+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

US Police Clearance: FBI Processing Times

unicornpants

Star Member
Sep 22, 2015
137
5
123
BC
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
21-10-2015
AOR Received.
8-12-2015
File Transfer...
24-2-2016
Med's Request
Done up front
Med's Done....
15-9-2015
VISA ISSUED...
8-11-2016 (COPR)
LANDED..........
11-12-2016
Decoy24601 said:
Is it just me, or does it seem like they are getting even farther behind? In two days it will have been three months since they received my prints (October 16th, 2015) and they haven't even gotten around to the October applications yet. I'm not under a time crunch, so I was hoping to wait until I have my FBI check to do my medical and send in my application, but at this rate I'll probably have to send my application in without the check anyways.
If it helps from a timeline perspective, we sent the hubby's FBI stuff/prints out in September. He just got his docs needed for CIC last week.
 

ayrazar

Hero Member
Jul 2, 2015
731
17
denokarter said:
What does SA stand for ?
SA stands for sponsorship approval, and personally I'm waiting for it to send the prints regardless of when we get them. I don't wanna send them to mississauga, have the app have gotten to Ottawa (or wherever) and chance them losing it in transit.
 

Ponga

VIP Member
Oct 22, 2013
10,155
1,336
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
ayrazar said:
SA stands for sponsorship approval, and personally I'm waiting for it to send the prints regardless of when we get them. I don't wanna send them to mississauga, have the app have gotten to Ottawa (or wherever) and chance them losing it in transit.
Just to clarify...you'll be sending the FBI IHSR letter, not the fingerprints.

Fingerprints expire 90 days after the date that the technician writes on the card (day they were taken), so if anyone has had their prints taken but is waiting to send them to the FBI (for some odd reason), DON'T wait!
[may be dependent on the company that you use to take your prints].
 

ayrazar

Hero Member
Jul 2, 2015
731
17
Ponga said:
Just to clarify...you'll be sending the FBI IHSR letter, not the fingerprints.

Fingerprints expire 90 days after the date that the technician writes on the card (day they were taken), so if anyone has had their prints taken but is waiting to send them to the FBI (for some odd reason), DON'T wait!
Yeah sorry, I have no idea why I wrote prints. Do you think waiting for SA makes sense, Ponga?
 

carsonb

Member
Sep 29, 2015
14
0
Hi All - This hasn't been updated in a few days. I just called and they are opening mail from September 28, 2015 today.

Mine was signed for on September 30, 2015 so...the wait is almost over! WOO!
 

ayrazar

Hero Member
Jul 2, 2015
731
17
carsonb said:
Hi All - This hasn't been updated in a few days. I just called and they are opening mail from September 28, 2015 today.

Mine was signed for on September 30, 2015 so...the wait is almost over! WOO!
Uh oh. Ours should have got there before September 28..

Still no charge to the card :/

EDIT: They LITERALLY charged our card like.. between me typing this and the message I wrote before hand. Holy. Excellent :D
 

MidoRafa

Star Member
Jul 5, 2012
199
40
Ponga said:
Just to clarify...you'll be sending the FBI IHSR letter, not the fingerprints.

Fingerprints expire 90 days after the date that the technician writes on the card (day they were taken), so if anyone has had their prints taken but is waiting to send them to the FBI (for some odd reason), DON'T wait!
Hello,

Are you sure about this 90-day expiration? I called them (the FBI) a few weeks ago to ask about this before sending my prints (which were taken a few months before) and they confirmed that it doesn't matter when the prints were taken...
 

Ponga

VIP Member
Oct 22, 2013
10,155
1,336
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
MidoRafa said:
Hello,

Are you sure about this 90-day expiration? I called them a few weeks ago to ask about this before sending my prints (which were taken a few months before) and they confirmed that it doesn't matter when the prints were taken...
Well...that's what I was told when I had mine taken. No idea if the person was intoxicated, or just plain stupid.
 

MidoRafa

Star Member
Jul 5, 2012
199
40
Ponga said:
Well...that's what I was told when I had mine taken. No idea if the person was intoxicated, or just plain stupid.
Haha! I shall assume and hope he/she was either ;)
Thanks!
 

triple p

Star Member
Oct 17, 2014
106
1
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa/LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
19-02-2015
Doc's Request.
21-08-2015 (Proof of Sponsor's Canadian Residence); 08-09-2015 (FBI)
AOR Received.
10-04-2015
File Transfer...
24-04-2015 Ottawa; 08-12-2015 LA; DM 19-01-2016; pics request 12-02-2016
Med's Done....
01-10-2014
Interview........
Waived
VISA ISSUED...
COPR 19-02-2016!!!
Hubby sent his application for clearance via express post on Sept 18 and I assume it arrived a couple days later. His credit card was charged on Jan 13. Do they just send it by regular mail? Hoping it will arrive early next week. Such a long wait! Probably going to be about 17 weeks including the mailing time...
 

krishnalynn

Hero Member
May 15, 2015
251
9
Calgary, AB
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
02-11-2015
AOR Received.
23-12-2015
File Transfer...
08-01-2016
Med's Request
Upfront
Med's Done....
16-10-2015
Passport Req..
DM: 15-04-2016
triple p said:
Hubby sent his application for clearance via express post on Sept 18 and I assume it arrived a couple days later. His credit card was charged on Jan 13. Do they just send it by regular mail? Hoping it will arrive early next week. Such a long wait! Probably going to be about 17 weeks including the mailing time...
Yep, regular mail from Eastern USA.
 

FAQ1

Newbie
Jan 16, 2016
7
0
Hello
I have 2 questions regarding the FBI report.
1- Do you mean that CIC does not accept an application without FBI clearance upfront?
2- Do you know if FBI accepts visa debt?

Thanks
 

Decoy24601

Champion Member
Aug 13, 2015
1,511
52
Vancouver, BC
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-04-2016
AOR Received.
28-04-2016
File Transfer...
SA 27-05-2016
Med's Done....
23-03-2016 Upfront
Interview........
Waived
VISA ISSUED...
07-06-2016
LANDED..........
06-07-2016
Are there any updates on what day's background checks they are processing?

Also, is the number you call to inquire about what mail they are opening an automated system or is there an actual person on the line?

(Edit: I'm using this as a bit of a bump, too.)
 

beast2000

Full Member
Aug 26, 2014
39
2
I called on Wed Jan 13th and the FBI rep told me that they had just opened Sept 24th mail. They received my FBI on Sept 28th. As of this morning nothing has been taken out of the Credit Card. I am anticipating by Friday something should be taken out of CC.

I will call today just to see what they tell me. Ill report back with any important info.
 

beast2000

Full Member
Aug 26, 2014
39
2
Just got off the phone with FBI office. They told me that they are currently processing 28th, and in the next day or two all should be processed for Sept 28th day files.