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The anatomy of a Background Check? - <<<<<<IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS>>>>>>>

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,038
9,895
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
So basically there's much in common between CSIS and CBSA when it comes to security and background checks?
Yes, both agencies are involved and have different areas of security they perform.
 
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omi.islam

Newbie
Jun 11, 2014
8
0
Hi there my timeline:

CEC INLAND
AOR: 3rd aug 2018
MED: Passed 23 Aug 2018
IP2: Background check started 22nd May 2019

But medical also changed to :You don't need a medical exam. We will let you know if anything is needed (changed on may 22nd 2019)

Why did they change my Medical to that status and how long will it take to clear the background check.

As based on my GCMS notes i updated the doc that was review required and 2-3 days later background check started and also my medical expires on july 28th 2019.

Please any idea or suggestions will be appreciated.
It has been a long journey so far.
Thank you guys in advance.
 

nazgul86

Hero Member
Jul 31, 2018
257
116
I read the very detailed initial post (thank you for it @legalfalcon), but since it's almost 2ys old, I was wondering if we have any data on how long Security screening usually takes nowadays for Express Entry (FSW) applicants. In my case, I know my status is: Eligibility: passed, Medicals: passed, Criminality: passed, Security: just started.
 
Last edited:

Puka

Full Member
Jan 2, 2019
33
5
Yes, both agencies are involved and have different areas of security they perform.


I had a previous visa tourist visa refusal to the uk due to lack of ties
I reapplied after a month with full documents and got the visa eventually
The consultant wanted to hide but i managed to raise the cse and explain the reason of refusal

1 - is this in criminality or security?

2- will this cause me any trouble?

Thank you

PS IM NOT MAIN APPLICANT
 

bonami

Newbie
May 12, 2019
5
0
For curiosity sake, anyone has any hints what sort of background /security checks done by CSIS and CBSA ? Surveillance, telephone taping, movement checks verification/checks with other relevant government agencies and banks....documentation checking...maybe some wild guess on the background/security checks! It's a mystery to many readers!
 

torontob

Hero Member
Aug 10, 2009
916
119
For applicants over 60 years of age, the security check is very minimal. The senior applicants (parents and grand parents very rarely get stuck in enhanced security screening).

The sponsorship application processing time for parents and grandparents is 20-24 months.

see https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html

So you do not need any CBSA / CSIS notes. And there is no point wasting money on them.

The sponsorship application has 2 stages

Stage 1, the sponsor's eligibility is checked, to ensure that they can sponsor.

Stage 2, the eligibility and documents of the person being sponsored is checked.

If you exceed the 20-14 months processing time frame, only then you should consider GCMS notes. To read on GCMS notes, see https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/all-about-gcms-how-to-order-read-general-questions-answered.482200/
This timing is not accurate. Many PGP applicants from London LVO sent to security check have been waiting 12 months to the day to pass security. At least this is the recent trend.
 

leka

Hero Member
Apr 12, 2018
324
139
Category........
Other
What's your timeline?
CEC Inland, single applicant

AoR March 1, 2018
MEP March 7, 2018
Review Required for Employer Info (could not verify the whole address online) since March 16, 2018
Sent LOE in mid of July, 2018 (after receiving 1st set of GCMS notes)
July 25, 2018 1st Ghost Update - Criminality passed
January 30, 2019 2nd Ghost Update - Medicals expired
March 13, 2019 3rd Ghost Update - Nothing changed inside the application
March 24, 2019 (yeah, on Sunday!) 4th Ghost Update - Medicals extended automatically
March 26, 2019 PPR email
 
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legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,038
9,895
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
I read the very detailed initial post (thank you for it @legalfalcon), but since it's almost 2ys old, I was wondering if we have any data on how long Security screening usually takes nowadays for Express Entry (FSW) applicants. In my case, I know my status is: Eligibility: passed, Medicals: passed, Criminality: passed, Security: just started.
If you land in SS, then the average processing time for SS is 19 months and in some cases longer.
 

nazgul86

Hero Member
Jul 31, 2018
257
116
If you land in SS, then the average processing time for SS is 19 months and in some cases longer.
Not sure I follow this. SS = security screening ?isn't SS part of each applicant's process for PR? Or are you referring to some sort of deeper SS?
Would you be able to know if you land in SS by calling CIC?
 
Last edited:

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,038
9,895
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
Not sure I follow this. SS = security screening ?isn't SS part of each applicant's process for PR? Or are you referring to some sort of deeper SS?
Would you be able to know if you land in SS by calling CIC?
All applicants go through security, however, some applicants get into something called enhanced security screening and at an average it can take 19 months for them to get their applications processed.
 
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nazgul86

Hero Member
Jul 31, 2018
257
116
All applicants go through security, however, some applicants get into something called enhanced security screening and at an average it can take 19 months for them to get their applications processed.
Got it thanks. I was then referring to the regular security stage, do we know approximately how long it takes nowdays if it doesn't go to enhanced stage?
Also, what is the best way to know if someone is currently at regular or enhanced security stage, would the agents know or only by ordering notes?
 

seantung

Star Member
Nov 29, 2018
156
82
Category........
PNP
NOC Code......
2173
Nomination.....
SK-EE
AOR Received.
26-Nov-2018
Med's Done....
2018-12-14
Got it thanks. I was then referring to the regular security stage, do we know approximately how long it takes nowdays if it doesn't go to enhanced stage?
Also, what is the best way to know if someone is currently at regular or enhanced security stage, would the agents know or only by ordering notes?
I assume applying CBSA(Canada Border Service Agency ) notes can help.
 

torontob

Hero Member
Aug 10, 2009
916
119
Got it thanks. I was then referring to the regular security stage, do we know approximately how long it takes nowdays if it doesn't go to enhanced stage?
Also, what is the best way to know if someone is currently at regular or enhanced security stage, would the agents know or only by ordering notes?
What you are asking for is not really a thing. The officer looks at history (work, education, places of living) and decides if case should be forwarded to CBSA or not. I am not even sure if you can call that a "security" check...

Anyhow, if you are not forwarded to CBSA then you will be dealt with within timeline. There are no LVO or CIC *security* officers per say. Real security opinion comes from CBSA with recommendations and then case officers from CIC decide the case.
 

nazgul86

Hero Member
Jul 31, 2018
257
116
What you are asking for is not really a thing. The officer looks at history (work, education, places of living) and decides if case should be forwarded to CBSA or not. I am not even sure if you can call that a "security" check...

Anyhow, if you are not forwarded to CBSA then you will be dealt with within timeline. There are no LVO or CIC *security* officers per say. Real security opinion comes from CBSA with recommendations and then case officers from CIC decide the case.
When I called CIC, the agent informed that I passed Eligibility, Medical and Criminality, and that Security had just started. Now, my question was whether "Security started" is referring to the "quicker" Security step that every applicant goes through as @legalfalcon mentioned, or whether it could be the enhanced more in depth Security screening taking many months. I wanted to have a rough idea of how long the Security step that every applicant goes through normally takes, if it doesn't go through enhanced security, and whether an agent would know if it's currently undergoing the regular or more in depth security screening. I'm going to call tomorrow and find out I guess and if they won't know I'll order the notes.