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ALL ABOUT GCMS - HOW TO ORDER, READ, & GENERAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Aham.F

Star Member
Dec 7, 2018
72
10
Riyadh, KSA
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
3131
AOR Received.
12-05-2020
Med's Done....
16-07-2020
Passport Req..
17-05-2022
LANDED..........
10-07-2022
@legalfalcon

Thanks for your detailed response. Below is the complete text from one of the last pages of the GCMS notes, if you could please review it.

REVIEW TYPE: Program Assistant APPLICATION # E12345678 REGULATION: FSW I have reviewed this application based upon the documents submitted by the applicant and the information contained in the file and note the following. MIN. SCORE: 470 CRS SCORE: 487 Principal Applicant Application Promoted: New UCI Primary Applicant Medical Attached to UCI: Yes Client Fees: Verified (details about language, education and PCC) R10 OK Recommendation: Pass Criminality <dash> AGE <dash> Applicant's age reviewed and No Change from ITA to eAPR <dash> DOCUMENTS SET FOR REVIEW <dash> Client Information
 

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,040
9,897
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
@legalfalcon

Thanks for your detailed response. Below is the complete text from one of the last pages of the GCMS notes, if you could please review it.

REVIEW TYPE: Program Assistant APPLICATION # E12345678 REGULATION: FSW I have reviewed this application based upon the documents submitted by the applicant and the information contained in the file and note the following. MIN. SCORE: 470 CRS SCORE: 487 Principal Applicant Application Promoted: New UCI Primary Applicant Medical Attached to UCI: Yes Client Fees: Verified (details about language, education and PCC) R10 OK Recommendation: Pass Criminality <dash> AGE <dash> Applicant's age reviewed and No Change from ITA to eAPR <dash> DOCUMENTS SET FOR REVIEW <dash> Client Information

This is your R10 note and R10 is passed.

Your eligibility is yet to begin.
 

caipsnotes

Champion Member
Jan 10, 2020
2,493
1,059
Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY
@caipsnotes Yes the recalculation date is the same as my DOB. But in December I will be turning 30 which might reduce my CRS so is it possible that the CRS will be recalculated and reduced post my birthday even though I have received AOR (and 6 months have already elapsed since the AOR).
Most likely nothing to worry about as this happens often. Read through this and the links included; this has the information you need. You can also search the forum and you can find many a discussion on this topic. People are just regurgitating the same information.


Exemption to section A11.2: candidates whose birthday occurs after they receive an ITA
An applicant may have a birthday after they receive an ITA but before they submit their e-APR. Their change in age may lower their CRS score below the lowest score in the round of invitations. It may also result in the applicant no longer meeting the minimum requirements of the FSWC and, consequently, no longer meeting the MEC, resulting in a refusal based on section A11.2.
When a change in age results in the candidate no longer meeting the MEC or having their recalculated CRS points score fall below the lowest points score in that round of invitations, officers should consider applying the public policy to exempt applicants for permanent residence from certain age-based requirements between invitation to apply and application, based on section A25.2. This consideration can result in an exemption from the refusal of an application under section A11.2.
This public policy also grants an exemption to applicants who may be refused for failing to meet FSWC program requirements when their birthday occurs between the ITA and e-APR.
 

Aham.F

Star Member
Dec 7, 2018
72
10
Riyadh, KSA
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
3131
AOR Received.
12-05-2020
Med's Done....
16-07-2020
Passport Req..
17-05-2022
LANDED..........
10-07-2022
Thanks alot both of you @legalfalcon and @caipsnotes for the detailed responses on my queries. The blog and this forum are really helpful.

Cheers.
 
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Hishamination

Newbie
Sep 4, 2019
6
0
@legalfalcon @caipsnotes
Hi there,

I got my GCMS a couple of days ago, and I have three questions, if you may. To give you context, I am an outland PNP applicant, and my AOR is 21 Mar 2020.

1. What is the difference between MET and APPEARS TO MEET?

Here is what the Case Processing Agent wrote in the A11.2 Review: "I have reviewed this application based upon the documents submitted by the applicant and the information contained in the file and note the following. RECOMMENDATION: A11.2: MET R87: APPEARS TO MEET R75: APPEARS TO MEET R76: Selection Criteria - FSW POINTS: APPEARS TO MEET R76: Selection Criteria - FUNDS: SETTLEMENT FUNDS ARE MET MEDICAL: ALL VALID Ready to Finalize"

2. Info Sharing is taking forever.

The Info Sharing status of my accompanying spouse is Complete, while mine is still In Progress. When I dug deeper, I found the following:

INFO SHARING: 4
Created Date: 2020/05/19 07:19:25
Updated Date: 2020/05/31 23:29:44
Type: Biometric - FCC
Partner: USA
Status: Sent - Partner
Status Updated Date: 2020/05/31

My wife's Info was created and the status was updated on the same day (2020/05/19) to NRT. It's been more than 5 months, so should I be worried and is there anything I can do?

