Top 5 Reasons to Request GCMS Notes in 2025

If you're waiting on your Canadian immigration application — whether it’s for permanent residency, a study permit, work permit, or visitor visa — you’ve probably checked your IRCC portal multiple times, only to see the same vague status updates:

“We are reviewing your eligibility.”

“Background check in progress.”

“Application is in process.”

But what’s really going on behind the scenes?

That’s where GCMS Notes come in. In 2025, more applicants than ever are requesting their GCMS (Global Case Management System) Notes to understand delays, refusals, and next steps. And here’s why you might want to do the same.

What Are GCMS Notes?

GCMS Notes are internal documents used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to record everything about your application — from officer comments and document reviews to background check status and decision rationale. Unlike the simplified IRCC portal, GCMS Notes show the full story.

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In this video, Iryna Babenko explains how GCMS Notes work and why they’ve become such a powerful tool for applicants facing delays, refusals, or uncertainty.

Watch the full breakdown here:

Here Are the Top 5 Reasons to Request GCMS Notes in 2025:

1. Your Application Is Delayed — and You Don’t Know Why

Maybe your file has been “under review” for months. Or you're well past the average processing time with no updates.

GCMS Notes can tell you:

• If an officer has even looked at your file yet
• If additional documents are flagged as missing
• If background or security checks are holding things up
• Whether your file has been transferred to another visa office

2. You Were Refused — But the Refusal Letter Made No Sense

Many applicants are surprised by rejections, especially when their documents seemed “complete.” GCMS Notes help clarify:

• What the visa officer actually wrote and observed
• Which documents were considered weak or missing
• If your case was misinterpreted or misunderstood
• Whether your intent was questioned (common for TRVs or study permits)

3. You’re Preparing for an Appeal, Reconsideration, or Judicial Review

If you’re working with a lawyer or consultant on an appeal, GCMS Notes are essential. They help you:

• Build a fact-based argument
• Reference officer comments directly
• Identify procedural fairness issues
• Determine whether refusal was due to law or discretion

4. You Want to Check Background, Security, or Eligibility Progress

Express Entry applicants, PNP nominees, and PR candidates often worry about:

• Background checks
• Criminality review
• Medicals
• Eligibility approval by an officer

5. You’re Applying for a Work Permit or Study Permit and Want to Avoid Mistakes

You can order GCMS Notes from a previous application to:

• See if your Statement of Purpose was convincing
• Understand past concerns about ties to your home country
• Fix inconsistencies in new applications
• Respond more precisely in new cover letters

Take Control of Your Application Today

Whether you're frustrated by silence or looking to strengthen your reapplication — your answers may already exist inside your GCMS Notes. Request your GCMS Notes with Anyvisa