Question about background checks

[IceEye]

Hello I am an American citizen married to a Canadian immigrating to Canada.

A background check has finally been requested of me, however I already have one that I got November last year. My question is how recent does the FBI report need to be? It could save a lot of time if we could just use the one we have

 

[BertlCamus]

Hello I am an American citizen married to a Canadian immigrating to Canada.

A background check has finally been requested of me, however I already have one that I got November last year. My question is how recent does the FBI report need to be? It could save a lot of time if we could just use the one we have

Have you been in the US since you got the FBI clearance? If not I'd say you are good - I hope so for my own sake because mine is from January 2017.

 

[IceEye]

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Have you been in the US since you got the FBI clearance? If not I'd say you are good - I hope so for my own sake because mine is from January 2017.

I Have been to the US since November

 

[BertlCamus]

I don't want to mislead you - so better wait until somebody who knows what they are talking about replies. I can give you my opinion, however: you may still be good. CIC is a bit vague. They do state that in order to "avoid delays, you should get all of your police certificates as soon as possible." So, that's what you have done. At the same time, I would not be surprised if they tell you to re-submit a more recent one.

 

[KBH]

Hello I am an American citizen married to a Canadian immigrating to Canada.

A background check has finally been requested of me, however I already have one that I got November last year. My question is how recent does the FBI report need to be? It could save a lot of time if we could just use the one we have

Hi. If you’re still in the US, the police certificate just needs to be dated within six months prior to you sending in your application. So for example, if you applied in June 2017, anything from January 2017 to present would be accepted, and anything older than that would not be.

 

[KBH]

I don't want to mislead you - so better wait until somebody who knows what they are talking about replies. I can give you my opinion, however: you may still be good. CIC is a bit vague. They do state that in order to "avoid delays, you should get all of your police certificates as soon as possible." So, that's what you have done. At the same time, I would not be surprised if they tell you to re-submit a more recent one.

They are not vague. There are very clear guidelines on the CIC website. For the country you’re currently living in, the certificate can only predate your application by six months.

 

[BertlCamus]

They are not vague. There are very clear guidelines on the CIC website. For the country you’re currently living in, the certificate can only predate your application by six months.

But for how long are they valid if you are not living in the country and have not set foot in it since you got the report? How long are they valid if you have not lived in it, but traveled through? Or visited for a week?

 

[KBH]

But for how long are they valid if you are not living in the country and have not set foot in it since you got the report? How long are they valid if you have not lived in it, but traveled through? Or visited for a week?

If you need a police certificate from a country or territory and:

• are currently living there, or received the police certificate before leaving, the police certificate must be issued within six months before you apply.
• have lived there in the past, the police certificate must be issued after you last lived in that country or territory.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/intro.asp

 

[IceEye]

Hi. If you’re still in the US, the police certificate just needs to be dated within six months prior to you sending in your application. So for example, if you applied in June 2017, anything from January 2017 to present would be accepted, and anything older than that would not be.

I am residing inside Canada and my application is outbound. I have not left Canada since we submitted my application on May 25th 2017. My background check is dated November 23rd 2016. I left Canada for about a week between that time, in February. Does it apply to living specifcly?

Does what you're saying apply to my situation? Thank you so much for the help

 

[KBH]

I am residing inside Canada but my application is outbound. I have not left Canada since we submitted my application on May 25th 2017. My background check is dated November 23rd 2016. I left Canada for about a week between that time, in February.

Does what you're saying apply to my situation?

If you have been living in Canada since before November 23, and have documented that in your application (on your Schedule A), then it should be fine. If you indicated you were living in the US any time since November on your Schedule A, then they might request an updated certificate. (But it’s only two days over six months so if they really enforced that they would be jerks...)

 

[IceEye]

If you have been living in Canada since before November 23, and have documented that in your application (on your Schedule A), then it should be fine. If you indicated you were living in the US any time since November on your Schedule A, then they might request an updated certificate. (But it’s only two days over six months so if they really enforced that they would be jerks...)

Thanks, so I guess my last question is would it really hurt just to submit it? I think I'll just use it and start the process to get an updated one just in case. It's not like they'll reject my application for it right? Lol (right?? >_>)