HELP!!! They requested an FBI certificate--Do I need to?

[ryscher]

I received an email with a request for a copy of my passport and an FBI certificate.

According to the application guide 5289 it says:

You and your family members who are 18 years of age and older and are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens must provide:

valid police certificate, or
police clearance, or
record of no information.

These documents are to be provided for each country other than Canada, in which you have lived for six (6) consecutive months or longer since reaching the age of 18.

The email I got from the case officer said:

FBI Clearance: If your residence period in the USA has been six months or longer since the age of 18, provide an original FBI clearance certificate This must be received at this office by: 11/16/2013

I was going to university up here in Canada since 2006. I turned 18 in March 2006.

I moved to Canada Sept 2006 and went home for holidays but I moved back to my parents' place in April 2007.

Then I moved back to Canada in Sept 2007 and visited on holidays until I moved back home for the summer in April 2008.

I moved back to Canada in Sept 2008.

So roughly speaking, since I was 18, I lived in the USA for about 14 months but not for more than 5 consecutive months.

I am so upset about this because they are only giving me until 11/16/13 to get an FBI certificate to them. How much of a stickler are they about this date? What happens if the FBI doesn't get my clearance to me? I can't afford to have to pay all the money to reapply! This was my mistake and I would have gladly gotten them a certificate earlier, but I totally misunderstood what they wanted.

 

[agarand8]

Why don't you try replying to the e-mail and say that the longest period was 5 months and ask if you still need to provide the certificate.

 

[ryscher]

I re-sent the case officer my personal history and they still sent an email back saying they wanted it.

So I'm assuming that because I was in the USA for more than 6 months (even though the time was broken up by substantial time in Canada) they still want something saying I didn't do anything bad.

It's just angering because I read that applicaiton guide so closely and I double checked everything on my application and now I'm in jeopardy of having to do everything over again because CIC can't be consistent...

Nevermind that they signed the email:

We look forward to hearing from you within thirty (60) days.

 

[ryscher]

I am filling out the paperwork for an FBI clearance request and it says that I can send the results to a different location. Should I put the CPP-O's address or would it be faster for them to mail it back to me and then I would expedite it to Ottawa?

What have you people done?

 

[Daisyd5]

I am filling out the paperwork for an FBI clearance request and it says that I can send the results to a different location. Should I put the CPP-O's address or would it be faster for them to mail it back to me and then I would expedite it to Ottawa?

What have you people done?

Hi

We had the same problem. We asked for an extension to send docs which was granted. FBI certificate takes 6 weeks about. We asked them to send it to us as then we couriered. I keep a copy of all our papers that we send out.

 

[agarand8]

that sucks that you still have to provide it. I guess it depends on how long it will take the FBI to get it to you. If you have enough time it will be safer for them to send it to you because then you can put your case number on it and everything to make sure that it gets to the right place.

 

[user828]

PA = Principal Applicant ( Father )
Father has 19 trip to US over 25 years and not a single one for more than 3 weeks
I ordered his FBI to be on the safe side


I found out via my GCMS that officer put a comment for my father " Spouse provided FBI but PA hasn't, PA hasn't resided in USA for more than six months but has significant travel to US "

Now when their letter came, it was standard like yours " if you have lived for more than six month period " so you see the difference in Language
So I sent copy of GCMS and their letter as technically I didn't have to but officer wanted it

Apply FBI as soon s you can and after 20 days or so call (304) 625-5590 and see if they can expedite it

Meanwhile - send copies of FBI fingerprint and fee receipt that you applied with explanation that your maximum length of stay was 5 months and it will take around 6-8 weeks to get it. Ask for extension of due date,, ( they know FBI takes time ), they will increase the due date

Their due date for such things are unreasonable but thankfully I had foreseen the fact they might ask

 

[ryscher]

Do you think that if I put a prepaid FedEx envelope I might get it quicker?

I live in the Vancouver area so I'm going to swing down to Bellingham to FedEx the fingerprints, etc. to the FBI. But I'm wondering about them returning it because they will probably send it snail mail and frankly, I don't trust Canada Post to handle any of my mail.

 

[Daisyd5]

Do you think that if I put a prepaid FedEx envelope I might get it quicker?

I live in the Vancouver area so I'm going to swing down to Bellingham to FedEx the fingerprints, etc. to the FBI. But I'm wondering about them returning it because they will probably send it snail mail and frankly, I don't trust Canada Post to handle any of my mail.

FBI uses their own service.... I know I asked

 

[ryscher]

Hmm...I've read elsewhere that they will send it via courier if you provide a prepaid envelope or a FedEx account number. What have other people's experiences been?