PLEASE FIND WHICH STAGE IS YOUR APPLICATION AND WHAT TO EXPECT SOON

[Eagle333]

LEGEND FOR COLORS USED
RED: Means in process
BLEU: Means a decision has been made at this point
GREEN: Means application received
ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

0) You file altogether your sponsorship application and the permanent resident application for the sponsored person to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga.

The sponsored person and his/her family members should undergo immigration medical exams

APPLICATION RECEIVED BY CIC-MISSISSAUGA ACCORDING TO ECAS

STAGE 1) The case processing centre in Mississauga checks if you are eligible to all sponsorship requirements, after verification is completed


1a) Incomplete Application: The application is sent back to you. You must submit documents or pay additional fees. No file was created in GCMS at this point, your application goes back to point Zero. ( Please check what point zero says)

IN PROCESS - DECISION MADE BY CIC-MISSISSAUGA ACCORDING TO ECAS
1b) Complete Application: You are eligible to the sponsorship requirements. CIC will then send to you a decision letter advising you about their decision and your application is ready for stage 2

You are not eligible to sponsorship requirements. Decision letter sent to you with your application. Your $475 will be refunded except $75. No file was created in GCMS.



APPLICATION RECEIVED - IN PROCESS BY CIC-VISA OFFICE
STAGE 2) The case processing centre in Mississauga forwards the permanent resident application to the visa office. The visa office checks whether you, the sponsored person and his/her family members are eligible under family class.


2a) The sponsored person must submit additional documents. Visa office contacts PA & SPR by e-mail or regular mail. File goes back in stage 2
2b) You and the sponsored person are eligible and meet the sponsorship requirements. File can go in stage 3 or stage 3 already commenced since it takes time
2c) The person you are sponsoring is called for an interview: The sponsored person is now eligible. File might wait for stage 3 to finish before it goes in stage 3c or 3d
The sponsored person is not eligible. Visa Office sends refusal letter to both SPR and PA
2d) You and the sponsored person are not eligible and did not meet the sponsorship requirements. Visa Office sends refusal letter to both PA and SPR

IN PROCESS BY VISA OFFICE
STAGE 3) The visa office checks whether the person you are sponsoring and his/her family members meet criminality, security and health requirements.

3a) The person you are sponsoring must undergo additional medical requirements. No final approval or denial yet but file will go back in stage 3 until satisfaction
3b) The person you are sponsoring must submit additional Security and Criminal checks. No final decision yet, file will go back in stage 3 until all requirements are met

DECISION MADE BY VISA OFFICE
3c) The person you are sponsoring meets all the requirements. Checks if RPRF and PPR is done or outstanding if yes please issue the visa, if no, please request

3d) The person you are sponsoring do not meet all the requirements. Please send refusal letter. $475 will not be refunded but $490 RPRF will be refunded if SPR decline to appeal in CANADA.

 

[Djl]

Hi Eagle, one thing I don't understand is we received in process 1st (Feb/16) and then application received additional documents requested (April/16). Would this mean they started background checks 1st back in February? (Manila VO). Thanks for all your dedicated time on here helping everyone understand!

 

[samola10]

Hi Eagle333,
thanks for all the assistance you have been rendering, I have a question with concern..
Application received November 23rd 2015, got aor1 in January 20, 2016, sponsor got approved April 5 2016, principal applicant portion went in-process around 8-10 april, when eCas updated it says we received ur application on 23/11/2015 nd we started processing your application on 22/04/2016. Since then no update from cic either missausaga or ghana
I applied for gcms on 18/04/2016 still waiting for note.
Now with this little update can u tell me what stage i am nd no SA or aor2 yet.
Thank you nd God bless...

 

[Eagle333]

Hi Eagle, one thing I don't understand is we received in process 1st (Feb/16) and then application received additional documents requested (April/16). Would this mean they started background checks 1st back in February? (Manila VO). Thanks for all your dedicated time on here helping everyone understand!

Hello Djl,

Yes your application must be in process regardless the fact that you see application received status. To prove that point CIC wants additional documents to continue processing your eligibility. That letter you just received was a fairness letter to make sure that no one could take any decision based on what they have on your file.

