Security clearance

[Aelladen]

Hello,
My brother in law applied for a visitor visa in March, in Riyadh visa office. His wife and children are Canadian. It's been about 2 months since he applied, (processing time is 22 days) so we sent a CSE and they said they are waiting for a security clearance from Canada. Of course we are not worried, as he has no criminal record etc, but we have already paid for his tickets, hoping he'll come for eid and my brothers wedding in July. Has this happened to anyone? How much longer should it take?

 

[zoozie.kinz]

I applied from Bahrain in april and the processing time is 19 days, and I have my flights in June. I sent a CSE and they replied saying that they are conducting statutory background checks which involve security clearance Im assuming, which is considered the last step in the visa process before a final decision is made. I have no criminal records however they are taking a long time to update me on the decision. Hopefully they will update your brother in law on his application before July comes around. It says that a background check/security clearance can take up to 2 weeks or 2 months depending on the applicant.

 

[Aelladen]

I hope you get your visa as well before your scheduled flight. Please keep me updated! Thanks for sharing your experience

 

[zoozie.kinz]

So this morning I got an update from CIC (finally) since 16th May - this was the day I got my medicals approved, and so today around 4 am in the morning (Al Khobar timing) I checked and there was no update shown on my account. Around 11:00 am I got an email saying that I received a message so I opened up my account and they had sent an original passport request! I have now sent my passport to the embassy and requested that they take as minimal time as possible to stamp it as I am due to leave at the end of next week. Stay hopeful, you should be getting your reply soon, I had pretty much given up yesterday and surprisingly got a response this morning! If you check the processing times for Saudi Arabia it has changed to 20 days, it was updated this week. Good luck and let me know what happens!


Also: You should search up 'TRV Experience from Jeddah Saudi Arabia', he explained his situation which might help later on.

 

[Aelladen]

Congratulations! Maybe they like waiting until the last minute! I guess better late than never! I hope they get your passport back to you as soon as possible. I noticed that the processing days decreased, I had emailed them again, and they told me they process applications on a first in- first out basis.... So still waiting!
Thanks for the link to the the thread, some good information.
Have fun in Canada!

 

[simplyaddo]

I have now sent my passport to the embassy and requested that they take as minimal time as possible to stamp it as I am due to leave at the end of next week.

Turn around time for the passport visa sticker in Saudi is surprisingly quick. Took my wife to get her Passport from Jeddah - Riyadh - Jeddah in 3 days.