Many applicants in the Canadian immigration process may encounter delays in the processing of their applications. The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been working to reduce these delays, but long waiting periods are still common. However, there are official routes that applicants can take to voice their concerns or update IRCC about their applications, many of which have proven effective for past applicants.
The IRCC’s client support centre handles a significant number of inquiries through various channels. Between April and October of 2022, the department fielded a collective 8.3 million inquiries, including both phone and email correspondence, and this number is expected to increase in subsequent years.
One common route is the use of the IRCC Webform, an online form that the immigration department uses to answer questions applicants may have regarding their specific application. Another common method is email, where applicants can ask general or technical questions. The final method of reaching IRCC is via phone, which is only available to those within Canada.
Applicants can also order documents called Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes, which contain detailed information about their application and the information IRCC has gathered about the applicant. These notes are obtained through an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request to the Canadian government.
It’s important to note that IRCC will not respond to webform requests if the application is still within official processing time limits. Responses to inquiries may take between 2 and 30 days, depending on the method of communication and the complexity of the request. Additionally, applicants should be cautious of scammers posing as IRCC through email. For those outside of Canada, a representative must apply for GCMS notes on their behalf.
Overall, there are several official routes and methods of communication for applicants to engage with IRCC and address concerns or updates about their immigration applications. Each of these options has its own response time and specific use cases, so it’s important for applicants to carefully select the most appropriate method for their needs.
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