The FBI Background Check

[Anna C. 4]

Hi gyus,

I always read about it here and that it takes so long. I wonder what they check. I am pretty sure that most of us never committed a crime and especially not in the USA, so I wonder: the FBI wont have any file of us. Does the FBI check our fingerprints with Europol or with the local FBI (it's the BKA in Germany e.g.)? That shouldnt take too long, should it? As far as I know especially people from the EU in theory shouldnt have a problem since I know that Europol and the European FBIs work together with the American because of international crime prevention/fighting.

SO I wondered if they just sent an email with the fingerprints and the guys locally check if your prints are in their database and call them back and tell them you are fine???

*wonder*

THanks and good luck to everyone!

Anna

[LaL 418]

It really has nothing to do with crime or crimes committed. Its about verifying information. Information being confirming a person is not a list of say 200,000 that would BE a problem. The length of time it can take depends on a number of things. Many of which we can only guess about. But they do carefully review your name : flipped inside and out, backwards, date of birth: although they do not weigh too heavily on this as proof of one's identity and the length appears when a manual review is done by an analyst. Files have to be retrieved from different locations, etc bogging down the time it takes to reconcile. Name hits can take additional amounts of time as well.

There is so much we don't know though.

[Anna C. 4]

Ha I've got nothing to do without work

So if it is like that that means: if you've got a name which you share with lots of people it might take longer, if your name is rare or maybe you're the only one with that name it's faster????

[LaL 418]

It *may* but I am a good example of where an uncommmon name does take a long time to clear. But I would guess for most, the rarer the name, identifying make take less time. Problem is when you get a name hit, it takes long no matter what.

[Anna C. 4]

Hm I hope it may help since with my name there are only two of us, and I know her! My name is totally German, but rare in the combo of my first and last name (anna is only short for my name). Let's see!!! I also hope d that the friendship between Bush & Merkel might help

[nemu 0]

Here is what USCIS says about background checks: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffair...hecks_42506.pdf

Basically, there 3 types of checks:

1. IBIS check, computer based, quick

2. FBI fingerprint check, computer based, quick

3. FBI name check - can take very very very long time.

Keep in mind that background checks can sometimes hang because of various computer systems and book keeping practices by USCIS.

Edited August 18, 2006 by nemu

[LaL 418]

I also hope d that the friendship between Bush & Merkel might help

Well at the AOS stage it does not matter where you are from (even if its a *friendly* country), everyone has this check completed however most get resolved prior to the interview.

[motu 6]

Also remember that an updated check with the originating country can unearth a criminal - a few months ago a woman from Russia (or the former USSR region) was arrested and deported for being a bank robber! This made for very interesting reading on VJ for a few days. Also the checks can take a few days (for most) or be stuck in limbo - check the list of people wating for FBI checks (sometimes a year or two!) Good Luck

[rebeccajo 14]

- a few months ago a woman from Russia (or the former USSR region) was arrested and deported for being a bank robber! This made for very interesting reading on VJ for a few days.....

....which was also a joke as admitted several weeks later by the contrite and embarrassed original poster........