIC journal that the embassy in India hires Indian employees because they support immigration Canada. I came upon it because I had a lot of advice from the Indian community here and wow, these applications can be processed quickly if you are sponsoring someone. Parents generally take 2 years max.

 

[BCguy]

Hi
A quick comment,It also depends on how powerful your MP is,I work a lot with them in my work,For example I will be at Prime Minister s Harpers Summer Barbeque this Sunday and have been with 3 ministers so far this week.If He is opposition,Such as NDP,Liberal or Bloc,He doesnt carry much weight,Goverment MP s have more weight,Ministers even more.
To cite an example,somebody I was assisting needed to get Family members from overseas to attend the Funeral of their son,8 applied hoping at least 2-3 would be approved.I got their MP a Liberal to write a letter of support,But no results after 2-3 weeks,With the body deteriorating in Funeral Home,I contacted one of the Special Assistants of a very powerful Federal Minister,Cannot say name But one of the top leaders in Conservative Party,Who said to the Embassy,that If they do not act on it,They will be contacted by the Prime Minister s Office PMO.All 8 visas were released in 24 hours and Embassy even asked the family if there were any more who wanted who wanted to attend.Just my own experience

 

[Bhooman]

Got the CAIPS today. They haven't touched the file since they received it back in March 2008. Very frustrating. The BF'd Date is July 2nd, 2008 which is now almost 4 months in past. And still no movement.