US citizens have records in Social Security, birth and driver's license records.
2007-02-09 07:24:30
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answer #1
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answered by Joan 1
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US citizens have records in Social Security, birth and driver's license records.
2007-02-05 13:56:00
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answer #2
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answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7
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All those applying for U.S. immigration benefits (permanent residency or citizenship) are subject to national security background checks to establish their eligibility for residency. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency in charge of immigration visa processing performs these checks on every applicant, without regard for ethnicity, national origin or religion. How do they search? Does it cause delays? And what are they looking for? ...
After 9/11/2001, the USCIS (formerly the INS), began to increase the volume and scope of background checks, mainly for security purposes. Millions of applications routinely get security clearance without incident. USCIS applicants, however, and their immigrant advocates, have been very concerned about processing delays, pointing to individual examples of applicants waiting a year or longer for adjudication, due to slow background checks.
The USCIS generally uses a three-tier background check approach, although they are allowed to use a number of other investigative techniques and resources if deemed necessary:
• The Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) Name Check—IBIS has a multiagency, central system that collects information from multiple sources and then compiles data to assess national security risks, public safety law enforcement issues. IBIS checks are usually instant. From there, either applicants are disqualified or further investigation takes place. The IBIS check is not considered complete until any eligibility questions or issues arising from the system response have been resolved.
• FBI Fingerprint Check—The FBI fingerprints many applicants for a variety of routine reasons. The fingerprint check determines whether any U.S. criminal record exists on the applicant. This check tends to take 24-48 hours. If a match is found, the FBI transmits a digital copy of the criminal record (RAP sheet) to the USCIS. A USCIS adjudicator then determines whether eligibility is still possible or not. Some 10 percent of applicants are found to either have a criminal history or previous immigration violations that make them ineligible for a green card.
When an applicant has been arrested and charges have been dropped, a case dismissed, or the offender has been found not guilty, the USCIS requires certified evidence of the disposition. Providing such details with the initial application can prevent unnecessary delays later. Misrepresentation (e.g., lying, or lying by omission) on an application could result in a denial that might have been avoidable. Even vacated or expunged convictions must be reported.
• FBI Name Checks—The FBI name check is not related to the fingerprint check. This check is based on applications, personnel, administrative, criminal and other files compiled by law enforcement. Such checks take 14 days or so to complete. Eighty percent of applicants pass this stage without a problem. The remaining 20 percent are almost all resolved within half a year. If a problem with the name check is identified, it does not always indicate criminal activity. Sometimes there are simply complex circumstances requiring additional research.
Adjudicating immigration applications is a very labor intensive process, and one that takes time, sometimes months or years. USCIS district offices do regularly screen their pending caseloads to make sure nothing falls between the cracks. Details of background checks are never shared with applicants or their representatives. This can certainly be frustrating in cases of denial where the applicant has no idea what he or she has "done wrong."
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) recently agreed to get stricter about completing background checks before citizenship interviews are even scheduled, as already required by law, but which hasn't been followed very tightly.
This announcement comes shortly after Congressional testimony by Michael Maxwell, former director of the Office of Security and Investigations of USCIS, stating that national security loopholes exist in the U.S. immigration system. Delayed background checks were one of those loopholes. Once a citizenship interview has been completed, the USCIS has just 120 days to either deny or grant citizenship. Although eighty percent of results are turned in during that time frame, Maxwell was told by the acting deputy director of the USCIS that the remaining twenty percent that were not represented a small and "acceptable risk." No one wants to deny citizenship simply because a background check is incomplete, and often, courts will grant citizenship despite missing background checks when applicants take the USCIS to court for not meeting its deadlines. Thus, the new tightening of procedure
2007-02-05 13:56:44
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answer #3
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answered by msu_milk_chocolate 3
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US citizens have records in Social Security, birth and driver's license records and also police records
2007-02-05 13:57:09
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answer #4
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answered by glamour04111 7
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