Outside processing time. ECAS still not working.

[cbellyoung]

So, CIC received my application on Feb 24th. I still have not heard anything - no AOR or SA yet. I am checking the ECAS system almost every day. I enter our receipt number, family name and date of birth. I have tried my date of birth and my wife's date of birth. I have also tried my wife's maiden name. My wife is my sponsor.

Each time we get the message "We were not able to identify you using the information you provided". This could be because they haven't started processing our application yet, but as I am outside of the processing times now, surely they would have started processing by now?

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[Sa3Sa3]

It should be processed by now.

try calling CIC

 

[andrew-brit]

So, CIC received my application on Feb 24th. I still have not heard anything - no AOR or SA yet. I am checking the ECAS system almost every day. I enter our receipt number, family name and date of birth. I have tried my date of birth and my wife's date of birth. I have also tried my wife's maiden name. My wife is my sponsor.

Each time we get the message "We were not able to identify you using the information you provided". This could be because they haven't started processing our application yet, but as I am outside of the processing times now, surely they would have started processing by now?

Anyone got any suggestions?

There are 3 ways to access ECAS:

1. If your sponsor has a Unique Client Identifier (UCI) use that and their details (surname, date of birth, country). If they were born in Canada they will likely not have a UCI however if your sponsor applied to become a PR of Canada at one stage through CIC then they will have a UCI number.

2/ If the principal applicant has a UCI use that and their details (surname, date of birth, country). Similarly to point 1, if you have previously applied for a visa (work, study or visitor) from CIC then you will have a UCI.

3. If you have a file number use that and the principal applicant's details (surname, date of birth, country). The file number will be a number like F000123456 and is printed in your sponsor approval letter.

If your sponsor is in Canada they should try calling the CIC Information line.

 

[cbellyoung]

There are 3 ways to access ECAS:

1. If your sponsor has a Unique Client Identifier (UCI) use that and their details (surname, date of birth, country). If they were born in Canada they will likely not have a UCI however if your sponsor applied to become a PR of Canada at one stage through CIC then they will have a UCI number.

2/ If the principal applicant has a UCI use that and their details (surname, date of birth, country). Similarly to point 1, if you have previously applied for a visa (work, study or visitor) from CIC then you will have a UCI.

3. If you have a file number use that and the principal applicant's details (surname, date of birth, country). The file number will be a number like F000123456 and is printed in your sponsor approval letter.

If your sponsor is in Canada they should try calling the CIC Information line.

My Canadian wife lives with me here in the UK. Neither of us have ever had any correspondence from CIC, so we don't have UCI numbers or file numbers. The only number I have that I can use for ECAS search is the receipt number from the money we paid to file the application. But that yields nothing.

I can't call them from outside of Canada. There is one number I have found for Foreign Trades, that redirects to CIC, but it just hangs up, saying there are too many callers. I have called this number at 8am and 9am local Mississauga time, and still get this message.

I feel like I am out of options. If I don't hear from CIC, I don't know what I can do to escalate.

 

[JULESB82]

i Had a similar problem trying to get hold of CIC... Make a skype call from your computer! worked for me!
hope this helps

 

[cbellyoung]

i Had a similar problem trying to get hold of CIC... Make a skype call from your computer! worked for me!
hope this helps

I only use Skype. Doesn't make any difference. Still can't get through.

 

[Kayaker]

As andrew-brit pointed out, the only ways to log in to ECAS are with the UCI or File number.

Also, I believe that in most cases, you cannot log in to Ecas until you have sponsorship approval. (This may be because when you get sponsorship approval, they send you your UCI and File number then.)

You could try contacting the MP's office in the area you are planning to live in Canada. They might be able to help you by making an inquiry on your behalf.

 

[andrew-brit]

i Had a similar problem trying to get hold of CIC... Make a skype call from your computer! worked for me!
hope this helps

Have you looked at the faq linked in my signature? There is info on contacting CIC in Mississauga. See here