please help Pcc FBI

[goa123]

Hi All
I have worked for a passanger Cruise ship for 3 years that was located at Miami USA I had C1D visa. Wanted to know whether I neaded to submit FBI Pcc to apply under CEC
All suggestions are welcome.

 

[whymeee]

You need to submit police certificates from every country you've lived in for more than 6 consecutive months.

 

[jes_ON]

I have worked for a passanger Cruise ship for 3 years that was located at Miami USA I had C1D visa. Wanted to know whether I neaded to submit FBI Pcc to apply under CEC
All suggestions are welcome.

I suggest that when you post on a Canada immigration website a question about a US visa, you might want to explain the visa instead of assuming we'll know what a C1D visa is

It it a temporary resident visa or transit visa? How long were you permitted to stay in the USA on this visa?

 

[goa123]

I did not stay on land I worked on ship ....I wad always in transit and it was not more than a week I stayed on land

 

[jes_ON]

OK, thanks. But, the ship's home port was Miami - was your employer a US company?

 

[CEC2013]

Nice to see some fellow crew on here. I too was working for a cruiseline out of Miami. Anyways, I dont believe you would need one, as you did not work on land. Just because you were stationed (home port) in Miami doesnt mean much, since most of the time you would have been out of the country. Its only for those that were in the US for 6 consecutive months.

If you do decide to get one, you can do so at a later point. You can send an application without a PCC. I know it took me over 3 months to get an FBI clearance letter...which I had expected from previous background checks. I only got one cause I went to school there. So, if you have everything else ready and were just waiting on a PCC, you can send your app in and provide the letters later.

Also, I would recommend you attach your cruiseline contract, seamans book, crew ID, USCIS papers and other related documents that prove your travels. Not sure about you, but for a couple of us on here, its been hard to account for all the travel and entries. Just a thought!

 

[jes_ON]

I would agree you probably don't need it. And, it is true that if you don't get it now, and CIC decides they want it, they will request and you can get it later.

 

[Cruiser55]

Hi All
I have worked for a passanger Cruise ship for 3 years that was located at Miami USA I had C1D visa. Wanted to know whether I neaded to submit FBI Pcc to apply under CEC
All suggestions are welcome.

Hi,
I am in the same situation.
I worked on cruise ships for 3 years and just 2 weeks back I applied for my FBI Police Clearance. I am waiting to receive one. I sent out my finger prints and everything to America and I am in waiting.

You need to send the PCCs for any country you have lived in for more than 6 months, whether Cruise ships or not, these need to be sent out.

 

[CEC2013]

I disagree with that!

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

He was not living in the US, but rather temporarily residing while in transit. Thats why the visa C1D is referred to as a "crew/transit visa". Not sure about your ship, but mine only spent daytime hours to get ready for the next cruise, and then we were out to international waters.

"We will also do our own background checks to determine if there are grounds under which you and your dependants may be inadmissible to Canada." If CIC feels that their is a need, they will conduct their own checks and request further information.

If you want to play it safe, then I would suggest your provide the PCC from FBI. But, not to delay your app, you can provide it later, since it take a little bit to get. Just my take on it!

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5609ETOC.asp#5609E4

 

[Cruiser55]

Hi CEC2013,
I had the same VISA.

To be honest, it is just to play it safe that I want to arrange for the PCC of the USA too as I don;t want to confuse the CIO in any way as they get confused over very little things and then make their bad decisions based on that.

As per your experience how much time does the FBI take to send us back the PCC, I sent in my finger prints and the application along with the payment to the FBI 2 weeks back and they told me to follow up with them after 4 weeks to know the status on that.

So I am waiting for it to be 4 weeks. In the meantime I am also waiting for my PCC to come from INDIA. On the BLS site it still shows under process as its status.

 

[CEC2013]

Completely understandable!

It took me 3.5 months to get a response from the FBI. However, and not that it makes much difference, but I spent over 6 years in the States for school and work. Also, not sure if you went through an agency, but I ordered my PCC directly, as an individual. Mind you, I have SSN and driver's license numbers that accompany my application, which may be why they take longer (meaning they check all my info). If they told you 4 weeks, than thats super!

Yea, my other PCCs only took a few weeks, even though it was a drag getting them to start the process. The longest one for me was from the States.

And I get you dont want to confuse them. Thats why I mentioned about including the contract, crew id, seamans book, USCIS papers and what not else. Just to give them background and confirm all the travel.

 

[Cruiser55]

Hi CEC2013,
Thank you for your message.

I don't think I still have the papers from the cruiselines (Crew ID, seamans book, etc), it has been too long since I moved on from ships. But, I do have VISAs and stamps on my passport which I could send in to them for their review or in any case I can always send in the PCC from the FBI once I receive it from them.

 

[iamroth]

Umm I dont know why everyone is saying "you dont need it, you dont need it".

Yes you probably dont need it. BUT if you include it in your application, it wont harm you. I am considering the fact that you dont have a bad record with FBI.

Because IF cic asks for it later... and then you start running around and submitting for FBI Clearance, you are going to get behind - probably you would have to wait for an extra 4-5 months.

When Application officer deems your application complete, he would OK it for next step.
So you would get Medical requests.

When Application officer checks and thinks, he wants to see your FBI BGChecks, he will issue a letter to your name.

Now just think about it (you get the letter, you apply to FBI, which may take 4-8 weeks, then u send that document to CIC, then AppOfficer checks it and adds it to your application).

Is n't it better to add everything at once? (if its not a negative thing obviously).

 

[spookyb]

In terms of FBI clearance certificate timelines, they are issuing them in under 6 weeks these days. I've applied for two since January and received both in 5 weeks.

 

[CEC2013]

@iamroth

Relax friend! The question was whether it was required...which was answered in detail. If they so choose to provide the FBI letter, than that is on them. The point of our discussion was to clarify the rules regarding PCC for cruiseline crew that spent some time in the US. Its everyones individual prerogative to do wats in their best interest. If they think it would better for the application, then submit it...if they dont think it will have an impact, then dont.

Without getting into a debate about wats better...the point I was making earlier is that instead of waiting, they can submit the application and then forward the PCC when they get it (if not available already). Why delay processing, which already takes forever, with a document that is not even required. Just thinking out loud here.