Immigration Acronyms and GCMS Notes

	A	B	C	D
1	Immigration Acronyms		Acronyms can have multiple meanings. If the definition provided here doesn't make sense in the context of the sentence or document you find it in, you will need to investigate further (and please share your findings here)	I had to lock this spreadsheet from edits as people were acccidentally deleting entries (likely cut / paste errors). If you have suggestions / changes / additions, please leave a comment.
2	Acronym	Definition	Hints, suggestions and tips relating to the topic
3	AER	Arranged Employment Officer
4	AIP	Approval in Principle
5	AOR	Acknowledgement of Receipt	sometimes this is skipped and the first you hear from CIC is for SA
6	ARC	Authorization to Return to Canada
7	ASAP	As Soon As Possible
8	ATIP	Access to Information and Privacy	a law making information accessible for Canadians (i.e. access to GCMS notes)
9	AVRES Security	Background Decision
10	B xxx xxx xxx	10 digit file number (starting with B)	Starting letter may be different (i.e F)
11	b.f.	Bona fide
12	BFD or BF'D	Bring Forward to Date
13	BDEC	Background Decision
14	BOWP	Bridging Open Work Permit
15	CAIPS	Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System.	THIS SYSTEM IS NO LONGER IN USE. REFER TO GCMS
16	CANN	Community Airport Newcomers' Network
17	CBSA	Canada Border Services Agency
18	CEC	Canadian Experience Class
19	CELPIP	Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
20	CHC	Canadian High Commission
21	CIC	Citizenship and Immigration Canada
22	CICIC	Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
23	CIDA	Canadian International Development Agency
24	CIO	Centralized Intake Office
25	COPR	Confirmation of Permanent Resident Form	When an immigrant is approved for permanent residence in Canada, they receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document. An immigration officer at the port of entry or a CIC office signs and dates this document when permanent residence is finally granted. This document is used by permanent residents to show to provincial and territorial organizations in order to access services. There is an immigration category printed on this document. DO NOT LOSE THIS DOCUMENT. IT IS YOUR OFFICIAL RECORD OF PR (along with the PR card)
26	CPCM	Case Processing Centre - Mississauga
27	CPP	Canada Pension Plan
28	CSE	Case Specific Enquiry
29	CSQ	Certificate du Selection du Quebec (Quebec Certificate of Selection)
30	DD
31	DM	Decision Made
32	DMP	Designated Medical Practitioner	http://www.cic.gc.ca/pp-md/pp-list.aspx
33	e-CAS	e-Client Application Status.
34	EAL	English as an Additional Language
35	ECA	education credential assessment
36	ECAS (e-CAS)	Electronic Client Application Status	This on-line service allows CIC clients to view securely the status of immigration and/or citizenship application(s) on-line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may use this service if you have sponsored a member of the family class, applied for permanent residence from within or outside Canada, applied for a permanent resident card (initial, replacement or renewal), applied for a grant of Canadian citizenship, or applied for a proof of Canadian citizenship. Often applicants will receive information in advance of the ECAS being updated. Or no information will be sent and one should check with the visa office to which they applied Often applicants will receive information in advance of the ECAS being updated. Or no information will be sent and one should check with the visa office to which they applied You might want to wish to link paper application to GCKEY myCIC for more detailed status updates
37	EE	Express Entry	New process for economic stream immigration to Canada. Creates a pool of candidates to which individuals achieving a cutoff score during draws will be invited to apply for permanent residency.
38	EFL	English as a Foreign Language
39	EI	Employment Insurance
40	ELT	English Language Training/Teaching
41	ESL	English as a Second Language
42	ESOL	English for Speakers of Other Languages
43	ESP	English for Specific Purposes
44	FCP	File Central Processing???
45	FCR
46	FCU
47	FILE BF'D TO	File forward to
48	FINDEC	Financial Decision
49	FOSS	Field Operations Support System
50	FRC	Family Registration Certificate	In US means Foreign Registration Certificate
51	FSWP	Federal Skilled Worker Program
52	GCMS	Global Case Management System	Citizenship and Immigration Canada's single, integrated and worldwide system used internally to process applications for citizenship and immigration services. This is very helpful when anything abnormal happens (e.g. delay in reply, lack of updation, long processing time). It is also helpful when you are selected for the interview. You can know the probable cause of interview requirement by making an ATIP request for your GCMS notes You can order detailed notes of decisions on your application here. Link: https://atip-aiprp.apps.gc.ca/atip/privacyTerms.do Tutorial: https://youtu.be/j_E_dq_uLVo
53	GIC	Guaranteed Investment Certificate
54	GST	Goods and Services Tax
55	HC	Humanitarian and Compassionate	In the case of Canadian immigration, refers to section A25(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Any person who does not comply with the three categories of immigration to Canada (family, economic and refugee) may ask to be considered for immigration selection on HC grounds.
56	HRDC (see HRSDC)	former Human Resources Development Canada
57	HRSDC	Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
58	IA	Intial Assessment
59	ICCS	International Council for Canadian Studies
60	ID	Identification
61	IELTS	International English Language Testing System	One of only two English language testing organizations approved by CIC (CELPIP is the other). Offers testing in two categories - General Training and Academic. General Training is required for CIC although candidates may consider Academic if applying for higher education. Note that Skilled Worker applicants will want to complete the IELTS
62	ILVARC	Immigrant Language and Vocational Assessment - Referral Center
63	IP	In Process
64	IRCC	Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
65	IRPA	Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
66	IRPR	Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
67	ITA	Invitation to apply
68	LC1	Member of the live-in caregiver^ in Canada class and dependants in Canada
69	LC2	Dependant residing abroad of a member of the (live-in-caregivers in Canada class)
70	LMIA	Labour Market Impact Assessement
71	M01-MO7	level of Medical assessment. M01 means perfect
72	MEDDEC	Medical Decision
73	MI3	Criteria for year (i.e. 2013)
74	MP	Member of Parliament
75	MSP	Medical Services Plan
76	NA2		must be something related to processing step?
77	NCR	No Criminal Record	from CAIPS
78	NER	Negative Eligibility Review
79	NGO	Non-Governmental Organization
80	NOC	National Occupational Classification
81	NRT	No reportable trace
82	OCC
83	OLA	Open Learning Agency
84	OREQ	Other Requirement
85	p	Immigration category	???
86	PA	Principal applicant
87	PA	Storage area of your file
88	PCC	Police Clearance Certificate	You can obtain a form letter from the CIC website that you send to an embassy or consulate or police service to support your request
89	PER	Positive Eligibility Review
90	PFL	Procedural Fairness Letter	Not confirmed. Suggested by forum member.
91	PHEP	Passport, Height, Eye Colour, Photo
92	PNP	Provincial Nomination Program
93	POE	Port of Entry
94	POS	Port of Spain
95	POVL	Promise of Visa Letter
96	PP	Panel Physician	or Designated Medical Practioner http://www.cic.gc.ca/pp-md/pp-list.aspx
97	PPR	Passport Request
98	PPS	point at paper screening stage
99	PPT	Passport
100	PRPC