Does having prior federal background checks help or hurt

[BigBlueDodge]

I do quite a bit of traveling in my job. Last year, I took on a job that had me traving from Texas to Canada every week for over a year. The US and Canadian governments have a program that you can apply for, that lets frequent, low risk travelors, BYPASS going through customs agents on both sodes. To get this permit, you have your background checked by both US and Canadian goverments. The process takes approximately 6-8 weeks before you get your "plastic". I have applied for, and gotten my plastic in this program.

Now, I presume that as they are doing my CHL checks, it will show up that I have applied for and gotten this pass. The question I have, is do you think this complicates or might help my application process. Do they have to re-check your background if they see that you already had one done previously?

[HerbM]

I do quite a bit of traveling in my job. Last year, I took on a job that had me traving from Texas to Canada every week for over a year. The US and Canadian governments have a program that you can apply for, that lets frequent, low risk travelors, BYPASS going through customs agents on both sodes. To get this permit, you have your background checked by both US and Canadian goverments. The process takes approximately 6-8 weeks before you get your "plastic". I have applied for, and gotten my plastic in this program.

Now, I presume that as they are doing my CHL checks, it will show up that I have applied for and gotten this pass. The question I have, is do you think this complicates or might help my application process. Do they have to re-check your background if they see that you already had one done previously?

I was taught, but have no current evidence to prove, that a prior background check helps. This was in the context of a Secret clearance for the Army. Supposedly, once you had this they didn't have to repeat the completed portions when updating it. They might make additional checks to raise it from Secret to Top Secret, and they would need to update an expire clearance from at MOST the time the previous one was completed.

I cannot imagine how it would hurt -- if it were clean. They either redo it (if different requirements are in effect for the new check) or they use the old one in whole or part.

Of course it is the government so who know for sure?

[WildBill]

Now, I presume that as they are doing my CHL checks, it will show up that I have applied for and gotten this pass. The question I have, is do you think this complicates or might help my application process. Do they have to re-check your background if they see that you already had one done previously?

This topic has been discussed many times in this forum. I am not sure what "bypass" you are referring to, but it has nothing to do with the FBI or DPS investigation for a CHL.

A criminal background check for a CHL isn't the same as a security clearance investigation. Whether or not a security clearance check was performed or a clearance was issued it will not "show up" during the criminal background check for the CHL application process.

[BigBlueDodge]

The program in question is called Nexus, which is a joint project between US Customs and Canadian Border Patrol

Canadian Site
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpass ... r-eng.html

US Site
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trust ... exus_prog/


Per the FAQ on the site

2. What measures will the Government of Canada take to ensure that travellers enrolled in CANPASS Air do not pose a security risk to Canada?

Participation in the program is restricted to pre-approved travellers. Applicants undergo a detailed security clearance check and an interview with a CBSA officer before being enrolled in the CANPASS Air program. Every time CANPASS Air members enter Canada, their membership information is verified against customs and immigration databases to ensure compliance with the program's regulations.

3. What is involved in a risk assessment?

The risk assessment involves a rigorous background check of all applicants. During the risk assessment, applicants are checked against a number of law enforcement, customs and immigration databases to ensure that they are eligible for the program. Each member's eligibility is re-assessed annually.

The program is rigorous enought that it grants me exemption from having to have a US Passport to enter into Canada from the US, and to return from Canada to the US. Additionally, I do not have to meet with any US/Canadian Customs agents when crossing the border. Since enrolling in this program requires a federal background check by both the US and Canadian governements, I didn't know if the CHL department used the same agencies to do criminal background checks. Actually, I am hoping that this will show up when they do my check, as I'm hoping that it would speed up my application process, since they knew I had already undergone a detailed background check.

I guess the only way to know is to wait and see.

[kd5zex]

For my job I had to get a TWIC card in order to gain access to ports of entry unsupervised which requires a federal background check. It has a 6-8 week timeframe which started after I sent in my application and ended last month sometime. It sure doesn't seem to have helped me any.

[winkydo]

i was wondering the same thing. my work is sending me to london in september and i need to go get my passport.

it's sad that i'll get my passport before my plastic is even processed.

[BigBlueDodge]

As far as I know, passports do not have background checks, as they are just a form of identification. I have a passport, and don't remember seeing anything about criminal background checks mentioned on the application.

[neal6325]

I have a Federal Firearms License and it made no differnce on my time line for the CHL as it was processed in about the same amount of time as others applying when I got mine. Additionally, when I was in the military I was processed for my clearance (not specifying what level intentionally) and that also did not seem to have any impact on my CHL. When I inquired while in Austin last month for my CHL instructors certification I asked that very question and their answer was that the background checks were done each time independently and had no impact on one another. Not sure if that is a standard response or accurate.

[BigBlueDodge]

Thanks Neal. That is what I had thought would be the case.