Is It a Bad Sign if Your Background Check Takes a Long Time?

Cindy Ellis - January 30, 2025

Picture this: you’re sitting by your desk with your phone in hand, anxiously waiting for the results of your background check. Hours pass without any update, and you slowly start to doubt yourself. Is it a bad sign if your background check takes a long time? Or is there a valid reason why it might be taking longer than usual?

The short answer is that it’s nothing to worry about. Just because a background check is taking longer doesn’t mean there’s an issue. There are plenty of reasons why these checks can drag on, most of which have nothing to do with negative outcomes or red flags.

This article will explore why background checks might take longer, whether or not you should worry, and how to use advanced tools to take control of your own background records.

General Time Frames for Background Checks

If your background check takes longer than expected, don’t immediately view it as a bad sign. Delays can happen for several reasons, especially if you’ve provided all the necessary information and have a clear history.

A typical employment or rental background check can take anywhere from a few hours to 2-5 business days. On the other hand, if you’re applying for a job in the government or healthcare sector, the vetting required is more stringent. Checks in these fields can take from 1-2 weeks up to a month or so. 

There are several factors that influence the timeframe of your background check: 

• The Level of Detail Required: Background checks that are incredibly thorough and go past the basics, such as verifying education credentials and criminal records across multiple jurisdictions or dealing with international work history, take longer than usual.
• Regulations in the Relevant Field: Different industries have different legal requirements for what kinds of background checks need to be done. Financial institutions, along with healthcare and government systems, might have more demanding checks.
• Location: If the check needs to retrieve information from international or multiple states’ databases, the processing time can vary significantly.

Why Do Background Checks Take Longer?

As discussed above, most background checks can easily be completed within a week. However, there are several factors that can slow down the process:

Verifying Multiple Records

Background checks involve verifying several types of records from all sorts of sources. For example, a criminal background check might require data from federal, state, and county courts. This process can be delayed if certain jurisdictions take longer to process requests or if there are multiple locations involved, such as in the case of someone who has lived in multiple states or countries.

Similarly, if other institutions are slow to respond and verify your credentials, your background check will take longer. In the case of education verification, some universities and colleges can take weeks to hand over the necessary documentation, especially during busy periods like graduation.

Errors in Your Information

If you’ve accidentally made any errors or mismatches in your information, your background check can experience a delay. This includes misspelled names, incorrect dates of employment or past job tenures, incomplete forms, etc. These discrepancies often lead to the person conducting the check contacting the employer or educational institution for clarification, which can take several days to complete.

Administrative Delays

Many background checks rely on government databases, court records, and public offices for information. If there are any backlogs or administrative delays at these institutions, the entire process can slow down. 

For example, smaller county courthouses often don’t have digital records and require people to do manual searches. These can take a lot longer and delay the process. Holiday periods and unexpected closures can also be a major inconvenience.

Geographical Boundaries

Background searches that involve international records can take significantly longer as well. If you’ve lived or worked in another country, getting access to those records can involve different legal processes, slower communication channels, and language translation issues. Some countries also don’t provide easy access to criminal or employment histories, making things unnecessarily complicated. 

When Should You Worry About Your Background Check?

While delays usually aren’t a cause for alarm because of the various reasons we mentioned above, there are a few signs that might indicate that something is wrong:

• If you haven’t gotten any updates from your employer, landlord, or institution conducting the background check in over a week, there might be an issue in the process.
• If there are discrepancies in your application and no one has reached out to clarify them, this might be concerning.
• If the company or background check provider stops responding to your inquiries or gives vague answers without explanation, you might need to follow up.
• If you’re being asked to submit additional documents unexpectedly, there could be complications in verifying your information.
• If your potential employer suddenly withdraws the offer or indefinitely postpones their hiring decision, the background check could be the reason.

What to Do If Your Background Check Is Delayed

Noticing these signs when you’re waiting for the results of your background check can be pretty stressful. However, being proactive and patient is key. There are several steps you can take if your background check is delayed:

Stay in Communication With the Employer, Landlord, or Agency

One of the first things you should do is reach out to the employer or the company conducting the background check. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for an update if the process is taking longer than expected. Just remember to stay professional and polite and ask for a status update.

This way, you’ll be able to learn which part of the process is causing the delay. You’ll also get confirmation that all the necessary documents and details you provided have been received. Plus, you can get a revised timeline for when you can expect the background check to be completed.

Most people will appreciate that you’re staying engaged and informed, and they might be able to offer clarity on the specific reasons behind the delay.

Verify the Information You Provided

Since a common cause of delays in background checks is incomplete or inaccurate information, double-check the details you submitted. This includes the spelling of your name, dates of employment or education, Social Security number, and other details. 

If you find any mistakes, get in touch with the background check provider immediately so that they can make the right corrections and speed up the process.

Keep Yourself Busy and Organized

Another method to manage your anxiety during this time is by staying busy. This can look like anything from continuing to apply for other jobs or focusing on tasks that keep you productive. As long as your mind is occupied, you can help reduce the constant worry. Also, remember to keep all your communication, documentation, and application details in one place so that you can quickly respond to any follow-up requests.

By following these steps, you can navigate the delay without any unnecessary stress or worry. 

How a Reverse Lookup Tool Can Assist You

An excellent way you can stay proactive during the background check process is to check your own records in advance. This can give you peace of mind and help you catch any potential issues that may slow down a background check.

A reverse lookup tool is a platform that allows you to check public records about yourself, such as criminal records, felonies, court cases, and even financial history. This makes it easy to see exactly what might show up during your background check so that you can fix discrepancies ahead of time.

Information.com is one such tool that can help you run a background check on yourself. Just enter your personal information, such as your full name, and it’ll show you your public records, including any criminal history, address history, and other relevant details. 

Pay special attention to criminal records, address history, and employment details so that you can reach out to the relevant agencies to correct any issues before they cause problems in your background check.

The Waiting Game Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

While it’s easy to become anxious when a background check takes longer than expected, keep in mind that delays are often a normal part of the process. Whether it’s because of verifying records from different locations, administrative overload, or even errors in your information, most delays are routine and not a bad sign. 

As you wait for your background check results, remember to stay calm. Keep yourself informed, don’t shy away from communicating with the relevant parties, and use advanced tools like Information.com when needed. All this will help you take better control over the whole process and keep your stress at a minimum.