3. What is Application Transferred and what does this mean for my application?

In the correspondence section, the most recent outgoing, and the only one that I didn't receive, reads as follows:

OUTGOING: 1
Created Date: 2020/06/30 10:50:31
Updated Date: 2020/06/30 15:53:29
Created Office: Centralized Intake Office
Document: Application Transferred / Demande transférée
Type: Word
Status: Not Started
Due Date: 2020/06/30
All tems Rec’d: No
Via: Online
Via Details: Online/En ligne
Status Updated Date: 2020/06/30

ITEM(S) REQUESTED: 1
Created Date: 2020/06/30 10:50:31
Updated Date: 2020/06/30 15:53:29
Item: Kit, Application forms

Comment(s):
Due Date: 2020/06/30
Item For: PA

This was about the same time as the most recent note in the system (where the agent set the criminality to PASS and eligibility to MET).
 

wuyitongXX

Star Member
Aug 17, 2018
78
40
https://ibb.co/fMZqFsv

Here's the GCMS notes I received on December 2nd.

Just want to make sure everything looks fine and there's nothing alarming?

Living in Canada since 2008 as a foreigner...I cannot afford anything that goes wrong.
 

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,040
9,897
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
https://ibb.co/fMZqFsv

Here's the GCMS notes I received on December 2nd.

Just want to make sure everything looks fine and there's nothing alarming?

Living in Canada since 2008 as a foreigner...I cannot afford anything that goes wrong.
The notes does not show any concerns, once the notes is reviewed by an officer, your eligibility will be conclusively passed, and a new note will be entered by the Officer who has carriage of your file.
 
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legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,040
9,897
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
@legalfalcon @caipsnotes
Hi there,

I got my GCMS a couple of days ago, and I have three questions, if you may. To give you context, I am an outland PNP applicant, and my AOR is 21 Mar 2020.

1. What is the difference between MET and APPEARS TO MEET?

Here is what the Case Processing Agent wrote in the A11.2 Review: "I have reviewed this application based upon the documents submitted by the applicant and the information contained in the file and note the following. RECOMMENDATION: A11.2: MET R87: APPEARS TO MEET R75: APPEARS TO MEET R76: Selection Criteria - FSW POINTS: APPEARS TO MEET R76: Selection Criteria - FUNDS: SETTLEMENT FUNDS ARE MET MEDICAL: ALL VALID Ready to Finalize"

2. Info Sharing is taking forever.

The Info Sharing status of my accompanying spouse is Complete, while mine is still In Progress. When I dug deeper, I found the following:

INFO SHARING: 4
Created Date: 2020/05/19 07:19:25
Updated Date: 2020/05/31 23:29:44
Type: Biometric - FCC
Partner: USA
Status: Sent - Partner
Status Updated Date: 2020/05/31

My wife's Info was created and the status was updated on the same day (2020/05/19) to NRT. It's been more than 5 months, so should I be worried and is there anything I can do?

3. What is Application Transferred and what does this mean for my application?

In the correspondence section, the most recent outgoing, and the only one that I didn't receive, reads as follows:

OUTGOING: 1
Created Date: 2020/06/30 10:50:31
Updated Date: 2020/06/30 15:53:29
Created Office: Centralized Intake Office
Document: Application Transferred / Demande transférée
Type: Word
Status: Not Started
Due Date: 2020/06/30
All tems Rec’d: No
Via: Online
Via Details: Online/En ligne
Status Updated Date: 2020/06/30

ITEM(S) REQUESTED: 1
Created Date: 2020/06/30 10:50:31
Updated Date: 2020/06/30 15:53:29
Item: Kit, Application forms

Comment(s):
Due Date: 2020/06/30
Item For: PA

This was about the same time as the most recent note in the system (where the agent set the criminality to PASS and eligibility to MET).

1. They is terminology used and differs from office to office. All that matters is what is entered in your notes. If your notes that pertain to eligibility are fine, no need to be concerned whether it is passed, recommended passed, Met etc.

2. No need to worry about info sharing, it is an automated process done online. If you have never been to the US, the info sharing will not get any results back and in some cases even when the response is NRT, it may just not have been updated.

3. During the corse of the processing, the application will be transferred to different offices based on requirements or workload distribution.

All application sill start at the Centralised intake office (CIO), where R10, then to CPC and LVO.
 

caipsnotes

Champion Member
Jan 10, 2020
2,493
1,059
Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY
@legalfalcon @caipsnotes
Hi there,

I got my GCMS a couple of days ago, and I have three questions, if you may. To give you context, I am an outland PNP applicant, and my AOR is 21 Mar 2020.

