Job Discussion Forums

[Taxim]

I'm sorry for posting this here. I can't seem to register over at the JET website to ask the question in a more logical place.

At any rate, I just got my FBI background check back. I've been told that if staples can be felt through the envelope, then a redo will be necessary.

I can feel staples.

I would like to open the envelope, but the general consensus seems to be that applicants are not supposed to open their FBI checks.

The problem with this is that I cannot find such a directive anywhere in any official capacity. That is, nowhere on the JET or embassy sites do I see directions not to open the packet.

One might argue that it's just common sense not to do so. Perhaps, but JET has been terrifically specific down to the very last detail up until this point. This pattern suggests that if it were to be left unopened, then that would be noted somewhere. (and we have had to open other sealed documents before)

So, I'm asking if someone can point me to anything official on this. If I can open the letter, then I'd like to do so in order to find out if I need to redo this check. (and if so, I'd like to start that process as soon as possible)

I'll contact the embassy if I must, but I consider that a measure of last resort. I'd rather not bother them if I can avoid it.

Oh, and no. Nobody has been shortlisted yet. I'm doing this in the event that I get in. The last thing I want to do, if I get sent over, is spend my first few days in Japan running round trying to find a place to get fingerprinted.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[shoegazer]

I'm waiting on results from JET myself. I never read anything about staples being such a huge deal, could you link me to where you read this?

[Taxim]

Sure:

http://www.jetprogramme.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=5082

Clearly this isn't gospel. Even still, I'd like to be able to find out if I have to do this again or not. Staple, or no.

[shoegazer]

Ok I'm familiar with this thread. I actually posted in it a few days ago. All this talk about staples is just general paranoia that they're having about their records containing more than one sheet of paper, suggesting the possibility that there is more information than expected on the record and that therefore it might not be as clean as anticipated. If you reread the thread, one of the current JETs mentions that his FBI check came back with staples but the reason he had to redo it was because his fingerprints came out illegible, not because it had staples. As far as opening the envelope is concerned, I highly doubt you can still use it if it's opened. You could contact the embassy to ask, but consider that the result would be the same in the end; if there's something on there that might be cause for alarm, whether you opened it or not, you can't remove it. Of course, if you think your record is clean, it probably is.

[G Cthulhu]

I'd be more concerned if you *couldn't* feel staples! Don't open the envelope if you want it to be useful. Phone the location where you're submitting it and ask first - if they say yes then go for it. I can pretty much guarantee they'll say no.

If you want to see what's in the report then pay $25 and get a background check run on yourself.

[Taxim]

I'm not worried over what any report might say (no record). I'm just hoping that there is a report and not a "sorry, smudged, try again" response.

Thanks for that though. I guess that's good enough for me to just sit on it then.

[maastricht]

I see, since AmberBear felt a "stable" through the envelope, it meant the fingerprint cards had been returned. I can be pretty anal, and if I thought I felt the cardboard through the envelope, I might order a second check just in case, since $18 isn't too bad. I'm a bit worried about my prints myself. I kept tensing my hand and couldn't fully let the technician control my hands.