Information on background checks incase anyone is interested in it:
Q- What kind of background checks are there and who does these checks for CHC?
Background check includes criminal (Police Clearance) and security (National Security) checks. All adult applicants for immigration to Canada and ALL their dependents, whether accompanying or not, are required to contact the police or relevant authority of each country where they have lived for six months or longer in the last ten years and obtain the necessary police certificate or clearance stating that they do not have criminal convictions.
A National Security check procedures identify persons seeking admission who are, or have been, involved in espionage, subversion, or terrorism. These checks involve CBSA, CSIS, RCMP, and local security authorities in the countries applicant lived in for 6 months or more. They take a while as it is not just one entity doing the work, but one entity communicating with others [internationally, and that can take a while. Sometimes up to a year or even two years + for some complicated cases with serious criminality, army or other travel history. For Islamabad CHC husbands backgrounds generally take anywhere from 3-6 months and for wives 1-3 months for straight forward cases.
Background & Security Checks
Note: Our Background Check comprises of 2 parts:
1. The Standard Documentation Checks,
2. The Security & Criminality Checks.
3. The process in a Nutshell
1-Standard Documentation Checks:
Our background check is done at the CHC stage. It commences the moment our file gets the 1st BFD by the VO. An indicator of which is the e-CAS that shows "In Progress". All docs been checked & if the VO finds our case 'eligible' for Canadian PR, the file becomes 'Accepted'; and then it goes for standard background checks references exp etc.
The process involves many things. If our case file is well presented and the enclosures vouch the quality-quantity, adequate POF docs etc., there might not be a requirement of 'actually' calling the references etc. The VOs have a way with that, they are experienced enough to ascertain the logical disposition of our case. But, if there are any concerns of his/her, s/he is likely to ask for additional docs, do further scrutiny vide any means [calling, visiting etc. asking for more proofs of relationships, pictures, call history record for contact proofs] & might ask for an Interview.
-Culmination: When 'fully' satisfied, we get the 'Medical Request'.
-Timeframe: Can be anything around 3-8* months
-eCAS: Continues to Show 'In Process'.
*The older system has a queue, thus can be longer.
2-Security & Criminality Checks:
A part of the b/ground checks is the 'Security Check'. It commences after our med results are submitted to the CHC. This is a major activity -mainly concerning our 'safe inclusion' into the Canadian Soil; vis-a-vis, Political, Socio-Econmical, Anti-Social disposition, perceived Threat to Canada's integrity etc. This gets us the Security Decision(SDEC), CDEC & SECCRIM.
This is a serious & time-consuming stage, involving many agencies, including CSIS, Interpol, NASC,CSBA, Database Checking & touch-base with Local Police. Many things are considered here... the No. of countries visited, Applicant coming from 'certain' countries, ex-Servicemen [including Law Enforcement services], Prolonged stay in a country w/out sufficient docs to prove cause, frequent traveling to certain nations, your *Name (?), Inter-Religion/Nationality Marriages etc.
If everything is simple & straight, the file soon gets into the 'final review' stage. If there are any 'red flags', our case goes into a 'spin'. Then our file might go to the local Police/CID agencies; the outcome/timeframe of which is beyond the control of CIC. And thereby the timeframe can be anything [sometimes beyond 1yr]. But, usually this stage should be over by 5 months max. However, a point to be noted is that we can also be called for an Interview [at this stage], due to this reason.
-Culmination: Only upon security clearance we receive the PPR.
-Time frame: Around 2-6 months. Avg. 3 months. [With new system, sometimes PPR is clubbed with Medicals]
-eCAS: Still 'In Process', but 'Med Results Recd.' inside.
3-The Process in a Nutshell:
Stage-1: [CIO stage] Send Initial Application+Processing Fees to CIO-NS > Qualitative Check > Issue of Acknowledgment of Receipt letter (AOR)+120 days Letter >
Stage-2: [CHC/CIC stage onwards] Send Full Docs+RPRF to the Local Visa Office > File on Queue > e-Cas: "Received by Visa Office" > Eligibility Check+Paper Screening Decision (PSDEC) > Issue of 2nd Acknowledgment of Receipt letter (AOR) > Background Check > Issue of Additional docs Request [if any] > 1st Bring Forward(BF'D) or Due Date > e-Cas: "In Process" > Send Additional Docs > Issue of Med Request > 2nd Bring Forward or Due Date(BFD) >
Stage-3: Medicals Sent > e-Cas: "Medical Results Recd." > Issue of PPR* > Send Passport/s > Security Check > Visa/s Stamped > e-Cas: "Decision Made" >
*The Medicals & PPR are sometimes 'clubbed' together.
Stage-4: Return of 'Stamped' Passport/s+COPR > Landing at the POE > e-Cas: "Completed".
Q-How long do the background checks take?
Background checks take anywhere from 45 days to 6 months depending on the travel history.
Q- Who is the background checks conducted by?
Background checks 99% are conducted by the CSIS & RCMA.. and they do it within one month...