Yes background checks commence early at the visa office. It has 3 parts, there is Medical assessment that 90% of applicants complete as upfront. Though medical is needed upfront it will not be looked at in the last stage before your application goes for DECISION. There is security assessment which always take time to be completed. Security can take from 3-6 months to be completed by CSIS so it is not something to start in the last moment. Criminality is also part of BGC, it does not take that long, CSIS checks with the issuing country of your PCC when they get feedback CSIS advises CIC-VISA OFFICE.

The visa office will only be responsible to deal with your eligibility, they can also take up to 6 months or beyond to complete it. in other word, Visa office is not responsible to decide about the time your medical or SEC/CRIM will take because CSIS process your security and criminality in their own ways and RMO is also responsible for your medical. Visa office will only receive feedback from these government offices about their decision on you.

Some people have difficult cases to understand, especially those who have non routine cases. But I was talking about straight forward cases known as routine cases.

VISA OFFCIE: Responsible to make decision on your eligibility.
CSIS known as SADMIN: Is responsible to make decision for your security and criminality
Regional Medical Office: Is responsible to make decision for your medical

After SADMIN and RMO make their decisions, they notify CIC-VISA OFFICE then your file can be approved or rejected.

I hope this will give you a little bit of insight of the process.

 

[Eagle333]

Hi Eagle333,
thanks for all the assistance you have been rendering, I have a question with concern..
Application received November 23rd 2015, got aor1 in January 20, 2016, sponsor got approved April 5 2016, principal applicant portion went in-process around 8-10 april, when eCas updated it says we received ur application on 23/11/2015 nd we started processing your application on 22/04/2016. Since then no update from cic either missausaga or ghana
I applied for gcms on 18/04/2016 still waiting for note.
Now with this little update can u tell me what stage i am nd no SA or aor2 yet.
Thank you nd God bless...

Hello Samola10,

Happy to read you once again. I will try my best to answer to your question at the same time cooling your heart with fresh water. When there is no news from the visa office it means everything on your file is going according to plan. They can only contacts you when they need something additional information. Your application was officially in process April 22, 2016. But give them time for now since your file needs to get used to the color and temperature of their shelves.

Sincerely
Eagle333

 

[ohcanada15]

Hello Eagle333,

could you please clear something up for me. I have received a letter of police clearance when I was waiting for interview date. Does this mean that we passed eligibility?
last time I checked my notes we had interview recommended but after almost 4 month later we received police clearance request. I thought security and background is done
in the last stage in the process.

thanks

 

[Patricija]

I have sent out a request for GCMS notes on March 15 2016, but still haven't received anything. Is that normal? I did see that the processing time is 30+ days, but it has been about 40 business days now. Is there anyway I would be able to track the notes?

 

[Djl]

Hello Djl,

Yes your application must be in process regardless the fact that you see application received status. To prove that point CIC wants additional documents to continue processing your eligibility. That letter you just received was a fairness letter to make sure that no one could take any decision based on what they have on your file.

Yes background checks commence early at the visa office. It has 3 parts, there is Medical assessment that 90% of applicants complete as upfront. Though medical is needed upfront it will not be looked at in the last stage before your application goes for DECISION. There is security assessment which always take time to be completed. Security can take from 3-6 months to be completed by CSIS so it is not something to start in the last moment. Criminality is also part of BGC, it does not take that long, CSIS checks with the issuing country of your PCC when they get feedback CSIS advises CIC-VISA OFFICE.

The visa office will only be responsible to deal with your eligibility, they can also take up to 6 months or beyond to complete it. in other word, Visa office is not responsible to decide about the time your medical or SEC/CRIM will take because CSIS process your security and criminality in their own ways and RMO is also responsible for your medical. Visa office will only receive feedback from these government offices about their decision on you.

Some people have difficult cases to understand, especially those who have non routine cases. But I was talking about straight forward cases known as routine cases.

VISA OFFCIE: Responsible to make decision on your eligibility.
CSIS known as SADMIN: Is responsible to make decision for your security and criminality
Regional Medical Office: Is responsible to make decision for your medical

After SADMIN and RMO make their decisions, they notify CIC-VISA OFFICE then your file can be approved or rejected.

I hope this will give you a little bit of insight of the process.

Thank you so much for your time Eagle!! You really are a God send!! God bless!!

