Road To Canada Forums

i got the app form for ordering CAIPS... but i dont understand how to fill it out... i've never even heard of some of the things they are asking for... my husband is just as lost

does my husband have to be the one to request CAIPS?
and if so do i need to fill out a consent form for him to do so?
can they be faxed or do they have to be mailed?
if faxed can we pay the fee online... similar to how we paid our application fee online?

can anyone walk me through the what's what on how to fill out the CAIPS app form??

(my husband is sponsoring me... and our file is in buffalo)
do we fill out the form using my name and birthday... or my husband's?
what is a requester's reference number?
what is an ATIP file number?
do we chose one option under either an "access to info act" option or a "privacy act" option... and how do i know which to choose?
... then we choose which info we are requesting and fill in the details associated with that choice?

and from personal experience which response option is better (ie: cd or paper)

There's some good information about applying for CAIPS here. It's hard to answer your specific questions without more info on your case . . . hopefully you will be able to get the info you need at the link.

There's no fee for CAIPS if it's requested by an applicant staying in Canada with valid temporary status - you'd apply on your own under the Privacy Act. Be sure, if you're the applicant requesting CAIPS yourself, that you have your sponsor sign a release of information form, or they'll hold back anything that contains information about your sponsor. If the applicant is not in Canada, the sponsor has to order CAIPS under the Access to Information Act - with a release of information form signed by the applicant. The fee for that is $5 and I think you can pay that by money order and (maybe) credit card. If you can pay by credit card, you could probably fax the request - otherwise, obviously, not.

You include the name, birthdate, etc., of whoever's file you are requesting info about. Typically that's the applicant's. Also, be sure you just request the notes - not the full file, and I'd request paper rather than CD (is that an option now?). What you'll receive is a computer print out of all the entries that have been made by the IO processing your file. It's also good to know that you really won't get much of anything unless you have a complicated case that is coming close to exceeding normal processing limits. There really is no reason to order CAIPS unless there is a perceived problem with processing.

i really just want to make sure that they did receive my additional document... and that it made its way back to my IO... and if it didn't for some reason we would have more information

i'm not in canada... i'm in the US, my husband would have to request them

and yes they have cds now... they send you the info via a pdf on a disc

The CD option is only available to those making the request via access to information
If you are in Canada requesting your own - you get paper
I think we've just received our 6th set or so of CAIPS notes