With respect to that process, as Madam Biguzs mentioned, originally the checks come in to us through the government electronic messaging and document exchange service, which is a name-based application. Once we receive the name, date of birth, and some other biographical information, we filter that through two processes: the criminal name index, which is the criminal record check, if you will; and then the persons check through the CPIC system.
If the name and date of birth and other biographical information meet a certain threshold through an algorithm that we have within the system.... If it's below that, it's a negative and we respond immediately that no information is available in our databases for this particular purpose.
If it is above that threshold, then it's inconclusive. Then we need to go back to the applicant and ask them to send in a set of fingerprints, because we apply—with every criminal record that we have in our database, the criminal record itself is matched to a legally obtained set of fingerprints, obtained under section 2 of the Identification of Criminals Act. So we would know with certainty that the identity of the individual who is submitting the prints is married to that particular criminal record. As a result, we can provide a certified document that says these prints belong to these criminal charges and they belong to the person who submitted the prints. That does take a little longer.
When we send back the initial response that said that prints were need, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada provides a letter to the individual instructing them to go to a police service or an authorized third-party agency to submit the prints to us. They have up to 30 days to do that or they need to acquire an extension from IRCC.
In some cases, information is contained in the criminal record holdings that requires follow-up from the police services. The police services themselves provide that information to the system. It's their information. Sometimes we have to ask if this information is releasable, depending on what it is. It can take a little time, but essentially the process is that a name-based check is done first; then, depending on the information derived from that, a subsequent fingerprint check might be required; and then the conclusive results are sent back either to the individual, or if he signed a third-party waiver, directly to IRCC.