Thread for Acrra Ghana applicants

[waitingInTO]

For purposes of immigration PCC are valid for one year.
They applied last year, most likely had it done upfront, and this means the PCC are expired, due to AVOs lackadaisical attitude.

However, since the principal applicant has gone back to the USA, after he got his previous FBI report, he needs to get a new one, the old one is invalid.

They need to apply for a new FBI report, get the Nigerian one done.

However, being in the USA, it's actually illegal to send passports from there to AVO, a mail needs to be sent to AVO, stating the new residence of the principal applicant, they would ask for details of his status in the states, to confirm if he's going to get his passport stamped over there.

In the interim, let them send the email, medical can be done in the US , start the PCC application for both countries, and wait for their response, on where to send the required documents.

HOWEVER, if they find it convenient to get back to Nigeria ASAP, it can still be tackled within 15 days, they would send all they asked for, including proof that the FBI REPORT has been requested for.
The application would be on hold, pending when the FBI report is gotten.

from my experience @debbiejosh, AVO will not move forward with the file even if proof of the (clearance) request has been made; they will wait for it. So if they are going to wait for 60 days or however long the FBI takes, flying to Nigeria may be a waste of their money - they are better off waiting for that too. Unless they are a PR of the US so the FBI can be obtained sooner than the Nigerian one or the Nigerian one will take longer than the 60 days.

 

[De Zee]

I believe if you go back a few pages in this forum you will see the information you require. Alternatively, you can also use the webform and send a note directly to Accra Visa office.

To access the webform, please use the link below:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/web-form.asp

and when there, click on "Tell Us More"

Thanks a lot. Really appreciate

 

[babajydo]

For purposes of immigration PCC are valid for one year.
They applied last year, most likely had it done upfront, and this means the PCC are expired, due to AVOs lackadaisical attitude.

However, since the principal applicant has gone back to the USA, after he got his previous FBI report, he needs to get a new one, the old one is invalid.

They need to apply for a new FBI report, get the Nigerian one done.

However, being in the USA, it's actually illegal to send passports from there to AVO, a mail needs to be sent to AVO, stating the new residence of the principal applicant, they would ask for details of his status in the states, to confirm if he's going to get his passport stamped over there.

In the interim, let them send the email, medical can be done in the US , start the PCC application for both countries, and wait for their response, on where to send the required documents.

HOWEVER, if they find it convenient to get back to Nigeria ASAP, it can still be tackled within 15 days, they would send all they asked for, including proof that the FBI REPORT has been requested for.
The application would be on hold, pending when the FBI report is gotten.

thank you

 

[Jayotuks]

Guess i stumbled upon this. quite informative!

1. I have been getting questions on what happens in a BGC a lot in the last few months. Even though in my post, “[A]natomy of an application” available on many threads, I do discuss this briefly, but I felt there was a need for a more exhaustive post. This post in no way accurately depicts the procedures adopted by the CSIS, Canada’s premier security agency, as their procedures are highly confidential and will never be made public. However, this post is an amalgamation of the information publically available, and my personal experiences with working for the governments and law enforcement agencies in different countries.
   
   Since this is a long post and each post cannot be over 10000 characters, I am posting the entire post in replies. The post is alphabetically numbered.
   
   So here it goes:
   
   A. What is CSIS and its mandate?
   
   Before we even venture into looking at how CSIS conducts background checks, it is essential to have a brief knowledge of CSIS and what it does. CSIS in its publication has introduced itself with the following statement:
   
   “With the large number of homeland conflicts throughout the world,
   preventing the importation of these conflicts into communities
   in Canada is of particular concern to all Canadians.”
   
   The mandate of the CSIS concerning security screening of immigrants is laid down in Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (hereinafter “the IRPA”). Sections 14 and 15 of the CSIS Act authorizes CSIS to provide security assessments for the review of immigration applications to the IRCC. These assessments relate directly to the security inadmissibility criteria contained in the IRPA, with the final decision resting with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
   
   Unlike other intelligence services across the globe, CSIS until early 2000 did not operate on foreign soil and its operations concerned the protection of Canadian national security mainly against internal threats. However, since threats to the security of Canada can come from criminals or terrorists using Canadian soil to perpetrate attacks of terrorist activities, both within Canada and target foreign nations, CSIS was tasked with screening all applicants seeking admission into Canada through IRCC.
   
