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.BigBlueDodge wrote: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 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?