How to find out about status/progress of application?

[55way]

We sent in the application for my wife's permanent residence and open work permit about 5 weeks ago. I realize this is still very early on but how does one check what the status/progress of an application for PR and OWP?

A few friend's of my wife advised that we should be calling to find out what the progress is. I highly doubt that. Appreciate any advice. Thank you.

 

[user828]

GCMS notes

See my sig on how to order

 

[55way]

Do you have to go through these hoops and pay $5 every time you want to check the status of your PR application?

 

[MaxLet]

No.
You can have an idea of where your application is, by answeing a couple of questions in:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/status.asp

this system is called ECAS. You will only be able to access it once you have a UCI number or a FILE number. (once your application has reach an officer, you will most likely receive a letter stating they receive your applcation, this is called AOR (Acknowledge of Receipt).
If you do not receive this letter in an average of two months, then call cic.
I assume that you are inland, since you are applying for an OWP too.

The GCMS notes allowed you to know what the officer has been writting on your file, where has it been send and all the mouvements on it.
But is more usefull when you are require to pass an interview, or when your file is taking longer than expected, even when they request more documents, it will let you know if the officer has doubts on the relationship, or others.

I would not recommend this in such an early state. if you dont even have an AOR yet, then is completely useless.
Wait a couple of months to try getting a UCI number and use ECAS info is not detailed but it will give you an idea.

Hope this helps!

Good luck and God bless

 

[QuebecOkie]

GCMS notes are not really needed or helpful unless your case runs into some trouble (if normal processing time is exceeded, or if officer has doubts about validity of your relationship, etc.). You can see your stats on ECAS, as the member above mentioned. However, in my experience, ECAS was not much help. I checked the darned thing at least weekly for months and months, but I never learned anything new from ECAS. For instance, I didn't send my medicals with my app, but I did the exam at a later date. My ECAS never showed "medical received" until AFTER AIP/DM. It only ever confirmed what I already knew.

Basically, unless something goes wrong, you stay mostly in the dark about the whole process, with a few glorious notifications that all is well.

 

[MaxLet]

True that, @QuebecOkie, but Ill have to say that it really depends on your agent (or the person in charge of updating e-cas)
Mine has being helpfull. All the info appear on ecas the same day (or couple days after) that i received a letter or so. When I did my medicals (after aip order) it appear exactly a week after...
If the visa officers are in charge of ecas, ill say mine is really responsable with it

Good luck and God bless!

 

[55way]

Thank you guys. I am able to see the application status now. It shows "Application Received" (January 2014).
I guess we are still quite a bit away from the next step (what would the next step be)?

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thank you guys. I am able to see the application status now. It shows "Application Received" (January 2014).
I guess we are still quite a bit away from the next step (what would the next step be)?

either a request for more information or ppr. it depends on your visa office. if your application was received in january, then ordering notes may tell you how much movement there has been with your application. depending on which office is processing your app, you may be close to getting something.

 

[55way]

Unfortunately, attempting to check the status online shows no results still:

We were not able to identify you using the information you provided. There could be three possible reasons:.......

Is there any other method to find the status out as it always shows the above.