   CSIS is tasked with conducting security clearance for all applicants in addition the police clearances certificates furnished by the applicants, for all applicants between the ages of 18 and 65 years. The BGC is conducted to detect applicants who are, or have been, involved in espionage, subversion, or terrorism.
   
   The screening of potential immigrants to Canada is a complex process that involves several government departments and agencies such as IRCC, Health Canada, Human Resources Development Canada, and RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] and CSIS, each of whom has specific responsibilities. A culmination of what these agencies do determines admissibility based on medical, criminality, security etc.
   
   Specifically CSIS, in accordance with section 2 of CSIS Act, that deals with threats to the security of Canada. The IRPA in Division 4, specifically section 34 deals with the inadmissibility based on security, which is assessed by CSIS. Section 34 includes accessing the applicant for the following:
   
   Security
   
   34 (1) A permanent resident or a foreign national is inadmissible on security grounds for
   
   a) engaging in an act of espionage that is against Canada or that is contrary to Canada’s interests;
   b) engaging in or instigating the subversion by force of any government
   a. engaging in an act of subversion against a democratic government, institution or process as they are understood in Canada;
   c) engaging in terrorism;
   d) being a danger to the security of Canada;
   e) engaging in acts of violence that would or might endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada; or
   f) being a member of an organization that there are reasonable grounds to believe engages, has engaged or will engage in acts referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (b.1) or (c).
   
   CSIS does what is known as risk management in the processing of security checks on prospective immigrants, role of CSIS focuses on those applicants who, on the basis of analysis and experience, are most likely to present a security risk. The advice provided by the CSIS assists the IRCC in determining whether prospective immigrants are inadmissible persons under the Immigration Act.
   
   The assessment of CSIS is not binding on IRCC, and IRCC independently reviews the CSIS assessment in the final review before the application is approved. This is another reason for the delays, and more on this later.
   
   
   

 

[Jayotuks]

• B. When does your application go to CSIS?
  
  
  Usually, the Security screening is the last step, but for some applicants, this starts early in the process. These applicants are PNP applicants. This is because a province has nominated them through their internal mechanism, thereby in a way giving them eligibility, and the role of IRCC greatly decreases, unlike FSW, CEC and other application where IRCC has to review every detail to ensure that the applicant meets the program requirement. This is another reason why PNP applications usually tend to be processed faster. More on PNP in another post, which I will post in the next few days.

• C. How is the security screening done?
  
  Security screening is all about collecting as much data about the applicant and analyzing it. To make this easy to understand I am dividing the answer to this question in two parts, collecting data and analysis.
  
  a) Collecting data
  
  CSIS collects data about an applicant through its own databases, the shared databases from countries that have partnered with Canada, international agencies, and by requesting information from foreign countries.
  
  CSIS maintains and regularly updates its databases with information from coming in across the world. This includes data on the names of individuals involved in illegal activities, terrorist activities, political activities etc. This database is further fueled by agencies such as INTERPOL, which releases information shared by member countries and accessible by other member countries. To provide you with an example, a criminal incident (including white collar crime and financial fraud) involving foreign nationals, which happened in a country in Europe is under investigation. To arrest these individuals, the European country will release information to INTERPOL, which will be shared to all member nations. CSIS, based on this released information, will gather more information and update its databases, even though the suspects are not in Canada. This is how the database keeps growing.
  
  After the attacks of 9/11, US and Canada to deal with terrorism had many high level meetings and now they share data. The US authorities have access to Canadian database and vise versa. Similarly, Canada partnered with UK, New Zealand, and Australia, which it calls partner nations, and these partners share date, including criminal records, with each other. This is a very complicated process, as if there is a lead picked up by the security agency in Australia, the names and identities of the suspects is immediately released to Canada and other partners. Canada does the same. This is how the database is growing rapidly every minute.
  
  Finally, when CSIS has concerns with a specific applicant, based on his travel history, or his connections, political involvement, etc. they can seek information from foreign government under Section 16 of the CSIS Act.
  
  
  Collection of information concerning foreign states and persons
  
  16 (1) Subject to this section, the Service may, in relation to the defence of Canada or the conduct of the international affairs of Canada, assist the Minister of National Defence or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, within Canada, in the collection of information or intelligence relating to the capabilities, intentions or activities of
  
  (a) any foreign state or group of foreign states; or
  (b) any person other than
  (i) a Canadian citizen,
  (ii) a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or
  (iii) a corporation incorporated by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province.
  