1. What is the difference between MET and APPEARS TO MEET?

Here is what the Case Processing Agent wrote in the A11.2 Review: "I have reviewed this application based upon the documents submitted by the applicant and the information contained in the file and note the following. RECOMMENDATION: A11.2: MET R87: APPEARS TO MEET R75: APPEARS TO MEET R76: Selection Criteria - FSW POINTS: APPEARS TO MEET R76: Selection Criteria - FUNDS: SETTLEMENT FUNDS ARE MET MEDICAL: ALL VALID Ready to Finalize"

2. Info Sharing is taking forever.

The Info Sharing status of my accompanying spouse is Complete, while mine is still In Progress. When I dug deeper, I found the following:

INFO SHARING: 4
Created Date: 2020/05/19 07:19:25
Updated Date: 2020/05/31 23:29:44
Type: Biometric - FCC
Partner: USA
Status: Sent - Partner
Status Updated Date: 2020/05/31

My wife's Info was created and the status was updated on the same day (2020/05/19) to NRT. It's been more than 5 months, so should I be worried and is there anything I can do?

3. What is Application Transferred and what does this mean for my application?

In the correspondence section, the most recent outgoing, and the only one that I didn't receive, reads as follows:

OUTGOING: 1
Created Date: 2020/06/30 10:50:31
Updated Date: 2020/06/30 15:53:29
Created Office: Centralized Intake Office
Document: Application Transferred / Demande transférée
Type: Word
Status: Not Started
Due Date: 2020/06/30
All tems Rec’d: No
Via: Online
Via Details: Online/En ligne
Status Updated Date: 2020/06/30

ITEM(S) REQUESTED: 1
Created Date: 2020/06/30 10:50:31
Updated Date: 2020/06/30 15:53:29
Item: Kit, Application forms

Comment(s):
Due Date: 2020/06/30
Item For: PA

This was about the same time as the most recent note in the system (where the agent set the criminality to PASS and eligibility to MET).
Hi. Thanks for reaching out.

#1 The officer needs to review your file and make the final decision, the recommendation is to pass and the officer usually goes with the recommendation

#2 Nothing to worry about here nor anything you can do about it. See this for more details about Info Sharing https://bit.ly/2VND36G

#3 This is an internal transfer/request and not necessarily something (document) that would have been sent to you.

The key takeaway is that your application is progressing well and in due course the officer will pass Eligibility and then Security screening will start. After some time you can raise a web form and inquire about the status. If Security has been initiated then that means your Eligibility has been passed. To see the online version of CBSA's security screening manual https://bit.ly/3mqHP5I
 

mussadsar

Star Member
Sep 22, 2017
197
37
Hello @legalfalcon
I had requested Gcms through getgcms on 28th Oct 2020 and recently i rcvd 90 days extension email. what is that all about? is it really true as I do see people getting their gcms within 30-35 days. please advice
 

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,040
9,897
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
Hello @legalfalcon
I had requested Gcms through getgcms on 28th Oct 2020 and recently i rcvd 90 days extension email. what is that all about? is it really true as I do see people getting their gcms within 30-35 days. please advice
Currently most GCMS notes requests are being delayed. That is across the board. When IRCC is unable to meet the 30 days time frame within which they are obligated to release the GCMS notes as per section 7 of the Access to Information Act, which states:

Where access to a record is requested under this Part, the head of the government institution to which the request is made shall, subject to sections 8 and 9, within 30 days after the request is received after the request is received
If IRCC is unable to meet this time frame they can seek extensions as per section 9 of the ATI Act, which states:

  • (1) The head of a government institution may extend the time limit set out in section 7 or subsection 8(1) in respect of a request under this Part for a reasonable period of time, having regard to the circumstances, if
    • (a) the request is for a large number of records or necessitates a search through a large number of records and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the government institution,
    • (b) consultations are necessary to comply with the request that cannot reasonably be completed within the original time limit, or
    • (c) notice of the request is given pursuant to subsection 27(1)
    [*]by giving notice of the extension and, in the circumstances set out in paragraph (a) or (b), the length of the extension, to the person who made the request within thirty days after the request is received, which notice shall contain a statement that the person has a right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner about the extension.

