FBI Clearance

[Panamai]

My partner and I became common-law on Dec 30th 2014. I have my application all ready except for the FBI clearance. I mailed off my fingerprints on November 10th. At the time, I was reading it would be a max of 12 weeks to get the letter. Now I'm seeing 16-18 weeks! I'm really worried. We are running out of money and I need to work! I really wanted to get my application mailed this month. Is anyone else waiting for an FBI clearance letter? Anyone got one recently? How long did it take? I tried calling them a couple of weeks ago and they said they couldn't give me anymore information until at least the 19th of this month and to call back.

 

[Morganhannah]

When my husband called the man he spoke with said they were currently working on October 27th and for him to call back in 3 weeks and they should be somewhere around November 24th which is the date he sent his in.

 

[BeShoo]

I would send it in with an explanation (and any proof you have) that you have applied for the FBI records check. They don't need the FBI certificate at the beginning anyway, since the first thing they need to do is to decide if they will approve the sponsor. That is currently taking about 6 weeks, as I understand it. They will also check to see if everything in the application is complete, but I haven't heard them returning the whole application for lack of a police certificate, as long as an explanation has been included. We sent ours in with a police certificate that was expired for years and they didn't ask for a new one until 4 months later.

 

[Panamai]

Ok, I just called again and she told me they are working on November 3rd's applications now. I'm pretty sure I'm just going to send my residency application in the next week or two and just forward them the FBI clearance later.

 

[zainy]

Hi all,

I just spoke to the FBI background checks dept. today and was informed that they are currently completing processing for applicants in the first week of October. They are entering the first week of November applicants into their "new" system right now. The agent told me it takes about 14-16 weeks from the time they receive the application. What a bummer! I mailed mine out at the end of November so it seems like an eternity from now before they even touch my application :-[

For anyone who is looking for a direct contact number for this dept: 1 304 625 2000

Hope this helps!

 

[sim2090sim]

I got my FBI report with in 30 days. I did last July 2014 received Aug 2014

 

[Panamai]

I got my FBI report with in 30 days. I did last July 2014 received Aug 2014

Yeah, I think the new system went into effect in September, sadly.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I got my FBI report with in 30 days. I did last July 2014 received Aug 2014

yes, that was then and has no relavance to what's happening today. In september 2014, the FBI implemented a new system and it is now taking 12-16 WEEKS to get the report. there is a big red disclaimer about it on the page with instructions about requsting the report.

 

[cillyx5]

Wait… So I can send in the sponsor half of my application, WITHOUT the principal applicant half?
Can someone please confirm that? Cause if that's the case, I can send in the sponsor half while waiting for this silly police certificate crap, and then send the principal applicant half once this police certificate arrives…. Yes, no, maybe??

 

[keesio]

Wait... So I can send in the sponsor half of my application, WITHOUT the principal applicant half?
Can someone please confirm that? Cause if that's the case, I can send in the sponsor half while waiting for this silly police certificate crap, and then send the principal applicant half once this police certificate arrives.... Yes, no, maybe??

No, you need to send in both sponsor and applicant applications together. What some people do is attach a note to the applicant application saying that they don't have their FBI clearance letter and that they will send it at a later time once they receive it. It is a bit risky but it seems like CIC has been accepting this path since they know the FBI letters can take some time to get.,

 

[cillyx5]

Interesting. I'll start a post to see if anyone has any direct experience with that.

UPDATE: We called CJIS today… They are currently processing applications from December 23.

SECOND UPDATE: If your method of payment (cashier's cheque or whatnot) expires before they open your application, they will contact you to have you fax credit card payment info over.

 

[BeShoo]

Wait... So I can send in the sponsor half of my application, WITHOUT the principal applicant half?

Just to confirm what keesio said, no, you can't send in the sponsor half without the applicant half. As I was saying, they do check to make sure that nothing is missing before they approve the sponsorship, so the complete application has to be sent, but I know of many who included a note that they were waiting for the police certificate. They are not going to actually examine your police certificate at the sponsorship stage, just make sure you didn't forget to include it.

 

[cillyx5]

I'm still hesitant on sending the full package with a police certificate note only. I'd be worried that when I finally did send the police certificate in, that it either wouldn't find it's way to my package, or that it would be delayed getting to my package and therefore hold up the process.

 

[fruitball4u]

I called CIC awhile ago to ask them if that was an option and the lady that I spoke to basically said that you can do it, but at your own risk. I personally wouldn't risk my application being denied or the FBI clearance not making its way to my application only to be thrown back to the beginning.

 

[Panamai]

I called CIC awhile ago to ask them if that was an option and the lady that I spoke to basically said that you can do it, but at your own risk. I personally wouldn't risk my application being denied or the FBI clearance not making its way to my application only to be thrown back to the beginning.

Even if it started my application from the beginning, I'd be in the same boat either way. By going ahead and sending it in without the clearance, there is a good chance that they won't start it over and I'd be ahead 2 more months than if I had waited. I sent my application on January 29th and I still don't have my police clearance. It should come any day now. If things go as they've gone with many other people in the recent past, I'll have my AOR and SA done, then I'll send my clearance, and the rest will be done at that time. I therefore will have my COPR 2 months earlier than if I had waited. It was well worth the risk for me.