I'm reposting something I'd posted in another thread a few months ago -
The "Channeler" service is what the consultancies use to get your FBI clearance in a few weeks. They are effectively scamming you and putting your application in jeopardy.
You can do the fingerprinting yourself, or there are agencies that can do it for you - nothing wrong with getting a digital fingerprint through an agency before sending it in to the FBI yourself.
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To everyone asking about the Channeler service - please go read the official FBI instructions here ->
https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks
Specifically, look at this section on the page.
An FBI-approved Channeler may only process requests for a U.S. person (an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.). A lawful permanent resident is any person not a citizen of the U.S. who is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant (also known “Permanent Resident Alien,” “Resident Alien Permit Holder,” and “Green Card Holder”).
If you are NOT a US Citizen/Green Card Holder/Permanent Resident Alien, you are going against the express direction of the FBI. This is not a minor issue - this can get your application rejected.
The two letters do NOT look the same. CIC can easily tell that you got this through a channeler. Now, they may choose to ignore this, or they may choose to reject your application. If they choose to reject your application, you have no recourse - you cannot complain and say you didn't know this, or blame it on an agent, or say that your agency promised that it was the same - this is your decision and you will have to own it.
For a decision as major as moving to another country, why are you trying to save a few weeks? Especially since the CIC makes it very easy to submit your AoR without the FBI verification. You just have to add a LoE with proof that you submitted your fingerprints (FedEx/UPS shipping receipt), and they will give you extra time to get it from the FBI. They are reasonable about this, and it really isn't a big deal.
The risk/reward calculation does not make sense. You are risking the rejection (and possible barring for five years) of your application, while the reward is that you save a maximum of 3 months? And that's not even going into the money that you're paying to a shady agent who will happily tell you that it's all the same thing, of course you will get it, etc. etc. He isn't affected if your application gets rejected.
I'm a non-US citizen living in the US. I submitted my fingerprints to the FBI on November 23, and received my PCC on January 17. The process is easy, and getting fingerprints is no big deal. You can even do it yourself, check Youtube and you'll find lots of videos telling you how to do it.
