When we file your ATIP request with IRCC, the Access to Information Actgives Canada a statutory window to respond. Here's the short version every applicant should know.
The legal timeline
- 30 calendar daysfrom when IRCC receives a valid, complete ATIP request — that's the statutory response deadline.
- IRCC can issue an extension notice if your file is large or needs third-party consultations. Extensions are required by law to be written, time-bounded, and justified.
- If they miss the deadline without a valid extension, you (technically through us as your representative) can file a complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada.
What actually happens in practice
Our typical delivery is 25–30 days. We've had files come back in 12 days; we've also had files stuck for 60+ days when IRCC's ATIP team is overwhelmed (especially after Christmas / New Year and around the end of IRCC's fiscal year in March).
That's why our refund policy kicks in at 90 working days rather than 30 — the law is the law, but reality has more wiggle room. The 90-day refund threshold means even in the worst-case scenario you're protected.
If your request is delayed
There's a defined complaints process and, in extreme cases, judicial recourse. The specifics depend on whether your file was acknowledged, whether an extension was issued, what the extension reason was, and how long you've been waiting since the latest deadline.
If your ATIP request is stuck — whether you filed it yourself or through another service — we can help you understand where you stand and what the next step should be. Call us at +91 97803 01305with your file reference and we'll walk through the options.
Want this kind of clarity on your file?
Order your CAIPS / GCMS notes in 4 minutes — passport + refusal letter is all you upload. We handle everything else, including the consent form with IRCC.