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Posted on June 27, 2023June 30, 2023 by admin

What is GCMS Notes and How to Apply GCMS Notes?: Canada Immigration

Sample GCMS Note- Canada Study Permit Refusal

What is GCMS Notes?

GCMS stands for Global Case Management System, which is an internal system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to manage immigration and visa applications. GCMS notes, also known as CAIPS (Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System) notes, are detailed records of an individual’s immigration application stored in the GCMS database.

GCMS notes contain a comprehensive record of the processing of an immigration application. They include information such as the application forms submitted, supporting documents, correspondence between the applicant and IRCC, internal notes made by immigration officers, and any decisions or actions taken regarding the application.

GCMS notes are highly valuable for individuals who have applied for immigration or visa programs in Canada, as they provide insight into the status and progress of the application. These notes can be requested by applicants or their authorized representatives through an official request process, typically known as an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request.

Obtaining GCMS notes allows applicants to review the details of their application, identify any errors or discrepancies, understand the reasons for a decision, or gather information for an appeal or legal purposes. It provides a comprehensive overview of the immigration officer’s assessment and reasoning behind the application’s processing.

It’s important to note that GCMS notes are considered confidential and are provided only to the applicant or their authorized representative. They are not publicly accessible and can only be obtained through a formal request to IRCC.

To request GCMS notes for an immigration application, the process varies depending on whether you are making the request from inside or outside Canada. Here’s a step-by-step guide for both scenarios:

How to apply GCMS notes if you are inside Canada?

Go to ATIP Portal (https://atip-aiprp.apps.gc.ca/atip/welcome.do)
Start a New Request: Click on the “Start a new request” button to begin the request process.
Select the Appropriate Options: Choose the applicable options for your request, such as “Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada” or “Canada Border Services Agency” as the government institution.
Provide Personal Information: Fill in your personal details, including your full name, date of birth, immigration application number, UCI, Address, Contact number, Email Address.
Submit the Request: Review the information you provided, ensure it is accurate, and submit your request. You may be required to pay the processing fee at this stage.
Pay the Fee: Process the payment of the CAD $5 fee through the online payment options available on the portal.
Wait for Processing: After submitting your request and payment, the ATIP office will process your request. The processing time may vary, but you should receive a response within a 30 to 60 days.
Access the GCMS Notes: Once your request is processed, you will receive the GCMS notes either by email or through the ATIP portal, depending on the communication method you selected during the request process.

How to apply GCMS notes if you are outside Canada?

If you are located outside Canada, you are unable to directly request GCMS notes from IRCC or CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency). Instead, you can apply for your GCMS notes with the help of someone you know who is a Permanent Resident or Citizen of Canada. The fee for this service remains the same at CAD $5. To proceed, you will need to complete the consent form, which allows the individual in Canada to request the GCMS notes on your behalf.

In case you don’t have any contacts in Canada, there are third-party service providers available who can assist you in obtaining GCMS notes from IRCC and CBSA. These service providers will handle the process of requesting the GCMS notes on your behalf, and once they receive the notes, they will provide them to you. Typically, the third-party service providers charge a fee for their assistance. Ensure you understand their pricing structure and pay the applicable fee.

It is important to exercise caution when utilizing third-party services and ensure you choose reputable providers to safeguard the security and privacy of your personal information.

Click here to Apply GCMS Notes from IRCC and CBSA

Posted on June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 by admin

Eligible Occupations List (NOC) under New Category-based Selection for Express Entry in 2023

The Minister of Immigration for Canada, Sean Fraser, has revealed the introduction of selection draws based on specific categories for candidates applying through the Express Entry program. The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will prioritize candidates with significant expertise in the French language or work experience in the following sectors:

French-language proficiency
Healthcare occupations
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations
Trade occupations
Transport occupations
Agriculture and agri-food occupations

These categories have been chosen for the year 2023.