  
  
  b) Analyzing Data
  
  All relevant information collected by the CSIS is exhaustively analysed in order to assist IRCC in its subsequent decision as to whether they are inadmissible under the IRPA. “The term ‘security screenings’ refers to the procedures used to identify persons seeking admission to Canada who are, or have been, involved in espionage, subversion, or terrorism.” Although the term refers to the scrutiny of an applicant’s political orientation, beliefs and activities, as part of the normal immigrant selection process, criminal records checks are also conducted wherever possible. In analyzing the data the CSIS broadly is concerned with the following:
  
  
  i. espionage, terrorism or unacceptable political activity
  ii. persons who may engage in violence
  iii. persons who may have committed war crimes
  iv. persons who pose a threat to Canadian security
  v. persons involved with terrorist governments
  
  
  
  D. What are the processing times?
  
  There is no recent data released by CSIS on the processing times. However, in 2014-2015 CSIS processed 33,900 permanent resident applications and in 2015-2016 it processed 56,500 applications. As per the old data from early 2000s, the average processing time for security screening requests is 62 days. Fifty-one percent of all cases were completed within this time frame. The remaining 49 percent of requests averaged 110 days to complete. Less than one percent of all cases took longer than twelve months. With the introduction of biometrics for citizens from select countries, the processing times are expected to decrease. Given that the economic immigrants are a low risk category, the processing times usually range from 25 – 90 days after the introduction of the express entry for most applications.
  
  E. What kind of applicants face stricter security screening?
  
  In the past CSIS has been criticized for racial profiling applicants based on country of origin, race, religion, travel history, political affiliation, but these factors are the primary means of conducting security screening. Applicants from countries known to harbor terrorists, from unstable countries, of some specific religion and faith, with specific political affiliation are more prone to undergo stringent security screening. This also includes travel history to countries linked with terrorism, drug source countries, inter-religion or inter-nationality marriage etc.
  If your application is stuck in the BGC and your GCMS notes show that everything else has been completed, then it could be wither of the two scenarios:

• 
  a) The application is stuck with CSIS. CSIS may be conducting an in-depth investigation into your file. This could be a result of your past military service, extensive travel to suspicious countries, known political or governmental affiliation. Sometimes it could be as remote as the company you worked for is under investigation by a law enforcement agency of a foreign country. Only since you were an employee, and not named in the investigation, CSIS will take its time to probe the issue before it gives its conclusive report.
  
  b) The CSIS report is awaiting final review from IRCC: In most cases the delay is at this stage. CSIS after filing its report, the IRCC has to make a final review and a determination. When CSIS flags a few things, CSIS does not recommend that the application be cancelled, but it is on the IRCC to determine if based on the CSIS report an applicant would be inadmissible in accordance with IRPA. Most applications are held up here. This is because the IRCC will send that report to officials specifically trained to look into the inadmissibility issues based on security and they will make a final determination, which will then be approved by an agent.
  
  
  G. What can an applicant do if his application is stuck at BGC?
  
  If an application is stuck at BGC for a very long time, i.e. more than 3-5 months after your eligibility is cleared you have two options:
  
  a) You can inquire about the status of your security check directly from CSIS.
  
  
  b) If CSIS has finished the security screening, then your file is pending final review with IRCC. There is nothing much you can do at this stage. However, there is anecdotal evident that ordering GCMS notes does initiate the process. This is because every time you order GCMS notes, an agent will review the notes before releasing them. If the file has been reviewed by the Agent, and is pending posting the update on the system, the same will be done by the agent when he is reviewing the notes and this will move your file ahead.

 

[Wapsis]

Thanks @Jayotuks for this article.. please can someone share how yo order for the gcms notes? After passing medicals in mid July.. It's getting to 4 months already.. lemme know the possibilities of going back to Canada with my wife after our church wedding this December or if I'd still have to wait.. thanks for the help guys

 

[klasnic]

Hi guys,

I'm here to share another great news. Finally got my PR @ late december 2016 applicant.

Application sent to AVO in Feb. No further changes since then on my profile so I sent additional document via email in Aug 2017.
Medical expires 1st week of December; got a call this morning asking of I can fly out b4 then. Email received shortly after.

Thanks guys for all the support and lonely days . Its finally over.

Xmas has come early!!!!!

 

[Jayotuks]

Hi guys,

I'm here to share another great news. Finally got my PR @ late december 2016 applicant.

Application sent to AVO in Feb. No further changes since then on my profile so I sent additional document via email in Aug 2017.
Medical expires 1st week of December; got a call this morning asking of I can fly out b4 then. Email received shortly after.

