How long did it take for you to receive your US police certificate?

[fruitball4u]

I'm seeing on the FBI website that it is between 12-18 weeks. Is it the same regardless of whether you do ink and roll or digital fingerprints? I didn't realize that it would take so long and now am mostly done with my application but have to wait to get the certificate. Ugggghhh. And am I correct in saying that the FBI will only send it to you and not straight to CIC?

 

[rhcohen2014]

I'm seeing on the FBI website that it is between 12-18 weeks. Is it the same regardless of whether you do ink and roll or digital fingerprints?

yes, it doesn't matter how the prints are taken. the backlog is due to a new system. has nothing to do with the kind of prints submitted.

And am I correct in saying that the FBI will only send it to you and not straight to CIC?

correct. it must be sent directly to you. if the record was sent directly to CIC, it would most likely get lost and you'd have to get another one done. sending documents to CIC without file numbers or UCI #s is a bad idea. CIC will not have a way to connect it to the proper file.

what people are currently doing in this situation is sending the application without the FBI record, noting the fact it has been requested and will be forwarded when it's received (assuming the file number and UCI# are available) or upon sponsor eligibility. Generally, CIC looks the other way when police records are not submitted upfront because it does not have anything to do with the first stage, which is sponsor eligibility. It does not seem to be a reason applications are sent back, and many people are successful in getting sponsor approval without it. Applications are commonly sent back because of missing or outdated forms. Generally, if the record was not in the original package, CIC will request it in the sponsor approval letter.