Background Check- question

[Danielle Reade]

Hi everyone,
I am mailing in my completed application package this afternoon, and I am a nervous wreck.
I read that after you mail it is, you should complete the background check/police clearance right away so it is ready when they request it, as it could take some time.

I am a bit unclear of the forms and what exactly I need. I am not sure what the Schedule A is or if it is the same. Could anyone who has experience doing this, provide me with some tips or step by step instructions of which forms to submit and where, as well as if I can get the fingerprinting done anywhere or not?

I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

 

[kcward7]

Hi everyone,
I am mailing in my completed application package this afternoon, and I am a nervous wreck.
I read that after you mail it is, you should complete the background check/police clearance right away so it is ready when they request it, as it could take some time.

I am a bit unclear of the forms and what exactly I need. I am not sure what the Schedule A is or if it is the same. Could anyone who has experience doing this, provide me with some tips or step by step instructions of which forms to submit and where, as well as if I can get the fingerprinting done anywhere or not?

I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

Yeah, Schedule A is a lot of work so it won't hurt to fill it out. It's IMM5669. They will ask for it at some point after you submit the application to send in your completed Schedule A.

You shouldn't do anything else unless they ask for it. You will need to submit a medical as well, something you cannot do until they ask.

 

[dominicantiguan]

Hi everyone,
I am mailing in my completed application package this afternoon, and I am a nervous wreck.
I read that after you mail it is, you should complete the background check/police clearance right away so it is ready when they request it, as it could take some time.

I am a bit unclear of the forms and what exactly I need. I am not sure what the Schedule A is or if it is the same. Could anyone who has experience doing this, provide me with some tips or step by step instructions of which forms to submit and where, as well as if I can get the fingerprinting done anywhere or not?

I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

No need to worry. They take time to get things into consideration.

 

[Danielle Reade]

Yeah, Schedule A is a lot of work so it won't hurt to fill it out. It's IMM5669. They will ask for it at some point after you submit the application to send in your completed Schedule A.

You shouldn't do anything else unless they ask for it. You will need to submit a medical as well, something you cannot do until they ask.

Thank you! So I do not need to worry about fingerprints or the FBI check right now? With the Schedule A, do I just fill it out for now and then I will upload it when I link my application online or do I need to send it in somewhere?

Sorry, I could not find any clear information about how to do these parts.

 

[kcward7]

Thank you! So I do not need to worry about fingerprints or the FBI check right now? With the Schedule A, do I just fill it out for now and then I will upload it when I link my application online or do I need to send it in somewhere?

Sorry, I could not find any clear information about how to do these parts.

You'll get a separate request when to submit/upload Schedule A which you should be able to do once you link. We personally mailed ours. Just depends how you want to do it.

We're Irish applicants - I think the US police clearance is a little different. We applied for our police certs ahead of time so it might not be a bad idea, but maybe post in the US applicants thread and find out. If you're outland there's a US outland applicants thread.

 

[Danielle Reade]

You'll get a separate request when to submit/upload Schedule A which you should be able to do once you link. We personally mailed ours. Just depends how you want to do it.

We're Irish applicants - I think the US police clearance is a little different. We applied for our police certs ahead of time so it might not be a bad idea, but maybe post in the US applicants thread and find out. If you're outland there's a US outland applicants thread.

Okay, that clears things up for me a bit. Thank you so much!

 

[Helena R]

Hi there,

Usually it goes like this: About a month after you send your package they email you telling you that you have to link your app to your online account and once you do that it´s possible that you already have a message in your account with a Request letter for additional documents. They should anyway send you an email to inform you that you have a message in your account. It´s supposed to be like this so you don´t have to log in all the time to check for messages, but it doesn´t hurt to do so anyway.

The first thing they request is the Schedule A, they should send you a link on the letter to get the form, be sure to download the latest version which has an automated option to add more rows in the education and work section so you don´t have to add more pages. YOu do it all in the same form. As the previous posters said, it´s a bulky form so it´s a good idea to start filling it out, Validate it before saving and then save it in your computer. Then you go to your account and upload it.

About the Police Cert´s, now they might also ask you for a Canadian one as well as the one from your home country. They give you 1 month to upload them, so it should be ok to start when they ask you. The Canadian one takes could take up to 3 weeks to get. Then you have to scan in color all the papers together in 1 PDF and upload it as one file.

For the medical they will tell you when to do it.

And I think that´s it for now.

