GCMS shows 'Security Screening' and waiting... - let's gather here!
- Thread starter RezJay
- Start date
Im passing 24 months since AOR in a few days - just curious if anyone have the same timeline? im meeting with a lawyer to start mandamus. This has been a ridiculous process, so im curious, how many of you are past 24 months?
35 months since AOR.
Filed mandamus in March.
How long have you been in comprehensive security screening?
Hello, 21 months here and I have started Mandamus by myself to try and nudge IRCC. I am keeping my expectations low as the court has a huge backlog of judicial review cases, but if there's a tiny chance it might trigger some movement then it's worth a shot.
Since March 2025. so 17+ months since SS started. How long does mandamus take now adays? another year? lol
My lawyer told me eight to eleven months waiting time before a judge sees the documents and decides granting leave or not, after filing the record.
The whole mandamus process can easily drag on over a year, if IRCC decides to fight back.
Polina123
Star Member
- Aug 9, 2024
- 54
- 27
- Category........
- FSW
- Nomination.....
- 08/07/2024
- AOR Received.
- 02/08/2024
- Med's Request
- 21/08/2024
- Med's Done....
- 02/09/2024
Hi
2 weeks ago was exactly 2 years since AOR. Since c-check started- 22 months
Spouse c-check completed actually at the end of November 2025, IRCC marked his background as completed at the beginning of March 2026.
I follow some cases who already filled mandamus since last year. One year passed, no movement for them and even no court hearing was scheduled.
So, mandamus literally could take 1 year and more
It’s such a weird place to be. I’m at the point where I’m thinking, if I file mandamus, there’s a chance the file moves on its own after and I’ve spent thousands on a lawyer for something that may have happened anyway. But if I don’t file, there’s also a very real chance I’m still sitting here with no movement a year or even 1.5 years from now.
That’s the hardest part, there’s basically zero clarity/visibility on what’s happening, how long it could take, or whether the file is even being worked on. Even my MP hasn’t been able to get me any information. I have a full civilian background - no government work - nothing that would make you think thats it.
So you’re stuck deciding whether to spend thousands just to create some urgency, with no way of knowing whether it will actually work.
These days its pretty common to see people with non routine cases have to wait about 36 months (after AoR) for the whole process ! unfortunately !
Polina123
Star Member
- Aug 9, 2024
- 54
- 27
- Category........
- FSW
- Nomination.....
- 08/07/2024
- AOR Received.
- 02/08/2024
- Med's Request
- 21/08/2024
- Med's Done....
- 02/09/2024
Yes, agree that it’s not an easy decision - file mandamus and spend lots of money, then wait or wait without spending money. It’s up to you what you decide. Really no one may guarantee if your mandamus will work or not. For me it’s pretty obvious why I’m in SS - my nationality, quite extensive travelling, living abroad, STEM occupation (civil engineer). Voila, welcome to bureaucracy.
I’ve been contacting lawyers on a few occasions. I know that Lev Abramovich had his criteria when usually he takes the case. Previously it was 18 months after AOR for EE, nowadays it’s already 24 months. Looks like there’s really a huge backlog and the average waiting time is increased.
All in all, a little bit of encouragement. Don’t allow this situation to make you lose your hope. Even in this long wait there are blessings which you don’t notice once you focus on the darker side. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Try to focus on positive sides and enjoy your life with or without something on what you don’t have control.
Hello guys,
Anyone here currently going through mandamus for an application stuck in security screening? I’m interested in comparing timelines and seeing whether it has triggered any movement on people’s files. I know the Federal Court is currently backlogged with JR files, but a few years ago there were quite a few testimonies of applicants seeing progress, especially around Stage 2 / filing the Applicant’s Record. Curious if people are still experiencing that.
My timeline (EE-FSW Outland):
• AOR: Nov. 25, 2024
• Referred to comprehensive security screening: Mar. 17, 2025
• Subsequent GCMS records repeatedly showed “Received by CBSA”
• Demand letter: Mar. 5, 2026
• ALJR / Stage 1 filed: Aug. 12, 2026
• Registry served DOJ: Aug. 14, 2026
• Applicant’s Record filed served on DOJ and filed in Federal court: Aug. 27, 2026
• Notice of Appearance received from DOJ: Aug. 27, 2026
The application Record was accepted by the Registry, and I’m now waiting for DOJ’s response (They have 30 days to respond normally)
Would be interested to hear from anyone currently in mandamus, particularly if you saw movement in SS, a medical/PCC request, or a final decision after filing the ALJR or Applicant’s Record. It would be useful to compare timelines and see whether the process is still prompting movement on SS files.
Anyone here currently going through mandamus for an application stuck in security screening? I’m interested in comparing timelines and seeing whether it has triggered any movement on people’s files. I know the Federal Court is currently backlogged with JR files, but a few years ago there were quite a few testimonies of applicants seeing progress, especially around Stage 2 / filing the Applicant’s Record. Curious if people are still experiencing that.
My timeline (EE-FSW Outland):
• AOR: Nov. 25, 2024
• Referred to comprehensive security screening: Mar. 17, 2025
• Subsequent GCMS records repeatedly showed “Received by CBSA”
• Demand letter: Mar. 5, 2026
• ALJR / Stage 1 filed: Aug. 12, 2026
• Registry served DOJ: Aug. 14, 2026
• Applicant’s Record filed served on DOJ and filed in Federal court: Aug. 27, 2026
• Notice of Appearance received from DOJ: Aug. 27, 2026
The application Record was accepted by the Registry, and I’m now waiting for DOJ’s response (They have 30 days to respond normally)
Would be interested to hear from anyone currently in mandamus, particularly if you saw movement in SS, a medical/PCC request, or a final decision after filing the ALJR or Applicant’s Record. It would be useful to compare timelines and see whether the process is still prompting movement on SS files.
Hi there.
I’ve filed the Applicant ‘s Record, received the respondent’s record, which is boilerplate, and replied in July. In summary, I’ve filed all the legal documents and I can do nothing but to wait for my file to see the judge at the moment.
And unfortunately, there hasn’t been much movements from IRCC.
In my case, I reached to Memorandum of Arguments stage, the file was in the court for judge review. Then I discontinued in that stage as my marital status change. But once I read the DOJ arguments , they mentioned that the application opened on these dates, and the officer is working on the file, and the security is in progress and external agencies are doing the security screening and it is necessary for the integrity of Canada. So, the delay is reasonable.
There is one thing what I noticed and experienced that once you filed a mandamus then there is chances that your file touched by someone and it starts moving. So, in my case I spent $4200 up to the Memorandum of Argument stage. Then I discontinued this year January, and once I received the GCMS notes later, where I noticed under the "Security Sub Activities Section ": Security Favorable, date created on March. Then in July my Comprehensive Security marked as completed. Now a week ago I also received Portal 1 email. And my expired medical also extended by IRCC.
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