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What do they check during the background (not criminal) check?

icelandicpie

Full Member
Jun 22, 2017
43
25
My background check has been "processing" since December. My full timeline is in my signature, but long story short I haven't heard anything since I passed the medical exam last month. I'm just wondering what the background check entails. On myCIC they seem to have a separate category for criminal check (I submitted a clear police certificate and they didn't ask for my fingerprints/"they do not need fingerprints at this time")

Are they checking the different schools and volunteer groups I've been a part of for the past 10 years? My app is pretty straightforward, I grew up here so I'm wondering why it's taking so long and how they conduct background checks. Are they gonna contact my old middle/high school or university to confirm I was enrolled there, are they going to ask them to confirm what clubs/organizations I was a part on while in school? (that seems extreme, I don't even know if professors would remember that). I'm part of a few clubs right now in university and I listed them on the form, are they going to contact them as well? I listed that I travelled back home (to another province, to clarify) over the summer, because I had to account for any period of time, are they going to contact my family and ask them to confirm? How else would they get proof as I didn't fly internationally so no immigration/passport stamps?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,587
13,518
Mostly takes time for administrative reason. Lots of people applying. Would contact Icelandic security services, RCMP, etc
 

icelandicpie

Full Member
Jun 22, 2017
43
25
That makes sense I guess (Lots of people applying) I was just curious because it seems like it's the step that's taking the longest time to process.
I actually haven't had to submit anything from Iceland, as I grew up here, I only had to submit a Canadian police certificate.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,587
13,518
The security request are done between government and organizations. You're not consulted. Canada also has to wait for other police/security services to get back to them. Most cases don't involve people who have lived in Canada all their lives.
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
My background check has been "processing" since December. My full timeline is in my signature, but long story short I haven't heard anything since I passed the medical exam last month. I'm just wondering what the background check entails. On myCIC they seem to have a separate category for criminal check (I submitted a clear police certificate and they didn't ask for my fingerprints/"they do not need fingerprints at this time")

Are they checking the different schools and volunteer groups I've been a part of for the past 10 years? My app is pretty straightforward, I grew up here so I'm wondering why it's taking so long and how they conduct background checks. Are they gonna contact my old middle/high school or university to confirm I was enrolled there, are they going to ask them to confirm what clubs/organizations I was a part on while in school? (that seems extreme, I don't even know if professors would remember that). I'm part of a few clubs right now in university and I listed them on the form, are they going to contact them as well? I listed that I travelled back home (to another province, to clarify) over the summer, because I had to account for any period of time, are they going to contact my family and ask them to confirm? How else would they get proof as I didn't fly internationally so no immigration/passport stamps?
Background checks involve security screening by intelligence agencies like CSIS, Interpol, agencies in your home country etc. Nothing to do with employment/volunteering.