IRCC to provide increased transparency for denied immigration applicants
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant change in its policy, effective from July 29, 2025. Starting from this date, officer decision notes will be included with refusal letters for temporary resident applications. These decision notes, which are currently not available for applications made through the new IRCC Portal, will provide applicants with a more detailed insight into the reasons behind the refusal of their application. They contain application details, officer observations, and processing updates. While officer decision notes primarily cater to administrative decisions such as project applications or funding applications, they will now also be applied to refusals of Temporary Resident Visas (excluding eTAs and TRPs), visitor records, study permits, and work permits. Applicants seeking even more detailed information about their application, including a refusal decision, can request Global Case Management System (GCMS) notes from IRCC. To do so, they need to provide relevant application details, submit an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request, and pay a $5 fee. It's important to note that GCMS notes can only be requested once an application passes the R-10 completeness check, which is the earliest that an applicant can request GCMS notes. Requesting GCMS notes after the application processing has started usually yields more detailed notes. Certain portions of the officer decision notes and GCMS notes may be omitted on a case-by-case basis due to security, privacy, or other concerns. It is recommended to consult with an experienced immigration representative when requesting GCMS notes to ensure a thorough understanding of the information provided. IRCC will proactively include officer decision notes with the refusal letter, and applicants do not have to make any additional requests. For Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals physically present in Canada, the process of requesting GCMS notes is straightforward. However, applicants outside Canada must use a representative and provide a signed consent form to request GCMS notes. More information on requesting GCMS notes can be found on a dedicated webpage. The inclusion of officer decision notes with refusal letters is a step towards increased transparency and clarity in the immigration application process, making it easier for applicants to understand the reasons behind decisions made on their applications.
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