In order to receive an invitation through a category-based round, you are required to fulfill the following criteria:

Meet the minimum requirements for Express Entry, including eligibility for one of the three immigration programs it encompasses.
Fulfill all the specified requirements mentioned in the instructions for that particular round.

During a category-based round of invitations, the following actions will be taken:

Candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements will be ranked.
Top-ranking candidates will be invited to apply for permanent residence.

Requirements for the French-language proficiency category eligibility are as follows:

Possess French-language test results indicating a minimum score of 7 in all four language abilities as per the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens.
Fulfill all the requirements specified in the instructions provided for that particular round.

For comprehensive details regarding eligibility, please refer to the instructions accompanying each round.

Requirements for eligibility in the healthcare occupations category are as follows:

Acquire a minimum of six months of continuous work experience (either in Canada or internationally) within the past three years in a single occupation listed in the provided table.
Satisfy all the requirements mentioned in the instructions for the specific round.

Comprehensive details regarding eligibility can be found in the instructions provided for each round.

Occupation	2021 NOC code	2021 TEER category
Audiologists and speech language pathologists	31112	1
Chiropractors	31201	1
Dentists	31110	1
Dieticians and nutritionists	31121	1
Education counsellors	41320	1
General practitioners and family physicians	31102	1
Instructors of persons with disabilities	42203	2
Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment	31204	1
Licensed practical nurses	32101	2
Massage therapists	32201	2
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations	33101	3
Medical laboratory technologists	32120	2
Medical radiation technologists	32121	2
Medical sonographers	32122	2
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates	33102	3
Nurse practitioners	31302	1
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors	31300	1
Occupational therapists	31203	1
Optometrists	31111	1
Other assisting occupations in support of health services	33109	3
Other practitioners of natural healing	32209	2
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating	31209	1
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment	32109	2
Paramedical occupations	32102	2
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants	33103	3
Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals	31303	1
Physiotherapists	31202	1
Psychologists	31200	1
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses	31301	1
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists	32103	2
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine	31100	1
Specialists in surgery	31101	1
Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies	41301	1
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists	32200	2
Veterinarians	31103	1

Healthcare Occupations Eligible for New Category-based Selection for Express Entry in 2023

Requirements for eligibility in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) category are as follows:

Occupation	2021 NOC code	2021 TEER category
Architects	21200	1
Architecture and science managers	20011	0
Business systems specialists	21221	1
Civil Engineers	21300	1
Computer and information systems managers	20012	0
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)	21311	1
Computer systems developers and programmers	21230	1
Cybersecurity specialists	21220	1
Data scientists	21211	1
Database analysts and data administrators	21223	1
Electrical and electronics engineers	21310	1
Engineering managers	20010	0
Industrial and manufacturing engineers	21321	1
Information systems specialists	21222	1
Land surveyors	21203	1
Landscape Architects	21201	1
Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries	21210	1
Metallurgical and materials engineers	21322	1
Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers	41400	1
Software developers and programmers	21232	1
Software engineers and designers	21231	1
Urban and land use planners	21202	1
Web designers	21233	1
Web developers and programmers	21234	1

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Occupations Eligible for New Category-based Selection for Express Entry in 2023

Requirements for eligibility in the Trade category are as follows:

Occupation	2021 NOC code	2021 TEER category
Residential and commercial installers and servicers	73200	3
Elevator constructors and mechanics	72406	2
Machine fitters	72405	2
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics	72402	2
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics	72400	2
Carpenters	72310	2
Plumbers	72300	2
Electricians (except industrial and power system)	72200	2
Welders and related machine operators	72106	2
Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers	72014	2

Trade Occupations Eligible for New Category-based Selection for Express Entry in 2023

Requirements for eligibility in the Transport occupations category are as follows:

Occupation	2021 NOC code	2021 TEER category
Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors	93200	3
Transport truck drivers	73300	3
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators	72604	2
Engineer officers, water transport	72603	2
Deck officers, water transport	72602	2
Air traffic controllers and related occupations	72601	2
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors	72600	2
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors	72404	2
Railway carmen/women	72403	2
Managers in transportation	70020	0

