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

[torontob]

@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 a 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's 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 contries (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.

There is a good thing about your Visa and that is CIC tends to attend to those cases faster than permanent immigration cases. For example, someone from Russia sponsored their parents and had to wait a year for security check. Could this be your situation? most likely not because your visa is not permanent. Other than that it is hard to know when they will finish. You can order ATIP notes to see what is happening. That takes at least 30 days to get.

 

[tuhadapeo]

Thank you for detailed info. It’s very useful. Your comment about 6 month timeline is dependent on R10 passed date, can you clarify where is this mentioned in GCMS?

Also wanted to check if I need to supply any LOE regarding switching of NOC code post ITA?

You should understand a few things:

2. The 6 months processing time frame starts from the day when your R10 is passed, and not when you get the AOR.

 

[OFR]

There is a good thing about your Visa and that is CIC tends to attend to those cases faster than permanent immigration cases. For example, someone from Russia sponsored their parents and had to wait a year for security check. Could this be your situation? most likely not because your visa is not permanent. Other than that it is hard to know when they will finish. You can order ATIP notes to see what is happening. That takes at least 30 days to get.

Thanks a lot

 

[Dreamer06]

Can anyone tell me how long can security screening take. My AOR is July 2017 and it has now been 23 months since my application is pending. I believe it has been over a year for my security screening as well. Is there anything I can do on my part to check or expedite the process.

 

[seantung]

Can anyone tell me how long can security screening take. My AOR is July 2017 and it has now been 23 months since my application is pending. I believe it has been over a year for my security screening as well. Is there anything I can do on my part to check or expedite the process.

Have you ordered CBSA or CSIS note to check the detail?

 

[Mmaindak]

Can anyone tell me how long can security screening take. My AOR is July 2017 and it has now been 23 months since my application is pending. I believe it has been over a year for my security screening as well. Is there anything I can do on my part to check or expedite the process.

Welcome to the 2017 club.. My AOR is April 2017...my final eligibility and security not started... Multiple gcms requests have not helped...

 

[Franko72]

Hello, I called CIC last week, and they told me that I'm in the criminality check. Do you know how long does it takes to pass it?

AR: 21/Nov/2018
AOR: 15/Nov/2019
MER:14/May/2019
MEP: 01/Jun/2019 (Medicals Passed)

No ghost updates, still waiting.

 

[legalfalcon]

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

Unfortunately no. The CBSA notes merely inform you if your are under comprehensive SS, when it was started and how many activities have have been entered so far.

 

[legalfalcon]

Got it thanks. I was then referring to the regular security stage, do we know approximately how long it takes nowdays if it doesn't go to enhanced stage?
Also, what is the best way to know if someone is currently at regular or enhanced security stage, would the agents know or only by ordering notes?

In most average cases security takes 3-6 weeks.

The rule of thumb is that if 2 months have passed by since your eligibility was cleared (by an officer), there is a high likelihood that you may be in Comprehensive SS.

 

[legalfalcon]

What you are asking for is not really a thing. The officer looks at history (work, education, places of living) and decides if case should be forwarded to CBSA or not. I am not even sure if you can call that a "security" check...

Anyhow, if you are not forwarded to CBSA then you will be dealt with within timeline. There are no LVO or CIC *security* officers per say. Real security opinion comes from CBSA with recommendations and then case officers from CIC decide the case.

All applications are sent to CBSA and CSIS.

For CSIS I have quoted the section on page 1 of this thread.

For CBSA see section 50 of the IRPA.

 

[tottiren]

All applications are sent to CBSA and CSIS.

For CSIS I have quoted the section on page 1 of this thread.

For CBSA see section 50 of the IRPA.

Hi, after 10 months of SS, I had a update in my account, medical status changed from "you passed ...." to "you do not need ...", could this imply the ending of my SS? was this update triggered by my medical expired? It expired on 30th June.

 

[torontob]

Hi, after 10 months of SS, I had a update in my account, medical status changed from "you passed ...." to "you do not need ...", could this imply the ending of my SS? was this update triggered by my medical expired? It expired on 30th June.

Most likely you are in for a treat.

 

[torontob]

In most average cases security takes 3-6 weeks.

The rule of thumb is that if 2 months have passed by since your eligibility was cleared (by an officer), there is a high likelihood that you may be in Comprehensive SS.

And CBSA notes show comprehensive SS request in notes if you order them. I am not sure if there is an alternative to comprehensive as I have not seen any other that is excercised. I think all cases get comprehensive slapped on them by CIC but those who make it to CSIS take much longer than 3 months. CSIS is not referred to by CIC but only at sole discretion of CBSA.

 

[tottiren]

Most likely you are in for a treat.

in a treat by whom? VO? lead to what?

 

[torontob]

in a treat by whom? VO? lead to what?

Meaning something good to come out soon. That is a sign for them about to finalize your case either by asking for passport or final medical check.