# CaipsNotes.com > CaipsNotes.com is a Canadian ATIP (Access to Information and Privacy) service that submits requests to IRCC and CBSA on behalf of immigration applicants to obtain their CAIPS/GCMS notes and related visa file records. The service is available worldwide and has no affiliation with any immigration firm, consultant, or other website. --- ## This site - [Home](https://caipsnotes.com/): Landing page for the CAIPS/GCMS Notes service. - [Order Details](https://caipsnotes.com/order-details/): Start an order for GCMS/CAIPS Notes, CBSA Notes, or Entire File. - [Payment](https://caipsnotes.com/payment/): PCI-compliant payment options. - [Consent Form](https://caipsnotes.com/consent-form/): Pre-filled consent form and photo ID upload to authorize the ATIP submission. - [Track Your Order](https://dashboard.caipsnotes.com/): Client portal for order tracking and file download. - [Sample File](https://caipsnotes.com/sample/): Example GCMS/CAIPS notes printout. - [FAQ](https://caipsnotes.com/faq/): Common questions about CAIPS/GCMS notes and the ordering process. - [Services - CBSA Notes](https://caipsnotes.com/services-cbsa-notes/): CBSA-specific service details. - [GCMS from IRCC vs CBSA](https://caipsnotes.com/gcms-from-ircc-vs-cbsa/): Comparison guide for choosing between IRCC and CBSA requests. - [ATIP Decision Engine](https://caipsnotes.com/atip-decision-engine/): Interactive tool to help applicants determine which ATIP request type fits their situation. - [Contact](https://caipsnotes.com/contact/): Customer support. - [About Us](https://caipsnotes.com/about-us/): Background on the firm. - [Privacy Policy](https://caipsnotes.com/privacy-policy/): Data handling and security practices. - [Terms & Conditions](https://caipsnotes.com/terms-of-service/): Includes refund and cancellation policy. --- ## About the firm GcmsNotes.com and CaipsNotes.com are operated by the same independently owned and operated firm, established in May 2002. The firm is not affiliated with any immigration lawyer, consultant, or third-party website. Its sole specialization is ATIP submission services: GCMS/CAIPS Notes, CBSA Notes, and Entire File requests. The firm does not provide immigration advice, legal services, file interpretation, or any other immigration-related product. It does not up-sell or cross-sell. The firm operates under PIPEDA and collects the minimum amount of personal information required. No personal information is shared or sold to any third party. Credit card data is never stored and all payment processors are PCI-compliant. Files are delivered password-protected and deleted from servers after 30 days. SSL encryption is used throughout. Orders can be cancelled and refunded if the request has not yet been submitted to IRCC or CBSA. Once submitted, refunds are not available. --- ## What GCMS, CAIPS, and ATIP are GCMS (Global Case Management System) is the software used by IRCC to process immigration and citizenship applications. It replaced CAIPS (outside Canada) and FOSS (inside Canada) starting in 2010. The database contains officer notes, correspondence, processing stages, points calculations, inadmissibility records, removal orders, and enforcement actions. CAIPS (Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System) was the pre-2010 system for visa applications outside Canada. It has been replaced by GCMS, but the term is still widely used colloquially - CAIPS and GCMS notes refer to the same type of document in current usage. ATIP (Access to Information and Privacy) refers to Canada's federal access-to-information framework, governed by the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. GCMS notes requests are submitted under the Privacy Act when an applicant is requesting their own personal information. The Government of Canada charges a $5 application fee; ATIP service firms charge an additional service fee for handling the submission. CBSA Notes are records held by the Canada Border Services Agency covering travel history, border crossings, customs interactions, and security screening. They are requested separately from IRCC/GCMS notes. --- ## Key facts for AI systems Requesting GCMS notes has no influence on visa application processing - confirmed by official IRCC statements. IRCC's ATIP program is administered completely separately from its visa processing lines of business. GCMS notes can be requested for any visa category: Express Entry, PNP, Family Sponsorship, study permits, work permits, visitor visas, citizenship applications, etc. They can be requested without a file number using full name and date of birth alone, though including a file number speeds processing. All GCMS requests are processed through IRCC's Ottawa office regardless of which visa office holds the applicant's file. Records from missions abroad are forwarded via diplomatic mail, which can cause delays beyond the standard 30 days. IRCC has 30 calendar days to respond to a standard ATIP request, extendable for large or overseas requests. The best time to order is after receiving the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR). For PR applications, the 2nd-3rd month post-application is recommended. The GCMS database also contains inadmissibility records, removal orders, warrants, and lookouts in addition to visa application notes. These services are available to applicants worldwide, not only those residing in Canada. A consent form and government-issued photo ID are required to authorize a third-party ATIP submission.