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Application Stages + What They Mean (MEP, IP1, IP2, Ghost Update...) - Version 2019

derkdsou

Champion Member
Oct 3, 2018
1,069
2,266
Hi Roula, I have never had an ADR, so for me it's always just said 'we do not require additional documents'. I think if your profile says, 'we are reviewing the documents you have uploaded', then I would just take that at face value and believe that's what it means. Normally they have been really quick to review uploaded documents, so I would hope for an update on the ADR status within a week or two. Good luck!

  1. Hello dear,

    Hope you are doing well and thanks in advance for your help, much appreciated.

    I need your valuable help please :
    Iam 17 Jan AOR

    I have got 3 ghosts:
    First one on 16 may with BG change to " in progress:
    Second one on 28 May with BG change to "we are processing".
    And 3 rd one on 30 may , without any change in BG.
    After 2 hours , i got an email for ADR.
    ADR submitted on 31 may, ADR status became " your documents are uploaded".
    Then in 3rd Jun ,the ADR status changed to " we start reviewing the documents that you provided".

    What do you think please?

    What were those ghosts and is it normal that my ADR didn't go to NA.
    Merci beaucoup.
    Have a lovely day.

    Rola


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Roula soliman

Full Member
Dec 8, 2018
24
1
Hi Roula, I have never had an ADR, so for me it's always just said 'we do not require additional documents'. I think if your profile says, 'we are reviewing the documents you have uploaded', then I would just take that at face value and believe that's what it means. Normally they have been really quick to review uploaded documents, so I would hope for an update on the ADR status within a week or two. Good luck!
Ok merci beaucoup
I wanted also to know if the last ghost was about elligibility, if was met or something.

Thanks

Rola
 

jlguariglia

Full Member
Mar 20, 2019
34
12
I might have missed some ghost updates because I didnt know about them.
Do you guys know if it's possible to see somewhere the dates for ghost updates?

Thanks
 
May 16, 2019
17
4
Canada
Category........
QSW
Visa Office......
Sydney NS
App. Filed.......
06-12-2017
AOR Received.
20-02-2018
Your PPR could be near, or it may be that your application is approved and your VO tends to send out PPRs in batches, irrespective of when an application was approved. If I were you, I would call IRCC to find out the status of my application following that last ghost update. The ghost update can and does work as a harbinger of PPR, and this has been confirmed empirically over and over again.
Hi @derkdsou,

Just to update you, I received an answer for my questioning about the ghost update and IRCC just gave me the standard answer "nothing is being required from you at this moment", "everything appears to be in order with your application" and "we will inform you as soon as a decision is reached".
So they don't even have a DM yet.
 
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Th2k

Star Member
Nov 20, 2018
67
3
While trying to track my application here is what I found:
Webform: Eligibility and background check in process (May 31)
Mexico VO: Application in queue for review (June 3)
Ralph office: Eligibility and security not started, Criminality in process (June 14)

Which one should be more accurate, since every response I get are differ from one another.

Aor: 26 feb
MEP: April 12
Ghost update: 3 (April 13/May 28/June 10)

Please let me know what you think
 

Wishcan

Hero Member
Jun 15, 2019
276
37
IRCC has introduced a number of changes in recent months and it is time to update our understanding of the post-AOR stages. I am simply building on the amazing work of @northern sunshine in developing an explanation of the various stages we can use - informally - to track the progress of our application. Huge thanks in particular to @USProgrammer who has posited the underlying trends and found evidence for them. In short, the traditional transition from IP1 to IP2 to ghost update to PPR still holds but in a modified way due to these changes.

From 31 Dec 2018, everyone except for Inland candidates has to provide their biometrics which means the default starting stage applicants will see for their Background Check is ‘IP2’ (“We are processing your background check…”), however, this is a ‘False IP2’, meaning an IP2 that has appeared before it is actually due as the application has not in fact progressed to the IP2 stage yet.

If you have an AOR of 31 Dec 2018 or later, follow the chart below to track your progress. Candidates will remain in a state of 'False IP2' throughout their application and only see a series of 'ghost updates' following their MEP; the first such ghost update (which should follow shortly after MEP) will signify your Real IP1, the second ghost update will signify your Real IP2, and the third will be your ‘Final’ Ghost Update, following which you are likely to receive your PPR.

If you have an AOR date of up to 30 Dec 2018
, the chart also applies to you if you meet one or more of these conditions: you are a CEC or PNP-Inland candidate, you were required to provide your biometrics or you did not pay your RPRF upfront.

Note for FSW-Outland candidates who have an AOR date of up to 30 Dec 2018: If you did not need to provide biometrics and paid your RPRF upfront, the old transition from NA1 all the way to a Final Ghost Update will still apply to you. Your Background Check should have started in NA1 ("Not Applicable" 1), meaning your Background Check status said "Not Applicable" right after you submitted your application.