Hope it´s clear

 

[Danielle Reade]

Hi there,

Usually it goes like this: About a month after you send your package they email you telling you that you have to link your app to your online account and once you do that it´s possible that you already have a message in your account with a Request letter for additional documents. They should anyway send you an email to inform you that you have a message in your account. It´s supposed to be like this so you don´t have to log in all the time to check for messages, but it doesn´t hurt to do so anyway.

The first thing they request is the Schedule A, they should send you a link on the letter to get the form, be sure to download the latest version which has an automated option to add more rows in the education and work section so you don´t have to add more pages. YOu do it all in the same form. As the previous posters said, it´s a bulky form so it´s a good idea to start filling it out, Validate it before saving and then save it in your computer. Then you go to your account and upload it.

About the Police Cert´s, now they might also ask you for a Canadian one as well as the one from your home country. They give you 1 month to upload them, so it should be ok to start when they ask you. The Canadian one takes could take up to 3 weeks to get. Then you have to scan in color all the papers together in 1 PDF and upload it as one file.

For the medical they will tell you when to do it.

And I think that´s it for now.

Hope it´s clear

Thank you so much! Very helpful! Do you know if I can get my fingerprints done at any fingerprinting place by chance?

 

[Helena R]

Did they ask you for fingerprints or your country requires this ?

If no, there is no need to take fingerprints. You just have to get both Police Cert´s

 

[jptskt]

Thank you so much! Very helpful! Do you know if I can get my fingerprints done at any fingerprinting place by chance?

Check out these two website:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/north-america/united-states.asp
https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks
The FBI link above goes through everything you need to do to get your PCC in great detail. There is all the info you need.

You can get your fingerprinting done at your local police precinct. Usually they charge a small fee. I believe I paid $20 in CT. There are also many other businesses that also do fingerprinting put they usually charge much more. Then you fill out the FBI application form and mail your application to the FBI-CJIS Division with your finger prints, and your form of payment.

It takes a while to get your PCC. However, if you are a US citizen or a PR then you can do it through an FBI approved channeler. Doing it through a channeler only takes a few days and you get your PCC in a matter of days, although they also cost much more money.

 

[jptskt]

Did they ask you for fingerprints or your country requires this ?

If no, there is no need to take fingerprints. You just have to get both Police Cert´s

In the US we have to submit our fingerprints in order to request a PCC. That's what Danielle is taking about. It wasn't about turning in fingerprints to the CIC as part of the spousal sponsorship application.

 

[jptskt]

Thank you! So I do not need to worry about fingerprints or the FBI check right now? With the Schedule A, do I just fill it out for now and then I will upload it when I link my application online or do I need to send it in somewhere?

Sorry, I could not find any clear information about how to do these parts.

Like I mentioned earlier, the FBI takes a lot of time to process your PCC application and have it ready. According to their website (which I linked in my previous reply) the current processing time is 10-12 weeks. They also suggest allowing additional time for mail delivery. So I would definitely suggest you to do it ASAP. If you are not a US citizen or PR, and are residing in the US on a different status/visa then you should do this ASAP since applying through a channeler is not an option in that case.

I would also refer you to these two threads. You may find them helpful.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-outland-applicants-thread.106068/page-542
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-police-clearance-fbi-processing-times.270222/page-64

 

[Helena R]

Yes, I got she was talking about fingerprints in regard to the Police Cert, but there are many countries where you don´t need to do this.

 

[Danielle Reade]

Like I mentioned earlier, the FBI takes a lot of time to process your PCC application and have it ready. According to their website (which I linked in my previous reply) the current processing time is 10-12 weeks. They also suggest allowing additional time for mail delivery. So I would definitely suggest you to do it ASAP. We sent in our application to the FBI one month before we mailed our spousal application to CIC-Mississauga because we had done our research and were aware of the long processing time for the PCC. If you are not a US citizen or PR, and rare esiding in the US on a different status/visa then you should do this ASAP since applying through a channeler is not an option in that case.

I would also refer you to these two threads. You may find them helpful.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-outland-applicants-thread.106068/page-542
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/us-police-clearance-fbi-processing-times.270222/page-64

Thank you, you have been very helpful! I will start the FBI process ASAP. I just sent in my application today, so I am hoping it all works out smoothly.

 

[Danielle Reade]

Thank you everyone so much! All of my questions have been cleared up now. I am a nervous wreck, but I am hoping it all works out. Good luck to you all!