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SDS study permit stuck 6+ months in a background-check loop - GCMS request over more webforms

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Step-by-Step

Historical note: this is a COVID-era (2021-22) delay thread; webform replies at the time blamed pandemic backlogs.

An SDS applicant (applied November 2021, medical approved late January, studying online meanwhile) had no decision and 3-4 webform attempts had produced only canned replies.

  1. Order GCMS/ATIP notes. Members said IRCC often 'springs into action' once an Access to Information request lands, and it at least shows where the file is stuck.

  2. The likely culprit was a background-check loop - a member with the same 6+ month delay explained nothing external accelerates it; the check completes when it completes.

  3. Stop sending webforms. Repeated webforms were seen as useless or even counterproductive; one or two is enough.

  4. Note the poster's agent discouraged the GCMS request - members disagreed, since ATIP requests are a standard applicant right and don't harm the file.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Don't: Don't file webform after webform - after the first, they only generate canned replies.
  • Do: Order GCMS notes to see the file's actual status; it's your right and doesn't hurt the application.

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