MrJB said:
Seriously mate? You whinge about how long it's taking, which is fair, it's horrible waiting, but then you tie up CIC resources by constantly requesting notes?
Why?
The notes never have information that can help you in them - they just say what stage is started and when.
It's madness to be doing this constantly. I've worked in government buildings, even if it's not the same department technically, you can bet those people share a breakroom, they will talk, and they will label you a nuisance. I strongly advise you to quit it.
Every thread I've looked at it said requesting GCMS notes does not affect your processing time unless you're ordering physical files, I'm only ordering the electronic stuff.
Of course the notes have info that helps me, they will mention in the comments, what red flags are present, what documents we are missing, etc. Having this info helps me prepare to address their concerns to possibly avoid an interview, which by the way, is an unprecedented 24 month wait time, just for an interview. I've read many threads where people were able to successfully reverse the VO's decision to have an interview because they read the red flags that were on the GCMS notes, sent in the appropriate evidence to counter their concerns, and then the VO's decide not to schedule an interview.
I don't think they will label me a nuisance, as nowhere did they say that I shouldn't order so many notes at one time, but they do say if you send in too many case specific enquiries (not the same as GCMS) through the Singapore VO's contact email, they will possibly delay your application. They didn't say anything about the GCMS notes. I'm a Canadian, and I have every right to access this information (GCMS), as indicated on their website, so I'm just simply exercising that right. Besides, I'm the one who's paying the $5 each time I'm requesting the info. Isn't it more of a nuisance that someone sends in an application with missing documents? Or someone with a fake marriage, omitting information on the forms? Or seeing so many interview applicants waiting in line each and every day? There are so many people on the interveiw queue at the Singapore VO, because so many of them have red flag relationships or something else, wouldn't that be more of a nuisance than someone with minimal red flags, submits a very detailed application, but requests GCMS a lot?
I might "whinge" about how long its taking, but honestly, I'm more upset about the fact that there are so many people who do fake marriages in the SE Asia region, causing CIC to have to increase their processing times, rather than being upset at CIC themselves. I know I can't fault the govt for taking so long to process the applications, because it's the people who live in these regions deciding to do so many fake marriages. And seeing as how my wife has to wait 4-10x longer to get her PR than you, I hope you understand when I have to work that much harder to make the application successful, and part of that is getting the GCMS notes often to ensure we have the most up to date info.
I don't try to whine about how its not fair that people from US or Australia get their PR in 3-4 months, while my wife has to wait 12-36 months, I just try to say that this is just how it is, blame the people in those regions, not the visa offices, and just try to work with what you have. And what I have, is the ability to order GCMS as much as I need to (and CIC does not indicate that ordering too many will cause delays), so I will utilize that ability. I don't want to ask, "Do you think its fair just because my wife is from a less developed country that she should have to wait 4-10x longer than someone from USA/Australia?" Maybe it seems unfair, and you can always ask, "Is it fair that I have a hard time bringing in a spouse who is 30 years younger than me?" Of course the answer is, no its not fair, but that's just how it is. And that's the way I look at the processing times, "It's just how it is". Gotta work with the cards you're dealt.
And FYI, my wife and I have made alternate plans should she have to wait 2 years for an interview, and we also plan to take trips together twice a year while we're waiting for this PR process to go through. Make no mistake though, I"m very happy for those of you from the USA/Australia region, and right now, the Manila region, who are starting to get PPRs, DMs, and PR visas.