Does anyone know how the Background Checks work?

[monyfer 27]

Hi,

I have read a little bit about the USCIS background checks, here: http://immigrationroad.com/green-card/uscis-security-check.php

But I would like to know if anyone has a clearer understanding of how they work. They just type your name into a database and see what shows up? Or how does this work? The thing is, I keep being told that my fiance and I are still under background checks ("the required investigation into your background is still open"). I have been told this for as far back as two months ago.

I cannot fathom what would take so long. Neither my fiance or I have any sort of criminal record whatsoever. I imagine a quick look-up of my social security number would show that. Could it be possible they are having trouble with my fiance? He doesn't have a terrible common name - I've Googled his full name and he is the only person that comes up. He has a valid U.S. tourist visa and has never had any issue entering the US legally using his tourist visa, which he has done 3-4 times in the last five years.

He works for a very well known international company, and so I imagine they could very well identify who he is and what he does with no problem. Even if a false hit was showing, I would think they would be able to decipher the fact that he is not the same person given his address, work history, birth date, etc. Does it really take two months to verify this? How can it work? I am so upset it is delayed due to something that seems to be a problem on their end. Understanding how the checks work would be much more helpful.

We both have clean backgrounds, like I said. Neither has ever been married, no kids, both went to prestigious universities (this could be verified very easily), both work for well known companies, etc. Again, I have absolutely no idea what could be causing us delayed security checks. Maybe if I understood the system they use better, it would help me.

Does anyone know?

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Part of the time issue is that fact that Background checks are performed my Law Enforcement Agencies and they are always backlogged.

[Krikit 1,164]

Not to mention that if there's a hit on the name they sometimes have to pull hard copy records out of Records Centers which could be located anywhere in the US. And the Records Centers have weeks (usually 4 or more, depending on the circumstances) in which to produce them. It's a bit of a process.

[LookyWhatIFound 38]

From what I've read in the past, 2007 or so, of which I don't know the link anymore. They start with name checks and there are different levels of databases. If the petitioners name sort of matches something in the database then they have to dig deeper. I imagine the different databases are controlled by different organizations so with each organization theres probably a waiting line. Then if they feel they need to they might have to dig into physical records.

I don't know how this process relates to getting security clearances for government related jobs but even those can take 3 to 6 months or longer and they can depend on how many different places that you lived.

I think the most frustrating thing for you must be that not even a congressman or senator can do anything until the backgrond checks finish cause its all very secretive and nobody gets any information until its complete.

Good luck to you, I hope you're out of it soon!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It isnt' just one database but several. They input your name ( and I think the last employer of the non USC) and look for "hits". If you get a name match they the pull the descriptive information ( if available ) on the bad person. Assuming the information is available they compare it to the bio info on you. Hopefully they can toss that name. If not ( of it there was no descriptive info on the barred person ) they start a much slower process of proving you aren't the denied person. Sometime proving this is harder that it seems. If you are stuck at this point you are most likely in the third stage. You may be as squeeky clean as can be but you share the name/alias of someone that isn't so pleasant.