FBI Background Check E-mails?

[Jadeity]

I heard from my consulate that Tokyo hasn't given them an official reply yet on who has been selected, but they did send out e-mails to certain people telling them to go ahead and get their background checks started.

Is this an indication of who has gotten in and who hasn't? I know they said they weren't sending those e-mails to people who got early placement, but still.

I thought it was really strange to be letting people know they've most likely been selected before the official results are in...?

I didn't get an e-mail, but I still have my fingers crossed for early placement.

Does anyone have any insight on what's going on with these e-mails...?

[jookie]

Did you check your spam folder by chance?

[Jadeity]

Haha, yeah. Several times a day for the past few days. I keep hoping maybe I missed it and it'll magically appear in the few hours between checks.

I guess the point of my question is: are those e-mails a fairly definite indication on acceptance? Even though the official results from Tokyo aren't in yet?

[jookie]

Had you applied for early departure? If so, your FBI background check (to my understanding) should have been sent in around the same time of your application.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "early placement."

[Jadeity]

Sorry. Early placement = early departure. I did apply for that and sent in all of the required information with my application.

My actual question is more concerning the e-mails that were sent out. My friend got one and I'm seeing if that means that he's likely been selected.

Basically I want to know what the e-mails mean. If they mean yes, that person has been selected as an ALT. Or if they're sending them to everyone who didn't get selected for early departure. Or what.

[akirashock]

I think it might just be something certain consulates do earlier than others. I interviewed in Houston and got an email like this, and it sounds like the other Houston hopefuls on these forums received them as well.

[nicole.ai]

Maybe since you already had an FBI background check for ED, you didn't get the email about needing to get one done since they already have one from you on file? I didn't get an email from my consulate asking about sending out for a background check, and I haven't heard one way or the other if anyone else in my consulate has or has not gotten that email.

Anyway, I just don't think you should assume/worry that you haven't gotten an email about sending for a background check yet. I think it would be awfully silly of the JET people if they were essentially notifying people in this roundabout fashion. The only email you should be really worried about will come in April.

[Jadeity]

I hope you guys are right... I'm just really concerned because my friend also applied for early departure and he got the e-mail, so it seemed like a really bad sign.

My friend who is already in JET said that she didn't think they would somewhat notify people in this way, but to check here on the forums to see if anyone else had more insight.

[mobiuschic42]

I hope you guys are right... I'm just really concerned because my friend also applied for early departure and he got the e-mail, so it seemed like a really bad sign.

My friend who is already in JET said that she didn't think they would somewhat notify people in this way, but to check here on the forums to see if anyone else had more insight.

Hi Jadeity,
Miami_Coordinator has been talking about this a bit on the US 2012 forum. I think they've sent out emails to Early Departure people who have been selected, but it looks like there was some small kerfuffle and some people were selected by Tokyo despite not having all their materials in. It's possible your friend is in this situation.

As for this being a bad sign: it might be a bad sign as far as April early departure goes, but don't be disappointed yet: they've stressed all over the place that only a very small number of people go in April, and it's still entirely possible that you'll be shortlisted. Then, you could either go in July/August with the regular departure groups, or be upgraded any time before then and go directly to your placement.

I'm in the same boat as you (applied early departure but haven't heard), and I've actually take a sigh of relief from not hearing. This means I can plan my life a bit for the next few months (including getting to meet my (first!) nephew who'll be born in late April!), and I know I won't have to scramble a lot to get ready to go in April.

If you're still curious about what your friend's email means, or if you've been passed over for April departure, either have him/her email your coordinator, or you can email your coordinator yourself.

Deep breaths! It's not over until shortlist goes out in April!
Good luck!

[miami_coordinator]

Some of the consulates are advocating to start getting additional materials together now even though we haven't received official word yet. The deadline to submit the FBI background checks to Tokyo was moved up this year, and in order to actually get those in on time, some of us are starting to notify applicants that they should get their documentation together.

This is not necessarily an indication that you will or will not be accepted. If your coordinator told you to go ahead with the process of getting your FBI background check, it's a good idea to submit the application (make sure you save a photocopy of the application to send in to your coordinator in the event that you are accepted as a short list or alternate candidate). If you did not receive word about it, you can wait to hear from your coordinator (some are holding off in order to only tell those applicants who were accepted, although this does make it tight to get the background checks in on time) or you can contact your coordinator to see whether or not you should start the process.

[Gekishinken]

That's interesting...I interviewed in Chicago and have not received anything saying to go ahead and do a background check (and I thought Chicago was the largest too!). Out of curiosity, roughly when are background checks due if one gets shortlisted? I was checking the FBI website and it said that it can take up to 8 weeks, so assuming one filed today that would get it back to the person in Mid May or so.

[chomuch]

I interviewed from Atlanta (regular-departure), and I got an email about FBI bg checks a couple of days ago. I don't think it's an indicator about being shortlisted, but more like every consulate is handling things in their own way.

[brainsteww]

Some of the consulates are advocating to start getting additional materials together now even though we haven't received official word yet. The deadline to submit the FBI background checks to Tokyo was moved up this year, and in order to actually get those in on time, some of us are starting to notify applicants that they should get their documentation together.

This is not necessarily an indication that you will or will not be accepted. If your coordinator told you to go ahead with the process of getting your FBI background check, it's a good idea to submit the application (make sure you save a photocopy of the application to send in to your coordinator in the event that you are accepted as a short list or alternate candidate). If you did not receive word about it, you can wait to hear from your coordinator (some are holding off in order to only tell those applicants who were accepted, although this does make it tight to get the background checks in on time) or you can contact your coordinator to see whether or not you should start the process.

Does this mean every interview applicant should have gotten emails saying they should start the FBI check, etc. now?

[mobiuschic42]

Some of the consulates are advocating to start getting additional materials together now even though we haven't received official word yet.

Does this mean every interview applicant should have gotten emails saying they should start the FBI check, etc. now?

No, it's consulate by consulate.

[megandd]

I interviewed from Atlanta (regular-departure), and I got an email about FBI bg checks a couple of days ago. I don't think it's an indicator about being shortlisted, but more like every consulate is handling things in their own way.

That kind of makes me nervous. I interviewed in Atlanta as well, but I didn't get an e-mail. Then again, I did already get one done for early departure, but I was under the impression that I would need a second one if I were accepted with regular departure.