Visa-exempt means that your husband doesn't need a visa to go to Canada, you could decide to move to Canada before his PR is approved if it made it easier for you to move now. It's the case for most europeans, and most people going through London. These files are usually processed faster than the "non-visa-exempt", hence the question and the category in the spreadsheet. THe GCMS notes are what you can order (online) to see what the VO has worked on already. It takes 30 days to get them, and most of it is not really readable, but sometimes there is something interesting. You could print the request for your husband (he should be making the request to see his file as there will be more notes than in your own - only sponsorship part), then have him sign it as well as the "third party authorisation" (as only PRs and Canadian I think can have access to it but I can't remember how it works - i'm sure somebody else will comment).
Hopefully you'll have an answer before the notes arrive. Good luck,
Sweden
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