 

[Eagle333]

Hello Eagle333,

could you please clear something up for me. I have received a letter of police clearance when I was waiting for interview date. Does this mean that we passed eligibility?
last time I checked my notes we had interview recommended but after almost 4 month later we received police clearance request. I thought security and background is done
in the last stage in the process.

thanks

ohcanada15,

you give out little information on what the letter said. Did you submit a PCC altogether with your file? Did you live in more than one country? How long was that PCC for? Eligibility is processed independently from Criminality like I explained up above. It will not be logical to conclude that because PCC is requested it means eligibility is passed while there is a concrete sign pointing to an interview. Your timeline is also a mystery so far because I will not be able to say whether your PCC was expired or not. I will give you food for thought before I finish. Before PCC expires CSIS would have already made a decision on your Criminality then assign a due date to it usually 12 months and beyond. So there are a lot info you must provide before anyone paint a good picture for you.

Sincerely
David

 

[Eagle333]

I have sent out a request for GCMS notes on March 15 2016, but still haven't received anything. Is that normal? I did see that the processing time is 30+ days, but it has been about 40 business days now. Is there anyway I would be able to track the notes?

Yes you need to email them with your Tracking number, full name, date of birth, file number, with all the documents submitted with your previous request then someone will get in touch with you within 48-72 hours.

 

[ohcanada15]

ohcanada15,

you give out little information on what the letter said. Did you submit a PCC altogether with your file? Did you live in more than one country? How long was that PCC for? Eligibility is processed independently from Criminality like I explained up above. It will not be logical to conclude that because PCC is requested it means eligibility is passed while there is a concrete sign pointing to an interview. Your timeline is also a mystery so far because I will not be able to say whether your PCC was expired or not. I will give you food for thought before I finish. Before PCC expires CSIS would have already made a decision on your Criminality then assign a due date to it usually 12 months and beyond. So there are a lot info you must provide before anyone paint a good picture for you.

Sincerely
David

Thanks for the reply. We have not submitted PPC with our file. My wife only lived in one country throughout her life. Back in last October they have asked for additional document and they have received it . After that I have ordered my notes in February and it said recommended for interview . and due date is July 22 this year . I don't know if that means anything. I have ordered another note in April and received it last week . Nothing really has changed as far as I can see. Still says recommended for interview. I went to my MP office to request the date of the interview but they told me they will contact my wife when the date is booked for her.

We were waiting for a letter from Abu Dhabi office to request for interview but instead my wife received a letter requesting for PPC and we were given 45 days .

That gave us a hope .We thought PPR will be next . But as you stated criminal check and eligibility is done by different departments. From what I read from other users, they usually have asked PPC after the interview has passed.

as for my timeline . I submitted last May and I was approved as sponsor and they sent our file to different visa office . I had to contact my MP regarding change of visa office. Finally they transferred to Abu Dhabi because my wife lives in Saudi Arabia .

so basically there's nothing to be excited about getting PPC request ?

 

[Eagle333]

Thanks for the reply. We have not submitted PPC with our file. My wife only lived in one country throughout her life. Back in last October they have asked for additional document and they have received it . After that I have ordered my notes in February and it said recommended for interview . and due date is July 22 this year . I don't know if that means anything. I have ordered another note in April and received it last week . Nothing really has changed as far as I can see. Still says recommended for interview. I went to my MP office to request the date of the interview but they told me they will contact my wife when the date is booked for her.

We were waiting for a letter from Abu Dhabi office to request for interview but instead my wife received a letter requesting for PPC and we were given 45 days .

That gave us a hope .We thought PPR will be next . But as you stated criminal check and eligibility is done by different departments. From what I read from other users, they usually have asked PPC after the interview has passed.

as for my timeline . I submitted last May and I was approved as sponsor and they sent our file to different visa office . I had to contact my MP regarding change of visa office. Finally they transferred to Abu Dhabi because my wife lives in Saudi Arabia .

so basically there's nothing to be excited about getting PPC request ?

Glad to read you again. Now it makes sense to me that you did not submit your PCC with the initial file. I will confirm this to you a million times that Security/Criminality and Eligibility are processed by two different government departments. Visa Office has no control on Background checks. However visa office is responsible to conduct interviews based on their work loads. An officer must have noticed that your file is lucking PCC that is why they requested it. It does not mean that eligibility is passed and I did not want you to panic because you were expecting PPR.

