New information for those waiting on FBI name check

[dcl766 0]

For those still frustrated by the waiting involved with the name checks I stumbled upon some new info on the FBI website:

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/nationalnamecheck.htm

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nationalnamecheck.htm

How can I have my name check expedited?

The FBI tries to process its oldest name checks first. Customer agencies will occasionally request expedited handling of specific name checks. Criteria used to determine which name checks receive expedited handling are internal matters of each customer agency. The FBI does request that the number of expedited cases be kept to a minimum in fairness to the other pending name check requests. Because each customer agency determines which name checks are expedited, contacting Congressional representatives, the FBI's Office of Congressional Affairs, or the NNCP will only further tie up vital resources and will not contribute to the expediting of a name check.

Does contacting my Congressional representative expedite my name check?

No, the customer agency determines expedited handling. The FBI's policy is to be responsive to our customer's needs given the limits of our resources. Re-prioritization from multiple sources would convolute the customer agency's ability to manage their priority cases.

Is there a fee I can pay to expedite the process?

No. Processing times are a function of the volume of work versus the resources that can be applied to the task. Paying an additional fee would not speed up the name check process.

I am aware that some name checks have been completed that were submitted to the FBI after cases that remain pending. Why are the name checks not handled in the order in which they are received?

The vast majority of name check requests are completed in less than 60 days. Of those remaining, the FBI tries to complete the oldest name checks first. The time to complete any given name check varies. There are many factors that impact processing times such as the number of files to retrieve and review, a file's location and accessibility, case status, and workload all impact processing times. Another factor that might delay the processing of a name check request on a first in/first out basis is the number of requests for expedited handling received from a customer agency.

My Freedom of Information/Privacy Act request to the FBI resulted in a "no record" response. Given that, why is my name check request still pending?

Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts (FOIPA) requests are sometimes confused with name check requests. FOIPA provides copies of FBI files relevant to a specific FOIPA request. For FOIPA, the FBI search uses the name or information as provided in the FOIPA request. A FOIPA search determines whether there is an investigative file associated with an individual—a "main file" search. For a name check, "main files" and "reference files" are both checked, in an effort to protect our national security, in addition to searching a name in a multitude of combinations.

Who can I call to check on the status of my name check?

The FBI will only respond to status inquiries from its customer agencies. Please contact the organization receiving your original application. In Citizenship and Immigration cases, contact USCIS for the status.

[Yasi 0]

Thank you for posting this information. I wondered if there is a site that would explain the name checking process in detail.

Now this is s a quote from the FAQ part: "The FBI will only respond to status inquiries from its customer agencies. Please contact the organization receiving your original application. In Citizenship and Immigration cases, contact USCIS for the status".

Does anyone know what they mean by "customer agencies"?

Thanks again.

[JubJub 0]

It's the agency that requested the name check. So in our case it is USCIS. But there are multitudes of other agencies that also do background checks for security classifications, DoE, DoD etc.

[dcl766 0]

Thank you for posting this information. I wondered if there is a site that would explain the name checking process in detail.

Now this is s a quote from the FAQ part: "The FBI will only respond to status inquiries from its customer agencies. Please contact the organization receiving your original application. In Citizenship and Immigration cases, contact USCIS for the status".

Does anyone know what they mean by "customer agencies"?

Thanks again.

Yep, a "customer" of theirs would be for example, USCIS.

Attaching a recent document with additional information on the name check:

[Autumnal 25]

This is very useful, but on the other hand, it's completely frustrating for anyone trying to catch up on information on whether or not your name check is being processed.

Something that would be nice is some way to log into a system/database/online webpage and just input your A#, or some other moniker, to see the overall status. IE: pending, complete, not finished, in process.

:/

[dcl766 0]

This is very useful, but on the other hand, it's completely frustrating for anyone trying to catch up on information on whether or not your name check is being processed.

Something that would be nice is some way to log into a system/database/online webpage and just input your A#, or some other moniker, to see the overall status. IE: pending, complete, not finished, in process.

:/

I agree. That would make waaaayyy too much sense to be a system implemented by USCIS though.

[Autumnal 25]

No kidding!

[Yasi 0]

Wouldn't that be great?

This is very useful, but on the other hand, it's completely frustrating for anyone trying to catch up on information on whether or not your name check is being processed.

Something that would be nice is some way to log into a system/database/online webpage and just input your A#, or some other moniker, to see the overall status. IE: pending, complete, not finished, in process.

:/