Tracking GCMS notes

 

The most frustrating thing after seeing no progress on your Permanent Residency application is, waiting forever to receive your GCMS notes, beyond the 30 days statutory limit, under the Access to Information Act (the law under which GCMS notes and other documents from federal agencies are issued). Section 7 of the Access to Information Act states:

7. Where access to a record is requested under this Act, the head of the government institution to which the request is made shall, subject to sections 8, 9 and 11, within thirty days after the request is received,

Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC), or any other federal agency, such as Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) or Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) when requested for information under Accesss to Information Act has to provide that information within 30 days of requesting the information. However, recently IRCC has issued a notification, where they have specified that due to the high volume of requests being filed, IRCC is unable to meet 30 days processing standard.

TRACKING NUMBER FOR GCMS NOTES

When a request is filed with any federal agency under the Access to Information Act, a tracking number is issued. This tracking number is a 6-7 digit number to identify the request. As of now the Canadian Government or the federal agencies do not have a mechanism which allows online tracking of these requests. There are some websites that claim online tracking, please beware of such fraudulent websites.

At GET GCMS, when you order GCMS notes, or a request is filed to any other federal agency, we send you the tracking number in the confirmation email. This tracking number is for your records. In an eventuality, if we do not receive your GCMS notes, or the document you requested from a federal agency is not delivered within the timeframe, we will use this tracking number to contact IRCC or the federal agency to find the status of your request. We request that applicants do not directly contact IRCC or the federal agency they have requested documents from to avoid duplicity of requests.

EXTENTIONS FOR GCMS NOTES

Pursuant to Section 9 of the Access to Information Act, the federal agency may extend the time limit within which the information has to be provided. This is when IRCC seeks extensions to release the notes. Section 7 states:

Extension of time limits

9(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 Act 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) 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,

(c) consultations are necessary to comply with the request that cannot reasonably be completed within the original time limit, or

(d) 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.

We at GET GCMS strive our best to deliver the GCMS notes and other requests in a timely order, please be advised that there may be delays which are beyond our control. When such delays happen, even though rare, we will keep you apprised on the status of your request.

 

TRACKING THE APPLICATION – The online IRCC system does not accurately inform as to which stage the application is at. And therefore it is important to keep a track of the application, so that corrective steps can be taken or preparation for an interview can be done. To track your application the only accurate way is through the GCMS notes. You can order your GCMS notes online.

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