CAIPS, for the uninitiated, stands for Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System, the software used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Canadian diplomatic missions to track visa applications.
As a prospective immigrant to Canada, you probably know that you can follow the progress of your application through your CAIPS notes, which several companies can obtain for you for a fee. It's however less well known that you can save the fee, usually ranging from US$30-100, by ordering the notes yourself
To obtain your CAIPS notes free, you do need to know someone living in Canada, either a citizen or a permanent resident, who will be willing to mail the request for you. If you already in Canada, you can however send in the application yourself.
A Canadian citizen living abroad can also send in the application on your behalf, but there is a C$5 fee in this situation.
(Note: An In-Canada applicant can also obtain their FOSS notes using the same procedure as detailed here).
First off, you need to download the application form. You will find this at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website at this link:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5563B.pdfYou need to provide a Consent Letter, authorizing release of the information to the person applying on your behalf, who will also have to write a Formal Request letter asking for the CAIPS notes. A copy of that person's passport or other document proving legal residency in Canada also needs to be attached.
All the papers then need to be mailed to this address:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Narono Building
360 Laurier Avenue West, 10th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
Canada
Hope the above information clarifies your queries.....................
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