This forum has proven to be helpful throughout my process so I would like to offer a word of caution. If you know your fingerprints are about to expire I would advise you to spend the additional funds and have your fingerprints re-processed.
When I processed my fingerprints November 2008 it took approximately 3wks to be returned and in turn submitted to the Visa office. In May 2010 I received my request for our passports with an addendum stating my fingerprints have expired and I would have to get them redone. I couldn't believe a 3 week process was now a 12-13week process but it is. I wrote urgent, critical all over the envelope to no avail.
FBI rec my request on May, 24th (same process as I did before)
August 6th recv'd ltr from FBI requesting "letter stating reason for request and contact information" (I was allow to submit the letter via fax)
this extends the wait for another 4 weeks.
The visa office will not issue visas with out the updated FBI clearance. I am a little disappointed as I had anticipated being in Canada by this time and am now stuck waiting around for 3-4 extra months.
I know others may have experienced worse so I just have to be patient. BTW my previous clearance came back with "NO Record". So it isn't a case of having a record. It doesn't matter.
When I processed my fingerprints November 2008 it took approximately 3wks to be returned and in turn submitted to the Visa office. In May 2010 I received my request for our passports with an addendum stating my fingerprints have expired and I would have to get them redone. I couldn't believe a 3 week process was now a 12-13week process but it is. I wrote urgent, critical all over the envelope to no avail.
FBI rec my request on May, 24th (same process as I did before)
August 6th recv'd ltr from FBI requesting "letter stating reason for request and contact information" (I was allow to submit the letter via fax)
this extends the wait for another 4 weeks.
The visa office will not issue visas with out the updated FBI clearance. I am a little disappointed as I had anticipated being in Canada by this time and am now stuck waiting around for 3-4 extra months.
I know others may have experienced worse so I just have to be patient. BTW my previous clearance came back with "NO Record". So it isn't a case of having a record. It doesn't matter.