Transport Occupations Eligible for New Category-based Selection for Express Entry in 2023

Requirements for eligibility in the agriculture and agri-food occupations category are as follows:

Occupation	2021 NOC code	2021 TEER category
Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services	82031	2
Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors	82030	2
Butchers- retail and wholesale	63201	3

Agriculture and agri-food Occupations Eligible for New Category-based Selection for Express Entry in 2023

Posted on June 20, 2023June 20, 2023 by admin

New Requirement: Biometric Submission Now Mandatory for All Canadian PR Applicants, Regardless of Prior Submissions.

Starting from June 14, 2023, the temporary exemption policy for certain foreign nationals applying for Canadian PR (permanent residency) from submitting biometrics has been discontinued by the IRCC. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRCC implemented a policy within the Global Case Management System (GCMS) that eliminated the requirement for PR applicants to re-submit their biometrics if they had already provided them within the past 10 years while applying for a temporary resident status.

According to an official update from the IRCC program delivery, this interim public policy will no longer apply to PR applications submitted on or after June 14, 2023.

Biometrics refer to the unique physical traits of an individual, such as fingerprints and photographs, which are required for Canadian immigration purposes.

Under the interim provision implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign nationals applying for PR were exempt from providing biometric information if they had previously submitted it for an immigration or visa application within the past ten years.

Until June 14, 2023, PR applications meeting the above criteria were processed without the need for biometrics.

However, as of that date, all foreign nationals seeking PR, including those on work permits like yourself, must now submit their biometric data, regardless of whether they provided it four years ago.

If you fall within the age range of 14 to 79 and plan to apply for PR under the family class, economic class, or refugee category after June 14, 2023, you will need to provide your fingerprints, even if your previous biometrics are still valid.

Posted on June 20, 2023June 20, 2023 by admin

Understanding UCI and Application Number in Canadian Immigration: IRCC File Number Explanation

What is UCI (Unique Client Identifier) in the context of Canadian Immigration?

When engaging with IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), a distinct number is assigned to individuals. This number, known as UCI, can consist of either ten digits (e.g., 01-2345-6789) or eight digits (e.g., 1234-5678). UCI stands for Unique Client Identifier, and it serves as a unique identification for applicants. It allows IRCC to link individuals to their multiple applications. For instance, in a family of four applying for immigration or a visa, each member receives a separate UCI.

Temporary UCIs may also be issued by IRCC. Here are two examples:

Express Entry applicants are assigned UCIs starting with CAN000123456789.
Other applicants may receive temporary UCIs in the format X01-2345-6789 or T01-2345-6789.

These temporary UCIs will eventually be replaced by an eight or ten-digit UCI.

The UCI remains unchanged for each applicant throughout their lifetime, meaning that your UCI remains constant for all applications submitted to IRCC. It also remains consistent for any interactions you have with CBSA. This implies that if you are already aware of your UCI, you can utilize it for future applications.

Where to find my UCI?

Sample UCI number on IRCC communications

Having a UCI (Unique Client Identifier) is contingent upon prior interactions with Canadian immigration authorities. These interactions encompass various scenarios, such as:

Applying for temporary statuses like an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), TRV (Temporary Resident Visa), work permit, or study permit.
Dealing with a removal order.
Immigrating to Canada.
Sponsoring your spouse or common-law partner (both inland and outside-Canada options).
Making refugee claims within Canada.
Sponsoring other family members, such as parents or grandparents, siblings, nieces or nephews, or aunts or uncles.

It’s important to note that this list is not exhaustive. Whenever you engage with immigration authorities, they correspond with you, which may involve receiving various documents, such as:

Emails.
AOR (Acknowledgement of Receipt) letter.
COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence).
Visa counterfoil.
PR (Permanent Resident) Card.

