CAIPS Notes for Canadian Immigration Applicants

For the many thousands of people who have put forward a Canadian immigration application the agonizing wait for news can last months, or in numerous cases years. As time go by, the doubts in the mind of applicant begins to move stealthily in.

Most of the Canadian Immigration applicants wonder that:
1. Did I make a blunder on the application form?
2. Do I truly have enough points to meet CIC's (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) requirements?
3. When will a visa officer next evaluate my file?

The thing which make matters poorer, that the regional visa office where the application is being processed will generally not permit to respond to questions from applicants eager for news.

However, what many people don't understand is that they can get precious information about the status of their application without bothering the visa office that is handling their case. CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) runs a computer system known as CAIPS (Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System). CAIPS is used to manage immigration applications being processed exterior of Canada. Every time a modification is made to a visa application, the details are recorded in the CAIPS system. For a little fee individuals can get a computer printout from the CAIPS system which may show the status of their file.

There are a lot of scenarios where obtaining your CAIPS notes can be helpful, so the big question is WHEN and WHY you should request your CAIPS notes?

1. If you have been asked to go to an interview, requesting your CAIPS notes can assist you to get ready. They may point out why the interview has been requested.

2. If you feel that you have not heard anything for a remarkable amount of time, requesting your CAIPS notes can assist you to ensure that your application is still on track.

3. If you have put forward additions or changes to your application, e.g. adding an additional dependant to the application after the birth of a child, requesting your CAIPS notes may facilitate you to check that your addition has been received and the details added to your file.

4. If you are just interested as to how your application is progressing, requesting your CAIPS notes may give you an idea of when an immigration officer will next evaluate your file.

Possibly the best part about ordering your CAIPS notes is that it will not holdup your application in any way. These requests are hold by a government office in Ottawa, Canada and are independent of the visa office handling your case.