Requesting the status of an application
(CIAPS - Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System)

Description: CAIPS is a computer system used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in order to get the status of your application. This system is used for all types of applications - both temporary and permanent. When your application is received at the visa post, immigration officers create a CAIPS note. CAIPS file number is the number that has been assigned to your application in the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR). This file number usually starts with letter B followed by nine digits, for example, B 123 456 789. For student visas it starts with S and for visitor visas it starts with V. CAIPS contains all information related to your immigration or temporary status application, including:

• Notes and comments of all immigration officers reviewing your application;
• Number of points awarded;
• Information on background check;
• Medical report.

Each CAIPS file contains three information sections:

• Code of the current location of the file;
• Code of further actions;
• Code of when this action will take place.

Visa officers may enter new data into the system on a daily basis and the system will show a list of tasks that have to be performed with respect to the given case.