All these documents contain your UCI, so be sure to locate the 8 or 11-digit UCI on them. Sometimes, the term UCI or Client ID may be mentioned alongside the number. However, it’s worth mentioning that identifying the UCI on visa counterfoils can be a bit challenging. The accompanying image demonstrates how to locate the UCI on this particular document.

What is Canada Visa Application Number or File Number?

The application number or file number is an exclusive identifier assigned to your submitted application. Typically, this number commences with one or more letters, followed by nine digits. Here are some examples:

Full list of Canada Visa Application Number types and samples:

E123456789 for economic immigration
V123456789 for TRV (Temporary Resident Visa), Visitor Record, or eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
S123456789 for study permit
W123456789 for work permit
H123456789 for Humanitarian and Compassionate considerations
L123456789 for refugee claimants
C123456789 for citizenship applications
D123456789 for TRP (Temporary Resident Permit)
I123456789 for IFHP (Interim Federal Health Program)
J123456789 for Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA)
RHB1234567 for rehabilitation
ARC1234567 for ARC (Authorization to Return to Canada)
F123456789 for family reunification
EP12345678 for PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) applications
N123456789 for Removal orders
G123456789 for refugee resettlement or protected people PR (Permanent Residence) application
SV12345678 for verification of status
B123456789 for some older immigration applications
PR12345678 for Citizenship certificates

It’s important to note that instead of the placeholder “12345678,” you will receive a unique number specific to your application. In some cases, IRCC may issue temporary file numbers, indicated by an X at the beginning of the application number. However, if your application progresses, the X will be removed. There may also be rare instances where a temporary file number is replaced with a new one.

The file number or application number remains constant for a specific application, ensuring that you will not encounter any changes to the file number during the course of that application. It’s worth noting that if you were initially assigned a temporary application number, there is a possibility of receiving a new permanent number. However, once a permanent file number is assigned, it remains consistent for that particular application. It is important to emphasize that when opening a new application, a new file number will be allocated to you.

Where to find Canada visa application number or file number?

To find an immigration file number, the most effective method is to consult the correspondences you have received from IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). This can include emails or physical letters that they have sent to you. If you have enlisted the services of an immigration representative, you can also seek their assistance in locating the file number.

Posted on June 12, 2023June 12, 2023 by admin

Changes to IELTS Academic Band Score Requirements for Canada SDS Applications

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced changes to the English test requirements for students applying for a Study Permit in Canada through the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program. These changes, effective from 10th August 2023, make it easier for students to apply for a Study Permit by revising the IELTS Academic band score requirements. This report provides a detailed overview of the new IELTS Academic band score requirements for SDS applications and discusses the implications of these changes.

Previous IELTS Academic Band Score Requirements for SDS applications:

Prior to 10th August 2023, applicants using the IELTS Academic test for SDS applications were required to achieve a minimum band score of 6.0 in each of the four individual skills: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. This meant that test takers had to demonstrate proficiency in each of these areas to meet the English language requirements for the SDS program.

New IELTS Academic Band Score Requirements for SDS Application:

Under the revised requirements, IELTS Academic test takers applying for SDS after 10th August 2023 will no longer need to achieve a minimum score of 6.0 in each individual skill. Instead, a minimum overall band score of 6.0 will be sufficient. This means that applicants can compensate for any weaknesses in certain skills by performing exceptionally well in others, as long as the overall band score meets the minimum requirement.

Rationale for the Changes:

The change in the IELTS Academic band score requirements reflects a more holistic consideration of a test taker’s English proficiency. By removing the specific minimum scores for each skill, the IRCC acknowledges that applicants may excel in certain areas while needing additional support in others. This approach provides a more inclusive pathway for international students to pursue their academic ambitions in Canada, recognizing their overall English language ability rather than focusing solely on individual skills.

Earlier IRCC approved four new English language tests for Student Direct Stream (SDS)

Reference: Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 157, Number 21: GOVERNMENT NOTICES