Description
What is GMCS?
The Global Case Management System (GCMS) is Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC’s) single, integrated and worldwide system used internally to process applications for citizenship and immigration services. GCMS is a valuable tool which IRCC uses in capturing client and application data.
The GCMS notes will tell you the most detailed and accurate information about your application. It will also contain all the correspondence between IRCC and you. GCMS Notes will tell you the current status of your application along with the officers detailed notes regrading your application. By knowing the status of your application, you can take proactive steps (if needed) to speed up the processing of your application. GCMS is used to support many CIC and CBSA activities.
GCMS stores only the type of personal information required to process citizenship and immigration clients. The type of personal information collected includes, but is not limited to, client identification (i.e., family name and given names, gender, date of birth, country of birth, etc.), contact information and history, educational and employment information.
These people have access to your GCMS Notes:
• Passport Officers and Pre-Examiners in regional offices and in mail processing centres
• System Administrators
• Quality Assurance Officers
• Assistant-Managers
• Operational Program Advisors
• Data Entry Clerks
• Call Centre Agents
Is GCMS and CAIPS same?
CAIPS was the system that was used prior to GCMS to process immigration applications overseas. CAIPS has been decommissioned and is now used as a database. IRCC is able to search for applications and information in CAIPS using GCMS.
How will GCMS notes help you?
The GCMS Notes will accurately tell you the status of your application including the officers analysis, reasoning and notes of your case at each stage. You can also get the entire copy of your case file via ATIP. In case you lost your copy of your previous application and you are applying for a new application, its important to be consistent in your application to prevent misrepresentation. GCMS has a data repository where all your documents are stored. GCMS allows IRCC to search for and view documents which are saved in the eStorage repository.
GCMS notes are available for all type of visas including but not limited to student visa, visitor visa, work visa, permanent residency, etc.
How is the search done for your application in GCMS?
The GCMS Search screen contains sub-tabs found just below the screen tabs. The Search sub tabs are: Identifier, Control Document, LSFD (Lost/Stolen/Fraudulent Document), Employment Validation, eDocs, CAIPS, IBAS/LSFD, and Integrated. GCMS allows IRCC to perform a search when a document is suspect or has been declared lost, stolen or fraudulent. This search is performed against CBSA’s databases. GCMS allows users to search the ESDC (Economic and Social Development Canada) database for employment validation information.
Is it safe to request GCMS Notes?
Yes, it is 100% safe, legal and a secure way to obtain information. It is stated by law that every GCMS order should be processed unbiased with no restriction and no negative effect on applicant’s situation. It means that any applicant could order GCMS notes as many times as one needs it. In fact, it is the safest and easiest way of tracking of your immigration or visa application status and also help you to prepare for an interview or have necessary documents ready for the upcoming processing stage.
Section 67.1 of the Access to Information Act states:
(1) No person shall, with intent to deny a right of access under this Act,
(a) destroy, mutilate or alter a record;
(b) falsify a record or make a false record;
(c) conceal a record; or
(d) direct, propose, counsel or cause any person in any manner to do anything mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (c).
(2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding $10,000, or to both; or
b) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both. S.C. 1999, c. 16, s. 1.
Does ordering GCMS notes delay the file processing?
No, it doesn’t have any negative affect on the processing time of your application. In fact, through GCMS Notes of your visa file, you can take pro-active steps to help speed up your application process such as, submitting additional documents, or misplaced an email sent by CIC for additional steps to be taken.
How long does it take to get GCMS notes?
The OPC must respond to ATIA and PA requests within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt in the OPC. If the request is received in another branch of the OPC, the 30 days is calculated from the date of its receipt in that branch, not from the date it was received by ATIP. Therefore, it is imperative that requests received in other areas of the OPC be delivered to ATIP immediately.
Within the time limits, the following must be taken into consideration:
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the time required by branch personnel to search, locate and retrieve the information, however and wherever it is stored;
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the time required by branch personnel to photocopy the information, review it, and provide a written rationale about the exemption or exclusion of any of the information (this includes the time required for the information to reach ATIP);
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the time required by ATIP to examine the information for exemption or disclosure, including the time to conduct internal and/or external consultations, and;
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the time required by ATIP to prepare the release package (removing the information being exempted, recopying the documents, preparing release letters etc.).
While both Acts allow for an extension of the initial 30-day time limit, an extension can only be claimed in certain circumstances (described fully in Chapter 3 concerning ATIA requests, and Chapter 4 concerning PA requests). Under the ATIA, the OPC can extend for a long period of time but under the PA, an extension can only be taken to a maximum of 30 days.
Failure to meet legislative time constraints is called a “deemed refusal” which may result in a well-founded complaint against the OPC, and for which the OPC may be taken to Federal Court. Also, citing an extension without the proper grounds may well result in a ‘well-founded’ complaint against the OPC.
The OPC’s ability to comply with legislated time frames depends a great deal upon the OPC’s records management practices. The less time required to find and retrieve material, the more time is available to examine the information, conduct consultations, and apply exemptions. So, it is extremely important that OPC employees file their documents properly in RDIMS, in filing cabinets, etc.
What is the best time to order GCMS?
It is best to apply for GCMS, notes 1-2 months after you submit your documents or as and when needed.
Payment Options:
Please note that all the prices are in USD. Also we accept all the major debit and credit cards. For any difficulties, please email us at ankitagoyal@immigracia.ca.
Consent form:
We will send you a consent form that will authorize IRCC to release the notes to us. Please be advised that if you do not send us the consent form within 5 business days of receiving the request to fill the form from us, your request will be considered abandoned and your file will be closed. You need to place a new order after that to get the notes.
Cancellation Policy:
Please note that orders can only be cancelled within 24 hours of placing the order if the processing of the order has not started. Orders cancelled after 24 hours will not be eligible for refund.
Also if we have started processing your order i.e. you have received an email from us for filling the consent form, we won’t be able to issue you the refund even if you cancel within 24 hours.
Please note that a CAD 10$ cancellation/administrative fee will be charged for each cancelleation.
Please note that all the prices are in CAD on our website.
