Background Check Frustration (looking for help)

[anthony2532]

I'm Canadian and my wife American and we have a daughter who is a dual citizen. We have chosen to live in Canada and have applied for her to be a permanent resident. We live in a border town where she still travels across almost every day as she still has a job on the US side.

We've gone through the process creating her application and sending it in. We've fulfilled every requirement that's been asked of us including getting a medical done twice since it's only valid for a year - the process has gone on for several years now.

The main issue of frustration is getting her police background check from the FBI. She has had herself finger printed countless times and each time she gets a letter back from the FBI saying the finger prints were not clear enough and to resubmit. We don't know what else to do. She's gone to different police offices in our area but with no luck.

We've now gotten a letter from Immigration Canada stating that they need the background check within 90 days or the application may be refused and would have to start over with all the fees and such.

Does anyone have any advice as to what to do to get a good set of finger prints. Is there a particular police force are office that is better.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Christoph100]

I do not know much about the U.S however would it not be possible to go to a local FBI office and have the prints done, since its they themselves saying that they are not clear when they are taken by a local police office.

Chris.

 

[o6ocpaka]

i would try to mail or call cic about that problem, maybe they'll extend 90 days. it's pretty much impossible to get police check from FBI within that time. mine took 4 and a half months to receive

 

[rugrat907]

I'm Canadian and my wife American and we have a daughter who is a dual citizen. We have chosen to live in Canada and have applied for her to be a permanent resident. We live in a border town where she still travels across almost every day as she still has a job on the US side.

We've gone through the process creating her application and sending it in. We've fulfilled every requirement that's been asked of us including getting a medical done twice since it's only valid for a year - the process has gone on for several years now.

The main issue of frustration is getting her police background check from the FBI. She has had herself finger printed countless times and each time she gets a letter back from the FBI saying the finger prints were not clear enough and to resubmit. We don't know what else to do. She's gone to different police offices in our area but with no luck.

We've now gotten a letter from Immigration Canada stating that they need the background check within 90 days or the application may be refused and would have to start over with all the fees and such.

Does anyone have any advice as to what to do to get a good set of finger prints. Is there a particular police force are office that is better.

Any advice would be appreciated.

When I had my prints done I went to a local fingerprinting service...I knew it would be a hassle to deal with my local police department. So I would try that and maybe get two or three sets done at the same time and send them all in. I also assume you are sending in the original prints and not a copy. Seems odd they would always come back as not clear enough with multiple attempts and different people doing them.

I would also strongly suggest trying to get an extension on the 90 days. Even if you got the fingerprints done today and sent them in right away, the chances of getting the report back within 90 days and off to the visa office in time is pretty small, given the back up at the FBI.

 

[Ponga]

It's too bad that CIC no longer accepts an FBI IHSR from a third-party Channeller (which they DID accept from Jan 19-Mar 9, but then changed their mind again).
The approved Channeler's issue reports on the blue security paper just like the FBI was issuing (until they switched to standard white paper in January), but for reasons unknown, CIC pulled the plug for them...even though they are well aware of the 14-16 week delay from the FBI.


You probably have no other choice now, but to plead with CIC for an extension as suggested.

 

[Ponga]

Did you submit an Inland application or an Outland application (which many people do even if they are IN Canada)?

For an Inland applicant, the background and medical checks are typically reviewed AFTER the application has receive AIP (Approval in Principle), because they are part of the processing that occurs after that stage. Even though they are technically required with the application, they aren't really needed until after AIP (as shown on the flowchart on CIC document IP8, outlining how the application processing works).

If your wife applied Inland, had she received the AIP prior to the 90 day notice letter from CIC? If she did, you'd think that this would work in her favor with the request for just a bit more time...maybe?

*EDIT*
You might also contact your local MP and explain the situation. Maybe s/he can help, since they have a direct `hotline' to CIC.

Good luck!

 

[rugrat907]

It's too bad that CIC no longer accepts an FBI IHSR from a third-party Channeller (which they DID accept from Jan 19-Mar 9, but then changed their mind again).
The approved Channeler's issue reports on the blue security paper just like the FBI was issuing (until they switched to standard white paper in January), but for reasons unknown, CIC pulled the plug for them...even though they are well aware of the 14-16 week delay from the FBI.


You probably have no other choice now, but to plead with CIC for an extension as suggested.

The channeler still wouldn't help if the fingerprints aren't clear enough. That's got to be step one...finding someone - anyone who can do them so they are satisfactory...

 

[Ponga]

The channeler still wouldn't help if the fingerprints aren't clear enough. That's got to be step one...finding someone - anyone who can do them so they are satisfactory...

I agree, but at least they would know in a matter of days, versus 3 months if it's in a pile at the FBI office.

 

[Regina]

anthony2532 ,
take all those letters from FBI to the police station, show it to them and ask them what THEY can do about it.
How many attempts do THEY NEED to do THEIR job properly?
Also ask them to take two/three sets done. Just to increase possibility that once they did their job properly.

 

[anthony2532]

Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely contact CIC about an extension to the 90 days, but I want to have a plan of action before I do that.

We are going to contact an FBI office in Michigan to see if they will do the finger printing and verify the clarity. If not, we'll ask for their advice as to where we can get them. I will also look into using a private finger printing service - if we can find one close to us.

 

[Ponga]

I suggest finding a private fingerprinting company that offers digital prints. They will capture the prints electronically and then print the images onto the FBI card, which should yield much better results.

 

[anthony2532]

Will the FBI accept digital prints printed on the fingerprint form?

 

[Ponga]

Yes, unless they've recently changed their policy.

Here's their number in West Virginia:
304-625-5590