This article will help you understand:
- What is a US territory search?
- How do I add a US territory search to my package?
- What is the average turnaround time (TAT) for a US territory search?
- Are there additional costs associated with a US territory search?
- Is additional candidate data required for a US territory search?
- What is the candidate experience?
What is a US territory search?
A United States territory search can be enabled as part of a State Criminal Records Check to discover potential criminal records in the US territories of:
- American Samoa (AS)
- Guam (GU)
- Northern Mariana Islands (MP)
- Puerto Rico (PR)
- US Virgin Islands (VI)
Please note: Checkr’s National Criminal Database, County Criminal Records, County Civil Records and Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) Checks do not cover US Territories.
How do I add a US Territory search to my package?
A US territory search is not enabled by default. Contact Checkr Customer Support to configure your package. While running the State Criminal Records Check, customers can choose to Always search or Limit the search to specific US territories.
What is the average turnaround time (TAT) for a US Territory search?
Average turnaround time will vary depending on the US Territory included in the search:
- Guam (GU): 7-8 business days
- Puerto Rico (PR): 4-5 business days
- US Virgin Islands (VI): Less than 1
Are there additional costs associated with a US territory search?
Yes, additional fees apply. Please contact Checkr Customer Support for more information.
Is additional candidate data required for a US territory search?
Yes, when a US territory search is required, an exception will be triggered to collect additional Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from the candidate. Depending on the territory being searched, the candidate may be prompted to provide:
- Government ID
- Current address
- Address in country
- Place of birth
- Mother’s maiden name
What is the candidate experience?
A US territory search may not be run as a standalone check. It is run as a component of the State Criminal Records Check which must be run in conjunction with the basic report package.
Candidates will be asked to provide Personally Identifiable Information (PII), including their full name, date of birth, social security number, email address, and phone number.
They will be presented and asked to acknowledge receipt of applicable forms and notifications, including Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and an Acknowledgement and Authorization for Background Check.
After the candidate consents, a pointer search will be initiated and the candidate’s zip code will be analyzed to determine if a US territory search is needed. Once the US territory search is determined to be needed, an exception will be triggered to collect additional candidate information. After the candidate provides additional information, Checkr will then initiate the US territory search.
If you've applied for a job and are looking for more information on your background check’s status or progress, please log into the Checkr Candidate Portal.