US Police Clearance: FBI Processing Times

[AmericanGirlinLove]

this is so discouraging !!

I sent mine in mid January..(I think?) so now i'm thinking it won't be until April-May when we can send in our application. UGH!!

Isn't a new computer system suppose to speed things up.. boo

It is a recent change!

But also, I am not sure if it's the best idea or not, but I sent my application in without it because I knew it would take time and it was fine. I did experience delays because of fees and FBI delays but they can still begin the sponsorship approval. I read it on their website last year and went with it. But recently they changed the rule to accept/allow channelrs, so that could speed it up quite a bit for you.

 

[OneLoveTwoHearts]

Hey everyone,

Just an update for those who are waiting on the FBI Office. My report was received on Nov 24, 2014. According to the FBI Office it was mailed out March 7, 2015. I received it today March 13, 2015. On to the next step for me, and good luck to those who are still waiting. Just be patient!

Mine took 15 weeks 5 days to get to me.

 

[Panamai]

Hey everyone,

Just an update for those who are waiting on the FBI Office. My report was received on Nov 24, 2014. According to the FBI Office it was mailed out March 7, 2015. I received it today March 13, 2015. On to the next step for me, and good luck to those who are still waiting. Just be patient!

Mine took 15 weeks 5 days to get to me.

Are you in the US? I'm asking because my app was received on Nov 18th, but I still don't have it. I'm hoping it's just still in the mail. I'm in Canada right now.

 

[Stressed wife]

Are you in the US? I'm asking because my app was received on Nov 18th, but I still don't have it. I'm hoping it's just still in the mail. I'm in Canada right now.

My application was received on nov 18, and it was delivered to my mom in NY Tuesday , she UPS to me , I'll pick up tomorrow and mail to vo. , pos tomorrow . You should get yours soon . Goodluck

 

[rugrat907]

Hey everyone,

Just an update for those who are waiting on the FBI Office. My report was received on Nov 24, 2014. According to the FBI Office it was mailed out March 7, 2015. I received it today March 13, 2015. On to the next step for me, and good luck to those who are still waiting. Just be patient!

Mine took 15 weeks 5 days to get to me.

I called the other day and mine was mailed on the 10th. Sent in around the same time as above, with the same date received.

 

[Amalthea]

Just wanted to add my story. My first FBI check was flat out wrong, so I had to get the information updated and apply a second time for the corrected one. I mailed mine off right before this whole system-change-fiasco went down, so when I didn't receive my application in 4 weeks I called in. That's when they let me know that wait times had gone up to 3 months.

At the counsel of this forum and other Ottawa applicants, many of whom had sent off their medicals/police clearances after Sponsorship Approval (aka after it arrived at the 2nd visa office, in our case Ottawa), I mailed off my application in Sept 2014 without my updated FBI check, and I included a letter about why, given the FBI's wait times, and that I would be forwarding on my FBI check as soon as it was received.

It's now been several months, we received SA and I received my FBI Background Check. I mailed it off to Ottawa. It's been a few months now and I haven't heard a peep, but we ordered our GCMS notes and they had written that they received my current background check and attached it to my file. It has not negatively impacted my application in the slightest.

If you are worried that not having a FBI check with your application is going to mess up your application, please don't be. They see this quite often and are fully aware of what's going on with the FBI. Chances are you will have sent to your Police Clearance to your VO LONG before they even get to your month's applications.

Do not hesitate to send your application without it, especially if it's going to save you months of waiting..

 

[OneLoveTwoHearts]

Are you in the US? I'm asking because my app was received on Nov 18th, but I still don't have it. I'm hoping it's just still in the mail. I'm in Canada right now.

Yes I am in the US. Hopefully it's just a slight delay for you @Panamai since its international.

 

[Pollen]

We are using a private service, they said 2 weeks total and we should get it but that they usually do it in 3 days. We paid around 70$ total, will let you guys know if we get it in that time period but we only sent it to the private company Tuesday with same day delivery.

 

[Amalthea]

Ponga posted this in another thread;

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/north-america/united-states.asp

"...Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not accept FBI police certificates issued by FBI-approved third party private companies. Only police certificates issued directly by the FBI will be accepted. ..."

[page was updated 9 March 2015]

So it seems they've gone back on their word? How freakin frustrating!!

 

[saria1]

Are you in the US? I'm asking because my app was received on Nov 18th, but I still don't have it. I'm hoping it's just still in the mail. I'm in Canada right now.

Have you received your report?

Today we FINALLY received our rejection letter, after calling many times in the past month and half. For some reason, the system is screwed up and they are well aware of it. If you haven't received your report, you may want to call and ask them to look you up in both systems. The first system, which required name and address showed the prints were being worked on. The second system, which they needed the SSN showed the prints were rejected.

 

[Panamai]

Have you received your report?

Today we FINALLY received our rejection letter, after calling many times in the past month and half. For some reason, the system is screwed up and they are well aware of it. If you haven't received your report, you may want to call and ask them to look you up in both systems. The first system, which required name and address showed the prints were being worked on. The second system, which they needed the SSN showed the prints were rejected.

No, still waiting. If I don't have it by Friday, I'm going to call them again. Any time I've ever mailed anything between the US and Canada, it's always arrived in about a week. I'm getting a little worried.

 

[fresh99]

Called yesterday, 24 March and they were opening mail received 12 January.

 

[Panamai]

Called yesterday, 24 March and they were opening mail received 12 January.

Sounds like they may be speeding up some! I called last week and finally got to the bottom of things. When I sent my application, I had forgotten to include the 'applicant information sheet' so I called a week later and they told me to fax it over with a note explaining and my info and they would link it up when my other stuff arrived. Apparently, they still had not put the two parts together after all this time, even though I called over a month ago and the guy told me it was being processed (liar). The lady put the two parts together herself and placed the file on her supervisor's desk to be handled. I called back this past Monday and she said it was done and they would be putting it in the mail Tuesday morning. Hoping I get it before my SA which I'm expecting by the end of next week.

 

[saria1]

Sounds like they may be speeding up some! I called last week and finally got to the bottom of things. When I sent my application, I had forgotten to include the 'applicant information sheet' so I called a week later and they told me to fax it over with a note explaining and my info and they would link it up when my other stuff arrived. Apparently, they still had not put the two parts together after all this time, even though I called over a month ago and the guy told me it was being processed (liar). The lady put the two parts together herself and placed the file on her supervisor's desk to be handled. I called back this past Monday and she said it was done and they would be putting it in the mail Tuesday morning. Hoping I get it before my SA which I'm expecting by the end of next week.

Thats all good news!!! I noticed with some of them, they'll just tell you it's being worked on and not look further. I wonder if you had the same helpful lady I had?

 

[Panamai]

Thats all good news!!! I noticed with some of them, they'll just tell you it's being worked on and not look further. I wonder if you had the same helpful lady I had?

Her name was Brenda. I'm so glad I got her. Who knows where I'd be if she hadn't caught that!