Thanks guys for all the support and lonely days . Its finally over.

Xmas has come early!!!!!

OMG!! this is a beautiful news. Congratulations dear. I am dancing on your behalf. Please Accra should keep it up. Need more of this kind of news in the house.

 

[Wapsis]

Hi guys,

I'm here to share another great news. Finally got my PR @ late december 2016 applicant.

Application sent to AVO in Feb. No further changes since then on my profile so I sent additional document via email in Aug 2017.
Medical expires 1st week of December; got a call this morning asking of I can fly out b4 then. Email received shortly after.

Thanks guys for all the support and lonely days . Its finally over.

Xmas has come early!!!!!

This is great news... So happy and tapping into this blessing. Many more good I pray for us all

 

[me2605]

Hi guys,

I'm here to share another great news. Finally got my PR @ late december 2016 applicant.

Application sent to AVO in Feb. No further changes since then on my profile so I sent additional document via email in Aug 2017.
Medical expires 1st week of December; got a call this morning asking of I can fly out b4 then. Email received shortly after.

Thanks guys for all the support and lonely days . Its finally over.

Xmas has come early!!!!!

wow... that is great. Congrats! means Accra is really working as they have touched late december.

 

[me2605]

Good day house! Please I need assistance. My wife (the sponsor) in Canada got this email now. We And it's coming from Ottawa

Le français suit



Please reply directly to this e-mail

This is a time sensitive message. An urgent response is required.


Your immigration fees refund cheque was recently issued. Unfortunately, the cheque was returned as undeliverable.


Please provide us with a new valid mailing address by replying directly to this email.


Once the new address has been confirmed, a new cheque will be mailed out.


Sincerely,





S'il vous plaît répondre directement à cet e-mail

Ceci est un message urgent. Une réponse rapide est nécessaire.

Votre chèque de remboursement des frais d'immigration a été émis récemment. Malheureusement, le chèque a été retourné comme non livrable.

Veuillez s'il vous plaît nous fournir une nouvelle adresse postale valide en répondant directement à cet e-mail.

Une fois que la nouvelle adresse a été confirmée, un nouveau chèque vous sera envoyé par la poste.

Cordialement,


MJ

IPRMS/SIGPR
Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
365, Avenue Laurier Ouest, Ottawa ON K1A 1L1 | 365 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa ON K1A 1L1
Gouvernement du Canada | Government of Canada

Any update please?

 

[nwaefulu_716]

Hi guys,

I'm here to share another great news. Finally got my PR @ late december 2016 applicant.

Application sent to AVO in Feb. No further changes since then on my profile so I sent additional document via email in Aug 2017.
Medical expires 1st week of December; got a call this morning asking of I can fly out b4 then. Email received shortly after.

Thanks guys for all the support and lonely days . Its finally over.

Xmas has come early!!!!!

How many times can I like this post?! This is very good news, thanks for sharing and all the best with your passport submission etc. God bless!

 

[Milaby]

Hi guys,

I'm here to share another great news. Finally got my PR @ late december 2016 applicant.

Application sent to AVO in Feb. No further changes since then on my profile so I sent additional document via email in Aug 2017.
Medical expires 1st week of December; got a call this morning asking of I can fly out b4 then. Email received shortly after.

Thanks guys for all the support and lonely days . Its finally over.

Xmas has come early!!!!!

yay!!! congratulation... onto 2017 soon

 

[olawunmif]

Hi guys,

I'm here to share another great news. Finally got my PR @ late december 2016 applicant.

Application sent to AVO in Feb. No further changes since then on my profile so I sent additional document via email in Aug 2017.
Medical expires 1st week of December; got a call this morning asking of I can fly out b4 then. Email received shortly after.

Thanks guys for all the support and lonely days . Its finally over.

Xmas has come early!!!!!

Congratulations. Happy for u o... pls what email did you send additional documents to. Also would you mind sharing your timeline again. Was ur application sent to avo feb 2017.

 

[Cutie101]

Hi guys,

I'm here to share another great news. Finally got my PR @ late december 2016 applicant.

Application sent to AVO in Feb. No further changes since then on my profile so I sent additional document via email in Aug 2017.
Medical expires 1st week of December; got a call this morning asking of I can fly out b4 then. Email received shortly after.

Thanks guys for all the support and lonely days . Its finally over.

Xmas has come early!!!!!

congrats!!!!!!! happy for you. I am smiling from ear to ear knowing Accra is working lol