EASY TO SAY BUT DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN.

[Pamela Number 1]

Hi guys,
Hopefully everyone is doing fine. I have a question here and I need your boldness as well as experiences with the immigration systems.
Question: Can someone really explain to me the difference between background check vs security checks?
NOTE: Before I ask this question, I really did an extensive search on this forum about these 2 checks for 5 days now. But I came up with a mass confusion. Some people say that it is just the same thing; others said that they are different. Please could you write a good paragraph as to whether there is a contrast or similarity between background checks and Security checks?

Sincerely

PM 1

 

[sunshinemrc]

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.

-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'. 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.
-eCAS: Still 'In Process'.


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...

 

[Pamela Number 1]

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.

-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'. 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.
-eCAS: Still 'In Process'.


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...

I got you. You mean Background Check is verification of documents, name, age, marital status, in short your profile will be checked in correlation with the documents. Then security checks involve criminality and medicals? Is that right?

 

[sunshinemrc]

Somewhat, yes. Basically they do a background search (family search in Canada, if any, prior dealings with CIC (visa rejections etc), and security check is part of background check, but the security check is much more than criminality and medical. Security search can involve other agencies, it always is done by CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service), if there was extensive travel history, they will contact other agencies in Europe, Africa, Asia etc. (depending where the applicant has traveled to). Of course, security checks are more involved if the applicant comes from the middle east (specific guides require that applicants from most middle eastern regions provide travel history outside of their country, even if the travel was for 1 hour, 1 day, 1 month etc for vacations, business, school, whatever the case they have to list each visit outside of their country), where other applicants (outside of the middle east) only have to provide travel history for places where they stayed over 6+ months.

 

[Pamela Number 1]

Somewhat, yes. Basically they do a background search (family search in Canada, if any, prior dealings with CIC (visa rejections etc), and security check is part of background check, but the security check is much more than criminality and medical. Security search can involve other agencies, it always is done by CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service), if there was extensive travel history, they will contact other agencies in Europe, Africa, Asia etc. (depending where the applicant has traveled to). Of course, security checks are more involved if the applicant comes from the middle east (specific guides require that applicants from most middle eastern regions provide travel history outside of their country, even if the travel was for 1 hour, 1 day, 1 month etc for vacations, business, school, whatever the case they have to list each visit outside of their country), where other applicants (outside of the middle east) only have to provide travel history for places where they stayed over 6+ months.

sunshinemrc, Thanks for your reply. I saw other people saying that criminality and security checks are almost done at the same time by CSIS? and other says medical is part of security too. According to the post you posted it says medical are part of security checks.

 

[SenoritaBella]

Medicals are a separate part of the screening process.

It's not possible for anyone to know the timeline of when criminality and security checks are done, though you can make a good guess by looking at your GCMS notes. Security checks are done by CSIS. However, CSIS can work in collaboration with CIC(obviously), CBSA, Interpol, local police in the specific countries, etc to carry out criminality checks.

Another part of the criminality checks are a name search in databases. If your name matches that of a criminal, they usually request fingerprints to rule you out. This is how they catch people who commit crimes in some countries but omit it from their personal history.

sunshinemrc, Thanks for your reply. I saw other people saying that criminality and security checks are almost done at the same time by CSIS? and other says medical is part of security too. According to the post you posted it says medical are part of security checks.

 

[Pamela Number 1]

Medicals are a separate part of the screening process.

It's not possible for anyone to know the timeline of when criminality and security checks are done, though you can make a good guess by looking at your GCMS notes. Security checks are done by CSIS. However, CSIS can work in collaboration with CIC(obviously), CBSA, Interpol, local police in the specific countries, etc to carry out criminality checks.

Another part of the criminality checks are a name search in databases. If your name matches that of a criminal, they usually request fingerprints to rule you out. This is how they catch people who commit crimes in some countries but omit it from their personal history.

Thanks for this update now, I guess since there are no objections from the forum, you just nailed it down. I am impressed.

 

[Pamela Number 1]

CRIMINALITY: 1

CREATED: 2012/10/26
STATUS: PASSED
VALIDITY DATE: 2015/08/06
STATUS UPDATE DATE: 2013/08/06



Question: Does it mean that if not landed yet until the validity date of criminality they have to redo it this check again?