Not everybody get PPR request at the interview day that will be 3/10 who get that chance. No, there is nothing excited about getting that PCC request. It is a document you did not provide with the initial app. there are 3 things to be excited about when visa office do request them for example Pay your PRFR clubbed with Re-medical and PPT. that will be a trigger to warn you that you need to start warming up your engine. Again I am not talking about NDVO's applicants because this visa office request PPT too early but I am talking about these visa offices which request PPT when they really need it to put visa inside.

Hope this will help dear.

 

[ohcanada15]

Glad to read you again. Now it makes sense to me that you did not submit your PCC with the initial file. I will confirm this to you a million times that Security/Criminality and Eligibility are processed by two different government departments. Visa Office has no control on Background checks. However visa office is responsible to conduct interviews based on their work loads. An officer must have noticed that your file is lucking PCC that is why they requested it. It does not mean that eligibility is passed and I did not want you to panic because you were expecting PPR.

Not everybody get PPR request at the interview day that will be 3/10 who get that chance. No, there is nothing excited about getting that PCC request. It is a document you did not provide with the initial app. there are 3 things to be excited about when visa office do request them for example Pay your PRFR clubbed with Re-medical and PPT. that will be a trigger to warn you that you need to start warming up your engine. Again I am not talking about NDVO's applicants because this visa office request PPT too early but I am talking about these visa offices which request PPT when they really need it to put visa inside.

Hope this will help dear.

Thanks Eagle. I really appreciate your time you have given us. It really opens our eyes.
last thing I would like to ask you is this . under paper file on my notes it says ready for officer review. It's been like that since
January. could you please explain to me what that means ?

it's really frustrating is been like that for 4 month .

 

[Pretty Missy]

Hi Eagle, my sponsorship application was submittedJune 2015 and started processing at KVO since October 2015. Documents were requested and received in December and I haven't heard anything from cic since.

I'm deeply depressed as I don't know what stage I am. Please give me your most favourable response. Thank you.

 

[Eagle333]

Thanks Eagle. I really appreciate your time you have given us. It really opens our eyes.
last thing I would like to ask you is this . under paper file on my notes it says ready for officer review. It's been like that since
January. could you please explain to me what that means ?

it's really frustrating is been like that for 4 month .

Good question to ask by the way ohcanada15.

Question asked by you was: under paper file on my notes it says ready for officer review. It's been like that since January. could you please explain to me what that means ?

Response: There are different kind of Reviews that our files goes through.

1. There is a review that needed to be done after the client provides the missing information requested earlier by the visa office. Usually there is a bring forward date to alert the officer that he or she needs to review your file because the right moment has come. If you have not provided the missing information a decision may be taken because visa office did not hear from you after you were given 30,60 or 0 days.

2. A review can also be done on your file after Criminality, Security and Medical reports come back to the visa office. Usually when visa office is waiting for these 3 things to come back there is no need to assign a bring forward date to your file it is a sign that they don't have control on your file until those departments make their decisions. Most of the time you will notice that your GCMS notes comes with a bring forward date which is outdated meaning no one is assigned to work on your file until those 3 things or 1 of these assessments come back.

3. In your case ohcanada15 it is said file ready for review. Did you see the date when your file will be looked at? if you noticed the date is outdated or there is no date at all it means one thing, the interview date has not been assigned to your file yet subsequently there is nothing to review in your file because they know what is in your file. They will review your file when new information goes to them most likely your interview input.

4. When an officer pulls up your file and start reviewing it, sometime he or she can stay with it for 2-3 days depending of what type of job is doing on it. He or She may pull let's say 15 files to be reviewed in 4 weeks, as long as your file is among those 15 files if you happen to contact visa office they will send to you a standard message that your file is with an officer for review. It does not necessarily means your file will be reviewed for 4 weeks not at all, he or she could review 3 files in 3 or 4 days them pull up 3 more files.

5. Remember there is also a queue for files that are waiting for review, if your file is in that queue you cannot help it. This is exactly your situation where it says file ready for review which means it is in the interview queue.

Sorry if I repeated myself but all I wanted is to make sure you understand a little bit.