What are gcms notes?
The Global Case Management System (GCMS) is the internal system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to manage citizenship and immigration applications including visit visas and study permits. GCMS is used to store information about each application submitted to the IRCC. The system is also used by officers to store their comments on each application.
do i need to get the gcms notes on my application?
The GCMS notes are not helpful when an application is approved. However, in situations where an application is rejected, or when an application has exceeded the expected timeline for processing, obtaining the GCMS notes can provide insights into what is happening with the application. While the IRCC cites the grounds for rejection in a letter send to applicants whose application has been rejected, these are often template statements that do not give specific insights into the particular application. The GCMS notes, on the other hand, are specific to the circumstances of the case. If an application is delayed in processing, the notes can also be helpful to give insights into whether processing has begun, if any issues were encountered, or if any information in the application is incorrect or incomplete.
how can the gcms notes help me?
If you have a visa application that has been rejected, you can usually submit a new application addressing the grounds of rejection. In many cases, an application may be approved on a second or third attempt, after the applicant has provided additional information and supporting documents to address any issues identified by the officer in rejecting previous applications. However, the grounds for rejection cited in the rejection letters sent by the IRCC are often vague. They are template statements that are used for all application rejections, and are therefore not specific to the circumstances of each case. Without understanding exactly why the application is rejected, it becomes very difficult or impossible to respond to the rejection and to provide additional documents to address any concerns. This is where the GCMS notes can be helpful, as they can provide specific insights into the thinking of the officer who reviewed the application. This can be very helpful in formulating arguments for a subsequent application.
how do i get the gcms notes on my application?
In order to get the GCMS notes for an application, you have to make a request under the Access to Information Act. Only Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, or an individual or corporation currently in Canada can make an access to information request. There is a small fee required, as well as a form that needs to be completed in order to make the request.
We can get the gcms notes on your behalf!
If you are not eligible to submit an access to information request, or if you would rather not deal with the headache of completing the forms and going through the process, we would be happy to take care of this for you! The cost for this service is only $49 Canadian dollars. The IRCC typically sends the notes by email about 30 days after a request has been made, although it can take longer depending on the volume of requests received. If you are interested in obtaining the GCMS notes relating to your application, please contact us today to get the process started.