General:
EE
- Express Entry: Canada's score-based program for economic immigrants
CRS - Comprehensive Ranking System: System for ranking candidates for EE
ITA - Invitation to Apply: an invitation to apply for permanent residence
e-APR - electronic Application for Permanent Residence: the online application for PR after receiving an ITA
RPRF - Right of Permanent Residence Fee: a fee collected as part of your PR application
AOR - Acknowledgement of Receipt (of application): email confirming receipt of your application after you submit and pay your fees
ADR - Additional Document Request: IRCC sends a message asking you to provide a specific document to supplement your application.

Post-submission stages:
False IP2
- Usually right from AOR or just after MEP. Background Check shows "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information.”
MEP - Medicals passed: review of medical results changes from "You do not need a medical exam." to "You have passed the medical exam." There is no email for MEP.
Ghost Update - When you log in, the application says it's been "updated" but none of the fields have changed. Once you logout and log back in, the application returns to being "submitted". Ghost updates are not announced by email and a candidate must check their profile daily to not miss them.
Ghost Update #1 or Real IP1 - "In progress" 1: Background Check changes to "Your application is in progress. We will send you a message when we start your background check." Usually follows MEP. Some applicants (especially Inland and CEC) skip this stage. You should receive an email for your Real IP1 - the email will not provide any details, just that your application has been updated.
NA2 - "Not Applicable" 2: Background Check changes to "Not Applicable" again after IP1. Some applicants skip this stage and it is easily missed. No email.
Ghost Update #2 or Real IP2 - "In progress" 2: Background Check changes to "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information." No email.
NA3 - "Not Applicable" 3: Background Check changes to "Not Applicable" again after IP2 (uncommon).
Ghost Update #3 or Final Ghost Update - Often considered a sign that PPR is coming soon. Not seen by all applicants.
PPR - Passport request: IRCC sends "Ready for visa" e-mail asking you to submit your documents to your visa office so they can issue your CoPR and entry visa if applicable. A PPR is announced only by email, and there may be no changes made directly to the profile. If you are worried you might miss it, you can whitelist the email domain @cic.gc.ca to ensure the email comes straight to your inbox.
CoPR - Confirmation of Permanent Residence: A document that says you've been approved for permanent residence.

Other notes:
1. The ‘eligibility’ and ‘final decision’ fields in your profile will not change to passed until after you receive your CoPR. This is an example of what a profile may look like following a CoPR.
2. Remember that these are not "official" stages, but they are used frequently throughout the forum to track the processing of applications.

This is a combined effort of @northern sunshine, @USProgrammer and myself. Please share your feedback - it is likely we have missed a few things!
Thanks a lot.Quite an effort from u all.Could you pls tell when is biometric letter sent to us?In which of these stages.I gave my bio today.Person therw was telling that after bio ppl get ppr within 10 to 15 days.Is that so.Thanks
 

derkdsou

Champion Member
Oct 3, 2018
1,069
2,266
I was not required to provide biometrics. My understanding is that the request letter is issued within days of MEP, which is happening around Day 45 at the moment. From your MEP/biometrics, you can expect to wait 150 to 180 days for your PPR based on the present backlog at IRCC.

Thanks a lot.Quite an effort from u all.Could you pls tell when is biometric letter sent to us?In which of these stages.I gave my bio today.Person therw was telling that after bio ppl get ppr within 10 to 15 days.Is that so.Thanks
 

Wishcan

Hero Member
Jun 15, 2019
276
37
I was not required to provide biometrics. My understanding is that the request letter is issued within days of MEP, which is happening around Day 45 at the moment. From your MEP/biometrics, you can expect to wait 150 to 180 days for your PPR based on the present backlog at IRCC.
Thank you.My MEP is passed.Bio given yesterday.Hope to get it soon. .
 
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Spenugo3

Newbie
Apr 17, 2019
1
1
My understanding is that the request letter is issued within days of MEP, which is happening around Day 45 at the moment.
Hi,

I think that what you said here is right, but I think my case is an exception.
I received my AOR on May 7 this year, but there was a furtherance request and I submitted my follow-up medical test results on May 18th.

I didn't receive any update on the medicals but I was asked to get my biometrics on June 15th.
I also received (what I believe was) the first ghost update to my account on June 16th.

Currently my profile stands at "Background check in progress" and "medicals are being reviewed".
As soon as I got my Biometrics done (today), the account was updated and the biometrics is showing "completed".

I just want to reply to this thread so I'm following it, and again thank you @derkdsou for the evidence-based, informal timeline for the process!
 
