The anatomy of a Background Check? - <<<<<<IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS>>>>>>>

[whiterabbit]

When I called CIC, the agent informed that I passed Eligibility, Medical and Criminality, and that Security had just started. Now, my question was whether "Security started" is referring to the "quicker" Security step that every applicant goes through as @legalfalcon mentioned, or whether it could be the enhanced more in depth Security screening taking many months. I wanted to have a rough idea of how long the Security step that every applicant goes through normally takes, if it doesn't go through enhanced security, and whether an agent would know if it's currently undergoing the regular or more in depth security screening. I'm going to call tomorrow and find out I guess and if they won't know I'll order the notes.

IRCC agents will never tell you the timeline for your security. I tried to ask two times, both agents replied that at can be between several days and many months - they can't say exactly as these checks are performed by third-party organization (CBSA, CSIS). Ordering GCMS notes will not help you too - security-related information is cut from them. The only way to know some details about your security is ordering CBSA notes as some more information will be available there.

 

[Immigration_guru]

IRCC agents will never tell you the timeline for your security. I tried to ask two times, both agents replied that at can be between several days and many months - they can't say exactly as these checks are performed by third-party organization (CBSA, CSIS). Ordering GCMS notes will not help you too - security-related information is cut from them. The only way to know some details about your security is ordering CBSA notes as some more information will be available there.

Agree, all the security info is hidden in GCMS notes under S13-15.
CBSA notes will have the security related comments.
All the cases goes to CBSA for security and in some cases CSIS is involved (Which is nothing much to worry but people has tagged it as SS).
You can request CBSA notes to check the status of Security accurately.

 

[Babybae]

Does ordering CBSA notes trigger the completion of one's SS? If I order notes would it make them conclude my case quicker?

 

[torontob]

When I called CIC, the agent informed that I passed Eligibility, Medical and Criminality, and that Security had just started. Now, my question was whether "Security started" is referring to the "quicker" Security step that every applicant goes through as @legalfalcon mentioned, or whether it could be the enhanced more in depth Security screening taking many months. I wanted to have a rough idea of how long the Security step that every applicant goes through normally takes, if it doesn't go through enhanced security, and whether an agent would know if it's currently undergoing the regular or more in depth security screening. I'm going to call tomorrow and find out I guess and if they won't know I'll order the notes.

There are few indications to know where your case is right now. In My CIC Account if you see Background Check in Progress most likely you are in Comprehensive Security check (expect up to a year or more). Also, if you passed eligibility within weeks or less you will receive passport request. If time has passed and you have not received it then you are sent to CBSA. Another way to know this is, request CBSA notes through ATIP. Once again, there is no "quicker" security check. The officer either referrs to CBSA for security check or does not. CIC officers are not trained security officers. That is the job of CBSA. But the officers can make a determination to send to CBSA for security check or not based on history of the applicant or mostly by discrimination (i.e. country of birth, places traveled, etc...).

If you get CBSA notes it tells you literally that you are in "Comprehensive Security" and it tells you when one was requested. It also tells you if it is now finished or In Progress. So that is a lot of info they will give you. But no they won't tell an exact date in future. Immigration Canada is not organized like MTO for example.

 

[torontob]

Does ordering CBSA notes trigger the completion of one's SS? If I order notes would it make them conclude my case quicker?

No one really cares about individual cases. They receive 1000s of cases and it's all just paperwork to them. Real people behind the cases are invisible to them. Let's get paid and go home...Now, on the more important point, ATIP trained officers are a WHOLE different department within organizations and have nothing to do with steps of the case. They just and redact notes and send to you (i.e. apply the law - sometimes wrongly). The actual officers who deal with the case won't even know notes are requested by you unless they read the part of notes which says you requested the notes. This is a normal process of law and I don't think they will make anything of it or will care. On the other hand, if there is a real queue (which I doubt given how disorganized CIC is) then maybe pulling a hard copy to scan might put it in different order of the queue and even that should be different from LVO to LVO - again it won't speed up anything.

Send a Case Specific Request using Webform if you want their attention (again if they care to pay attention). Good luck if this is New Delhi.

 

[nazgul86]

There are few indications to know where your case is right now. In My CIC Account if you see Background Check in Progress most likely you are in Comprehensive Security check (expect up to a year or more). Also, if you passed eligibility within weeks or less you will receive passport request. If time has passed and you have not received it then you are sent to CBSA. Another way to know this is, request CBSA notes through ATIP. Once again, there is no "quicker" security check. The officer either referrs to CBSA for security check or does not. CIC officers are not trained security officers. That is the job of CBSA. But the officers can make a determination to send to CBSA for security check or not based on history of the applicant or mostly by discrimination (i.e. country of birth, places traveled, etc...).

If you get CBSA notes it tells you literally that you are in "Comprehensive Security" and it tells you when one was requested. It also tells you if it is now finished or In Progress. So that is a lot of info they will give you. But no they won't tell an exact date in future. Immigration Canada is not organized like MTO for example.

Thanks, the status on my account about background check has been "We are processing your background check" since my AOR (4 Feb 2019), so not sure about it. I thought that a basic security check was done for all applicants and only in certain cases some would go in a more in depth security screening taking longer, but from what you are saying there is either none (officer doesn't refer to CBSA) or it does.. so if the agent says that "security started" sounds like it would be sent to CBSA to me.

