Background check question

[csj50 0]

Hi everyone,

Wanted to ask about a question about background checks for my husband. He finally had a somewhat successful job interview where they told him they'd be performing a background check...(which is great news as he's applied to literally hundreds of positions).

We are worried that he might not pass due to the fact that he doesn't have much history here. (Came six years ago on an f-1 visa, got his EAD at the end of January this year, and his SSN "valid for work authorization only) about a month later. He never used credit cards in the US until recently (not counting him as an authorized user on my accounts) so no credit score yet.

What are the chances this will be an issue? How do immigrants EVER work if this IS a common issue?

[Unshakable Faith 493]

A credit score and a background check are two different things.

A background check is checking for criminal history.

A credit check is checking on his credit score/credit report.

[mallafri76 1,012]

When companies do background checks, they usually check for criminal history. As part of the hiring process, they'll also check your husband's immigration status and do an I-9.

If your husband has been living in the US for six years, he definitely have more history than me, I've only been here for five weeks. The company I work for ran I background check on me about two weeks after I moved to the US. And whatever they needed, they got because I've been working there a week now so I'm sure your husband will be fine. Congratulations on him finding a job.

[charmander 692]

Hi everyone,

Wanted to ask about a question about background checks for my husband. He finally had a somewhat successful job interview where they told him they'd be performing a background check...(which is great news as he's applied to literally hundreds of positions).

We are worried that he might not pass due to the fact that he doesn't have much history here. (Came six years ago on an f-1 visa, got his EAD at the end of January this year, and his SSN "valid for work authorization only) about a month later. He never used credit cards in the US until recently (not counting him as an authorized user on my accounts) so no credit score yet.

What are the chances this will be an issue? How do immigrants EVER work if this IS a common issue?

The type of background checks companies perform for potential employees are vaguely defined. They should ask him sign a release form that describes what kind of checks they might be performing. Criminal checks are almost always included but they might also check his education records, credit score, probation records, etc. Companies typically work with 3rd parties for these. The employment authorization check is not included at this stage since company HR will be doing that later on.

When they do credit history check having no record is better than having bad record. If he skipped payments or dealt with collection agencies, these are bad signs for companies. Sounds like he shouldn't have trouble, a lot of F-1s are similar to his situation. Good luck!

[csj50 0]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I always assumed that with a background check, a credit report would also be done (which actually, he has, and he has an excellent score despite only opening a credit card very recently). Our concern regarding the background check is that how would he have a history in the U.S. If he only go his SSN recently? Second, doing USCIS's Self Check online, came up as "unable to proceed..."

Really hoping this works out for him, and us!

Edited May 15, 2016 by csj50

[csj50 0]

Bump

When companies do background checks, they usually check for criminal history. As part of the hiring process, they'll also check your husband's immigration status and do an I-9.

If your husband has been living in the US for six years, he definitely have more history than me, I've only been here for five weeks. The company I work for ran I background check on me about two weeks after I moved to the US. And whatever they needed, they got because I've been working there a week now so I'm sure your husband will be fine. Congratulations on him finding a job.

Congrats to you as well! Did they use your "Valid for Work Authorization" only SSN? I wonder if you didn't have any trouble, why others seem to have trouble? (And hoping the same doesn't happen to him!)