However such extensions earlier were held to be invalid by the Office of the Information Commissioner:



Most request are released way before the extension expires and if OIC invalidated the extension, then IRCC is obligated to release the GCMS notes immediately.
 

mussadsar

Star Member
Sep 22, 2017
197
37
Currently most GCMS notes requests are being delayed. That is across the board. When IRCC is unable to meet the 30 days time frame within which they are obligated to release the GCMS notes as per section 7 of the Access to Information Act, which states:



If IRCC is unable to meet this time frame they can seek extensions as per section 9 of the ATI Act, which states:


However such extensions earlier were held to be invalid by the Office of the Information Commissioner:



Most request are released way before the extension expires and if OIC invalidated the extension, then IRCC is obligated to release the GCMS notes immediately.
so can we do anything to expedite this? pls advice @legalfalcon
 

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,040
9,897
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016

Vvek

Star Member
Jul 16, 2018
107
39
Hi @legalfalcon , @caipsnotes

Hope you are doing fantastic! Looking for your opinion on my application.

AOR: July 23, 2020 (PNP-outland)
Med passed/Bio request: 11th Sept 2020
RPRF request: 28th Sept 2020
Ghost update: 17th November 2020 (maybe just a glitch)
Biometrics done and enrollment number along with expiry date reflected on my GC key on November 20, 2020 (Although, it says we have not received your fingerprints.)

On Nov 8, 2020, I ordered GCMS notes from getgcms.com.

Meanwhile on Nov 12, I thought of also raising webform to know my VO as well as application status. I asked them specifically to know where my file is placed and if my eligibility has passed or under review. A week later I got a reply saying "We verified the info and can confirm that the application is still in process. All the required docs have been received by responsible office. Due to COVID" generic COVID office closure and limited staff message......."

On Dec 4, 2020, I received a email from getgcms.com saying it will take additional 90 days to receive my GCMS Notes.

I felt strange because

1) They are not telling me about my visa office and eligibility status via webform ( I have seen lots of people getting response on their visa office, eligibility, security, criminality status from webform)

2) Even though people are getting their GCMS notes within 30 days, they asked me 90 days extension on my 25th day of ordering GCMS Notes.

My Question:

1) Is my application under ENHANCED SECURITY SCREENING with CBSA and I am in for a wait of more than a year for security to clear?
----- FYI, I am 24 yrs old with no travel history outside my country Nepal, and stayed in a single address since 18, no research based study- just an
Accountant, no gov jobs etc.) - if this matters

2) Is there any way to know what is going on? Have they parked my file somewhere inaccessible? I know few outland PNPs from July getting PPR.

I could not call IRCC (Outland). So Is there any other way to know the status of my application, at least my VO? Can I get any help from GetGCMS.com to call IRCC to knwo the status ? OR am I just getting paranoid?

Your response would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:

caipsnotes

Champion Member
Jan 10, 2020
2,493
1,059
Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY
Hi @legalfalcon , @caipsnotes

Hope you are doing fantastic! Looking for your opinion on my application.

AOR: July 23, 2020 (PNP-outland)
Med passed/Bio request: 11th Sept 2020
RPRF request: 28th Sept 2020
Ghost update: 17th November 2020
Biometrics done and enrollment number along with expiry date reflected on my GC key on November 20, 2020 (Although, it says we have not received your fingerprints.)

On Nov 8, 2020, I ordered GCMS notes from getgcms.com.

Meanwhile on Nov 12, I thought of also raising webform to know my VO as well as application status. I asked them specifically to know where my file is placed and if my eligibility has passed or under review. A week later I got a reply saying "We verified the info and can confirm that the application is still in process. All the required docs have been received by responsible office. Due to COVID" generic COVID office closure and limited staff message......."

On Dec 4, 2020, I received a email from getgcms.com saying it will take additional 90 days to receive my GCMS Notes.

I felt strange because

1) They are not telling me about my visa office and eligibility status via webform ( I have seen lots of people getting response on their visa office, eligibility, security, criminality status from webform)

2) Even though people are getting their GCMS notes within 30 days, they asked me 90 days extension on my 25th day of ordering GCMS Notes.

My Question:

1) Is my application under ENHANCED SECURITY SCREENING with CBSA and I am in for a wait of more than a year for security to clear?
----- FYI, I am 24 yrs old with no travel history outside my country Nepal, and stayed in a single address since 18, no research based study- just an
Accountant, no gov jobs etc.) - if this matters

2) Is there any way to know what is going on?

I could not call IRCC (Outland). So Is there any other way to know the status of my application? Can I get any help from GetGCMS.com? OR am I just getting paraniod?

Your response would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!
It's unfortunate you received a 90 day extension on your Gcms Notes, that is more of an exception than the norm. Usually, before the end of Review of eligibility stage Medicals and Criminality are also passed. At this stage some applicants also receive a request to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) if it has not been paid upfront. If an applicant receives a request for the RPRF fee then it usually means that eligibility is recommended passed or passed. If your Eligibility is passed by an officer than Security will start after that. If your web form says that Security has not been initiated then most likely Eligibility has not been passed. You can consider requesting your Gcms Notes from CBSA instead and will likely receive it in 30 days and it costs the same except that the consent form is different.
 
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