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jass bhatia

Star Member
Jan 28, 2014
96
9
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Hi all
My AOR is 25th,April
Medical passed on 5th,june

Since then status was ' in progress'

Today I got an update on my profile and status changed to 'we are processing your background check'

Can I presume that my application is in IP2?
 

randomdude

Star Member
May 15, 2019
59
69
IRCC has introduced a number of changes in recent months and it is time to update our understanding of the post-AOR stages. I am simply building on the amazing work of @northern sunshine in developing an explanation of the various stages we can use - informally - to track the progress of our application. Huge thanks in particular to @USProgrammer who has posited the underlying trends and found evidence for them. In short, the traditional transition from IP1 to IP2 to ghost update to PPR still holds but in a modified way due to these changes.

From 31 Dec 2018, everyone except for Inland candidates has to provide their biometrics which means the default starting stage applicants will see for their Background Check is ‘IP2’ (“We are processing your background check…”), however, this is a ‘False IP2’, meaning an IP2 that has appeared before it is actually due as the application has not in fact progressed to the IP2 stage yet.

If you have an AOR of 31 Dec 2018 or later, follow the chart below to track your progress. Candidates will remain in a state of 'False IP2' throughout their application and only see a series of 'ghost updates' following their MEP; the first such ghost update (which should follow shortly after MEP) will signify your Real IP1, the second ghost update will signify your Real IP2, and the third will be your ‘Final’ Ghost Update, following which you are likely to receive your PPR.

If you have an AOR date of up to 30 Dec 2018
, the chart also applies to you if you meet one or more of these conditions: you are a CEC or PNP-Inland candidate, you were required to provide your biometrics or you did not pay your RPRF upfront.

Note for FSW-Outland candidates who have an AOR date of up to 30 Dec 2018: If you did not need to provide biometrics and paid your RPRF upfront, the old transition from NA1 all the way to a Final Ghost Update will still apply to you. Your Background Check should have started in NA1 ("Not Applicable" 1), meaning your Background Check status said "Not Applicable" right after you submitted your application.

General:
EE
- Express Entry: Canada's score-based program for economic immigrants
CRS - Comprehensive Ranking System: System for ranking candidates for EE
ITA - Invitation to Apply: an invitation to apply for permanent residence
e-APR - electronic Application for Permanent Residence: the online application for PR after receiving an ITA
RPRF - Right of Permanent Residence Fee: a fee collected as part of your PR application
AOR - Acknowledgement of Receipt (of application): email confirming receipt of your application after you submit and pay your fees
ADR - Additional Document Request: IRCC sends a message asking you to provide a specific document to supplement your application.

Post-submission stages:
False IP2
- Usually right from AOR or just after MEP. Background Check shows "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information.”
MEP - Medicals passed: review of medical results changes from "You do not need a medical exam." to "You have passed the medical exam." There is no email for MEP.
Ghost Update - When you log in, the application says it's been "updated" but none of the fields have changed. Once you logout and log back in, the application returns to being "submitted". Ghost updates are not announced by email and a candidate must check their profile daily to not miss them.
Ghost Update #1 or Real IP1 - "In progress" 1: Background Check changes to "Your application is in progress. We will send you a message when we start your background check." Usually follows MEP. Some applicants (especially Inland and CEC) skip this stage. You should receive an email for your Real IP1 - the email will not provide any details, just that your application has been updated.
NA2 - "Not Applicable" 2: Background Check changes to "Not Applicable" again after IP1. Some applicants skip this stage and it is easily missed. No email.
Ghost Update #2 or Real IP2 - "In progress" 2: Background Check changes to "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information." No email.
NA3 - "Not Applicable" 3: Background Check changes to "Not Applicable" again after IP2 (uncommon).
Ghost Update #3 or Final Ghost Update - Often considered a sign that PPR is coming soon. Not seen by all applicants.
PPR - Passport request: IRCC sends "Ready for visa" e-mail asking you to submit your documents to your visa office so they can issue your CoPR and entry visa if applicable. A PPR is announced only by email, and there may be no changes made directly to the profile. If you are worried you might miss it, you can whitelist the email domain @cic.gc.ca to ensure the email comes straight to your inbox.
CoPR - Confirmation of Permanent Residence: A document that says you've been approved for permanent residence.

Other notes:
1. The ‘eligibility’ and ‘final decision’ fields in your profile will not change to passed until after you receive your CoPR. This is an example of what a profile may look like following a CoPR.
2. Remember that these are not "official" stages, but they are used frequently throughout the forum to track the processing of applications.

This is a combined effort of @northern sunshine, @USProgrammer and myself. Please share your feedback - it is likely we have missed a few things!

The PPR paragraph is very concerning. Are you telling you me that you will not receive a PPR message in your CIC account when the PPR email is sent you?
 

Wishcan

Hero Member
Jun 15, 2019
276
37
Hi all
My AOR is 25th,April
Medical passed on 5th,june

Since then status was ' in progress'

Today I got an update on my profile and status changed to 'we are processing your background check'

Can I presume that my application is in IP2?
U didn't get biometric request?Have u paid biometric fee?