 

[torontob]

Thanks, the status on my account about background check has been "We are processing your background check" since my AOR (4 Feb 2019), so not sure about it. I thought that a basic security check was done for all applicants and only in certain cases some would go in a more in depth security screening taking longer, but from what you are saying there is either none (officer doesn't refer to CBSA) or it does.. so if the agent says that "security started" sounds like it would be sent to CBSA to me.

Yes, if they say Security Started mostly means the Comprehensive one. BUT there are two weird things here.

1- The CIC agent must not have given you any information unless the case is in Canada and not at a local Visa office.
2- "Processing" background check means your background check has NOT started yet so you are not sent to CBSA yet. I even doubt if they finished your eligibility yet. Once it says, Background check is in *Progress* then it means eligibility step 1 is most likely finished and you are in security check now.

 

[nazgul86]

Yes, if they say Security Started mostly means the Comprehensive one. BUT there are two weird things here.

1- The CIC agent must not have given you any information unless the case is in Canada and not at a local Visa office.
2- "Processing" background check means your background check has NOT started yet so you are not sent to CBSA yet. I even doubt if they finished your eligibility yet. Once it says, Background check is in *Progress* then it means eligibility step 1 is most likely finished and you are in security check now.

I called yesterday and I was told that only my eligibility has passed, but not my wife's one yet (secondary applicant). And yes my file is in Canada (I'm US resident, and my wife is in Canada).
I ordered GCMS and CBSA notes just to make sure.

 

[torontob]

I called yesterday and I was told that only my eligibility has passed, but not my wife's one yet (secondary applicant). And yes my file is in Canada (I'm US resident, and my wife is in Canada).
I ordered GCMS and CBSA notes just to make sure.

Yeah, so it makes sense for it not to say "Processing" yet because both applicants should have eligibility passed...
Anyhow, you are from US so will have an easier time through security etc.

 

[nazgul86]

Yeah, so it makes sense for it not to say "Processing" yet because both applicants should have eligibility passed...
Anyhow, you are from US so will have an easier time through security etc.

Yeah, but it's still unclear why an agent told me the previous time I called that my security had "just started".. I mean I guess it's just about reading the notes so don't understand how they could miss it. Anyhow, I hope it's going to be more clear after I receive the notes, if the security indeed has not started yet, then the CBSA notes that I ordered may just be empty?

 

[torontob]

Yeah, but it's still unclear why an agent told me the previous time I called that my security had "just started".. I mean I guess it's just about reading the notes so don't understand how they could miss it. Anyhow, I hope it's going to be more clear after I receive the notes, if the security indeed has not started yet, then the CBSA notes that I ordered may just be empty?

CIC is disorganized. Agents and case officers are not embiciles probably but are highly untrained. Examples of their disorganization is evident all over this forum. Notes are the best organized details of a case.

 

[Jibihi]

Hi all, is it possible for an application to another country in the past be checked? Like what you filled in the application and documents submitted? TIA

 

[OFR]

@legalfalcon,
I'm pretty impressed with your experience and maybe you'll be so kind to have a glance on my situation as well.

I'm working for Russian company which has several assets in Canada. Early this year I've got a promotion with relocation to Canada, so we're talking about intro company transfer. My company hired an immigration attorney in Toronto and he applied online for my work permit (2 years) + open work permit for my spouse. Our 2 daughters are in the case as well. It was an online application and the attorney applied on 11th of February asking the premium processing under the global talent stream program. The medical examination has been done in advance and biometrics has been completed on 14th of February.
The regular processing time for work permit from Russia is 6 weeks. Now it's 19th week of processing and my case is still stucks on background check since the beginning of March. My attorney is contacting the immigration every couple of weeks but all we have is that background cheking is going on and nothing additional need from my side (they only asked the travel history of my spouse + the adress of the company in Moscow where my spouse has been working 10 years ago).
Neither me, no my wife has any criminal records, visits to suspicious contries and any relation to the governemnt or any military service. I travel a lot due to my business needs, but not to suspecious countries (US, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, India). I have two passports for going abroad (which is absolutely legally in Russia. I could have a 3 or 5 if I just want it). And i also have a valid canadian TRV which i used 5 times already.
Do you have any ideas why it takes so long time? When can I expect their decision? And what can be done from my side/the attorney to speed up the process?
Thank you very much.

 

[truetowrong19]

Dear @legalfalcon, my PR application is in process(in Canada protected person class) and the automated system of IRCC said that they are checking my eligibility, i do not need to provide additional document, i passed the medical exam, they do not my fingerprints, i do not need an interview and they are processing my background check. It's been 1 month since they started background check. I was confused about background and security check but the IRCC officer said that background check consists of criminality and security check. Is this correct because each officer says something different. What happens after background check? They received my application in January 31, 2019 and started to process as of April 3, 2019. Thank you in advance.

 

[torontob]

Dear @legalfalcon, my PR application is in process(in Canada protected person class) and the automated system of IRCC said that they are checking my eligibility, i do not need to provide additional document, i passed the medical exam, they do not my fingerprints, i do not need an interview and they are processing my background check. It's been 1 month since they started background check. I was confused about background and security check but the IRCC officer said that background check consists of criminality and security check. Is this correct because each officer says something different. What happens after background check? They received my application in January 31, 2019 and started to process as of April 3, 2019. Thank you in advance.

Everyone uses the term "background check" loosely and it is really not a technical term. Order ATIP notes to know for sure where your case is. Otherwise, it is impossible to know.