TSA background check

[Chrisdahut1]

Anyone been through the whole thing in the last month or so since it switched over from th e DOJ to the TSA (category 1)? Getting Preliminary approval was quick and easy, but I'm starting to get a little worried about the length of time it'll take to process the fingerprints. I've got just under 4 weeks till I start class, but just found out that the 30 days the TSA has to clear you doesn't start until they recieve the fingerprints! Right now they are being shipped to a middle man for processing in Tacoma, and thats another delay I didn't anticipate.

Anyone else in the same boat?

[nomoneynowek]

Chris, just got final approval and it took about 2 weeks from submitting fingerprints to getting final approval.

A few days to a couple of weeks seems to be the norm. Good luck with training. Who you getting on with?

[Chrisdahut1]

You don't know how relieved that answer makes me feel!! No one around here has been through it recently, and no one at the TSA can give me an answer. Thankyou.

I start emb-145 class with Chautauqua on Nov. 29th.

BTW, did you go to local law enforcement to do the fingerprints, or do the online registration thing and do it elsewhere? I called up several police stations around here in south FL, and not one would mail my fingerprints for me, even with the pre-paid fedex envelope! They just helpfully said "We don't do that."

[nomoneynowek]

sorry for not replying earlier.....been lying on the beach in Mexico drinking beer!

If it helps and isn't too late......

I went to the local cop station and they told me the same thing.

I then went to the records department at the court house. I found out who opened the mail and spoke very nicely to her and explained the situation. She said she would keep an eye out for the letter, and then I got the airline to post the forms to her.

I phoned her about 3 days after the airline said they'd mailed the stuff off, and she said it had arrived. Went in, got fingerprinted, and they put the return envelope (already stamped) in their out box. Couldn't have been simpler.

Good luck at chatauqua.....I start with ASA on 6th December.

[Chrisdahut1]

I ended up getting the fingerprints done privately, which was hassle free. The only thing that annoyed me about it was that the TSA let the fingerprints sit on their desk for a week before officially acknowledging receipt.

I talked to CHQ HR and explained that there's little chance I'll have the whole thing done with before the 29th. They were great about it- said I could start class anyway, just not sim. Seeing as the sim training isn't until sometime late December, I'll have the TSA repsonse by then.

It's great when everything just works out. Good luck at ASA!

[GUSTO]

Hi nomoneynowek,

Can I ask you what nationality are you , because it seems that it is different from one country to the other .

I am now starting my third weeks after doing myfingerprint and I have not received yet my final approval.

Gusto

[Chrisdahut1]

I got approved! And in only 4 days after fingerprint receipt, which was a welcome surprise.

It seems that for some people it takes a few days and for others it takes a few weeks. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling those who have already gone through this process before (I went through it with the DOJ in July) aren't waiting as long.

A colleague of mine received the "fingerprints received" e-mail 4 days before me, and has yet to receive approval (this is her first background check).

[nomoneynowek]

Gusto,
South Africa........good luck.

Fact that I'd been flying contracts in muslim countries for a couple of years didn't seem to foul the process either!!!:ok:

I think it depends on a number of factors.....where you are from, how common your name is, whether somone with a similar name is on a watch list etc etc etc

[GUSTO]

HI nomoney nowek ,

Dunky for your reply
that's funny i am working for a SA company but I hold a french passeport ,and I think that does not help these days.

Cheers

[GUSTO]

It seems like a majority of American people HATE French citizen and the US administration even more (but they like their/our money ). Guys who applied at the same time got approval in two weeks and I am in the middle of my third weeks now.

Are you all like that ? Not going to war(in iraq) = No friend ????