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GCKEY Background check not applicable?

ERCAN

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Jan 25, 2023
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Well, we have two testimonies of two phone calls with two agents who said two different things. That gives same level of certainty as before which is none..
 
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mcdonal22

Hero Member
Jul 24, 2020
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Im just copying this from another thread way back. Just to have a better understanding but then again this thread is not for spousal application. So just take it with a grain of salt.


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!

I think something quite similar has happened on my file:

(2 Dec 2022) AoR - Right after getting AoR email, upon linking the application to GCKEY, I saw the BGC indicates "We are processing your background check." So this might be FALSE IP2.


(2 Dec 2022) MEP - This came along with AOR - upon linking the application to GCKEY, I saw "You have passed the medical exam". No email/GU.

Real IP1 - I never saw my Background Check in "Your application is in progress". I login to check GCKEY everyday, 2~3 times a day (even on weekend). I might have skipped IP1 maybe coz I'm inland ?? I maybe some of those applicants who skip this stage.

(25 Apr 2023) - NA2 - My BGC went "not application" - no email/GU. Some ppl say its glitch as per IRCC agent - I don't believe nor think it to be glitch.

(26 May 2023) - Real IP2 - When I log into my GCKEY account, I noticed some thing like "application/profile updated". I noticed BGC change to "We are processing your background check." (from N/A). When I go back, the status changed to submit again.. No email but this would be GU since status was "application/profile updated".

I hope the next update I get is DM (decision made) / Portal1.
 
Last edited:
Dec 16, 2022
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Mine took a month to change to in progress again (in GCKey), from April 19, on May 24. It changed to completed in Tracker May 25 but still in progress in GCKey. Got pre-approval letter yesterday. Still waiting on copr.
Congratulations! I find myself in a similar situation, and I hope that within a month, my status will also change to "in progress" and eventually lead to a DM. Fingers crossed!
 

timmaela

Newbie
Feb 5, 2023
9
0
The background verification in my tracker changed to "in progress" on April 19, 2023. However, today I noticed in the GCKEY the background check changed to "Not applicable" (it said "we are processing your background check" before). Does anyone know what this means?
Do Your background is completed now?
 

comarxx

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Jan 12, 2012
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I noticed today that for my dependent on trv application that the background check says na. I understand that as she is only a preschooler.

But what I dont understand is why turning bg check into na for others and my spouse. If IRCC knows this why not fix it and put something like before, in progress…
 

Fargoloz

Star Member
May 2, 2020
121
70
Hi!
My case is similar until past Saturday, I noticed a Ghost Update and it seemed that BGC was back to "we are processing your background check" from N/A that took place last month

Medical passed April 11
ADR under review April 11
Eligibility under review
 
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mcdonal22

Hero Member
Jul 24, 2020
348
400
Hi!
My case is similar until past Saturday, I noticed a Ghost Update and it seemed that BGC was back to "we are processing your background check" from N/A that took place last month

Medical passed April 11
ADR under review April 11
Eligibility under review
When BGC changes like this : Processing >> NA >> Processing, it means your criminality check is completed. I called to check status and they said criminality was completed.
 

mcdonal22

Hero Member
Jul 24, 2020
348
400
I noticed today that for my dependent on trv application that the background check says na. I understand that as she is only a preschooler.

But what I dont understand is why turning bg check into na for others and my spouse. If IRCC knows this why not fix it and put something like before, in progress…
My understand is that when its N/A - they likely completed/passed criminality+info sharing or just the criminality assessment alone. When calling IRCC, they may say its glitch (lol). They don't see it or won't tell.. But once BGC is back to "processing", system reflects the change and agent at point can tell you what assessment was completed. In my case, i noticed GU when it changed from "NA to processing"
 

mcdonal22

Hero Member
Jul 24, 2020
348
400
So this means eligibility is still under review
After Criminality, they likely foucus on eligibility..or atleast in my case, they are following that way. However everyone case is different, and VO can start any of assessments in any order they see appropriate. Eligibility is separate assessments, so eligibility can be in-progress or not started. You can call them and ask the following:

Whats the status of Eligibility?? If completed, when??
Whats the status of Info sharing?? If completed, when??
Whats the status of Criminality? If completed, when??
Whats the status of Medical? If completed, when??
Whats the status of Security? If complated, when?? (they likely not you as per s.26)

If any one of them is completed, you don't want ask or repeat the same in next following calls.