Waiting for fingerprint clearances
When we started our homestudy, we were fingerprinted for clearance by both our state and the FBI. We dutifully submitted our fingerprints the first week of June. We were told that the state processed them in five business days and then sent them on to the FBI, which would likely take about 12 weeks. So, we patiently waited.
The 12 weeks was up last Friday, so I started searching websites for contact names and numbers. I started with the state. The first call, I spent 15 minutes on hold waiting for the next available agent, only to be told their computers were down and to call back later.
While I was waiting on hold, I found a general questions email address for the FBI and dropped them an email, expecting an autoanswer or no response at all. A few hours later, I called the state back, spent another 10 minutes on hold, and was told that they sent the cards to the FBI "probably in early July" and that I should wait for three more weeks to see if I hear anything. In other words, a) the state doesn't keep detailed records and b) probably sat on my stuff for a few weeks before sending it on.
At 5:00, I get a phone call from the FBI in response to my blind email. Wow, I'm impressed! The very nice customer service person tells me that they received the print cards from the state on 7/10, processed them and sent the response on 7/11!
By then it's too late to call the state back, so I'm stuck until at least tomorrow. Based on customer service response alone, I'm convinced my wonderful state has either lost the response or it's been sitting on someone's desk for nearly two months while they tell us not to even ask for a status because the FBI is so slow!
Anyway, this FBI clearance, once we figure out where it is, will complete our homestudy, which will complete our dossier. We need to get the proper certifications and authentications, which ideally will take less than two weeks, and then we'll be waiting for a referral. Woo-hoo!
The 12 weeks was up last Friday, so I started searching websites for contact names and numbers. I started with the state. The first call, I spent 15 minutes on hold waiting for the next available agent, only to be told their computers were down and to call back later.
While I was waiting on hold, I found a general questions email address for the FBI and dropped them an email, expecting an autoanswer or no response at all. A few hours later, I called the state back, spent another 10 minutes on hold, and was told that they sent the cards to the FBI "probably in early July" and that I should wait for three more weeks to see if I hear anything. In other words, a) the state doesn't keep detailed records and b) probably sat on my stuff for a few weeks before sending it on.
At 5:00, I get a phone call from the FBI in response to my blind email. Wow, I'm impressed! The very nice customer service person tells me that they received the print cards from the state on 7/10, processed them and sent the response on 7/11!
By then it's too late to call the state back, so I'm stuck until at least tomorrow. Based on customer service response alone, I'm convinced my wonderful state has either lost the response or it's been sitting on someone's desk for nearly two months while they tell us not to even ask for a status because the FBI is so slow!
Anyway, this FBI clearance, once we figure out where it is, will complete our homestudy, which will complete our dossier. We need to get the proper certifications and authentications, which ideally will take less than two weeks, and then we'll be waiting for a referral. Woo-hoo!
posted by Cindy at
7:27 PM
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