12 weeks, FBI report

[keesio]

Thank you for all of that Keesio. Now I'm curious. I think when the time comes, I'll pay for the channeler and send directly to the FBI. I want to see the difference in the two side by side.

I'm going to guess that the letter from the channeler for the "from" address will have the channeler's address and not the US Dept of Justice - FBI Clarksburg, WV address. And probably the signature on the letter. But I'm curious too.

 

[saria1]

I have a follow-up to this. I just got SA for my wife's application (American). By the time we actually submitted her Outbound app, it was approx 4 months after she got her criminal check (I know they want it within 3 months). Since she was in Canada with me, she sent copies of her passport page that shows her immigration stamps and a cover letter that explained she hasn't been back to the US since the check was conducted (it was sent to us by her brother from the states).

My question is would you recommend we initiate getting another check done now in anticipation immigration could ask for another, or are we worrying too much?

I would initiate another request, just to cover you're bases. It's only $18 and it's taking 3 months.

 

[nozomi]

I can speak from experience as one of those that ordered the FBI records from a third party channeler and had to subsequently request the letter directly from the FBI.

I too was confirmed by the third party channeler that all they do is take fingerprints and send the request in to the FBI, and the FBI will send the letter directly to me. The letter that I got using their service actually has an FBI letter head, US Department of Justice watermark and everything - no mention of a third party channeler at all in the letter. The only noticeable difference was the color of the paper - letter I got through the third party channeler was printed on a white piece of paper while the one I received by requesting directly with the FBI was printed on a pink-ish piece of paper.

The email that I got from the CIC to tell me of my initial mistake said:
FBI Clearance: Unfortunately the document you provided is not accepted at this office. Please provide an original FBI clearance certificate. Information on obtaining the accepted document may be found at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/north-america/united-states.asp.
· Once on the FBI Website please select: Option 1: Submit your request directly to the FBI.

The text in bold is the key which I missed the first time around. I believe the letter from the third party channeler is considered original, but the key here is that it is not requested directly by the applicant. As all the guru's have said on this forum, CIC will not accept an FBI letter obtained through a third party channeler. Save your money and send the request in yourself.

Because of the long wait time, I knew I would potentially not meet the 60 day turn-around time CIC gave me at the time. When I emailed CIC back along with the other documents they had requested, I included an explanation that I had placed the request directly with the FBI and that I will mail the letter to them as soon as I receive it.

One more thing to add: when I had my fingerprints taken the second time around, I had my fingerprints scanned digitally but printed on the hard copy FBI card. Less of a mess compared to the traditional ink and that worked just fine.

 

[sjcec01]

12 weeks??? that sucks....

 

[keesio]

The letter that I got using their service actually has an FBI letter head, US Department of Justice watermark and everything - no mention of a third party channeler at all in the letter. The only noticeable difference was the color of the paper - letter I got through the third party channeler was printed on a white piece of paper while the one I received by requesting directly with the FBI was printed on a pink-ish piece of paper.

interesting. Was the FBI Clarksburg WV address on the letter too?

 

[nozomi]

interesting. Was the FBI Clarksburg WV address on the letter too?

Yup, letterhead says:
US Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Justice Information Services Division
Clarksburg, WV 26306

 

[keesio]

I wonder if they then were able to tell with the colour of the paper? Or some secret watermark?

The colour of the FBI letter for my wife was blue actually

 

[rhcohen2014]

The colour of the FBI letter for my wife was blue actually

so was mine. i wonder how they know who requests it? i didn't include the envelope it came in, just the record.

 

[keesio]

so was mine. i wonder how they know who requests it? i didn't include the envelope it came in, just the record.

Some people mentioned a hidden watermark. It's not visible by normal means so if you send in a colour copy, they will know right off the bat...

 

[Abuelita]

The one I got from a third party has the letterhead that says:
US Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Justice Information Services Division
Clarksburg, WV 26306

It was printed in a type of paper that if copied or scanned, it has VOID all over the place, and the tone is slightly blueish. You can see in the background the seal/logo of the FBI.

Nonetheless, just to be safe I will request one directly from the FBI.

 

[rhcohen2014]

The one I got from a third party has the letterhead that says:
US Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Justice Information Services Division
Clarksburg, WV 26306

It was printed in a type of paper that if copied or scanned, it has VOID all over the place, and the tone is slightly blueish. You can see in the background the seal/logo of the FBI.

Nonetheless, just to be safe I will request one directly from the FBI.

maybe the paper has a hidden serial number that CIC can read and that number tells them whether it's from a channeler or fbi?