If your biometric fingerprint submission for a Canadian record suspension is lost or significantly delayed, your 20-digit Document Control Number (DCN) is your lifeline. Do not immediately pay to redo the prints; first, ask your accredited fingerprint agency to trace your file with the RCMP's CCRTIS department.
Applying for a Record Suspension (pardon) in Canada is a lengthy process that requires strict adherence to federal rules. 📂 One of the most stressful setbacks an applicant can face is realizing that their biometric fingerprints seem to have vanished into thin air. Whether you submitted your prints digitally in Toronto or through a card scan agency in Nova Scotia, the data is sent to the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) in Ottawa. When weeks turn into months without a response, it is easy to panic.
Fortunately, the system is designed with safeguards to track your biometric submissions. A delay does not always mean your file is lost; sometimes, complex criminal records simply take the RCMP longer to process. However, if a true system error occurs, knowing how to trace your submission using your unique tracking numbers can save you time, money, and the frustration of having to start the fingerprinting process all over again.
Step-by-Step Process for Tracing Lost RCMP Fingerprints
If you suspect your fingerprints have been lost in the federal system, you must follow a specific sequence of actions. 📌 Attempting to contact the RCMP directly without the proper information will usually result in being turned away.
Step 1: Verify Standard Processing Timelines
Before launching an investigation, confirm that your fingerprints are actually overdue. If you have no criminal record, processing takes just a few days. However, since you are applying for a Record Suspension, you by definition have a criminal record. The RCMP officially states that processing fingerprints associated with a criminal record can take up to 120 business days (approximately six months). Do not initiate a trace until this timeline has comfortably passed.
Step 2: Locate Your Document Control Number (DCN)
When you originally had your fingerprints taken at an accredited agency or local police station, you should have received a physical or digital receipt. 💭 This receipt contains a crucial 20-digit code known as the Document Control Number (DCN). This number is completely unique to your specific biometric submission. Without the DCN, neither the agency nor the RCMP can accurately locate your missing file.
Step 3: Contact Your Accredited Fingerprint Agency
The RCMP does not generally accept direct phone calls from the public regarding fingerprint statuses. Instead, you must contact the specific agency where you had your prints taken. Provide them with your DCN and ask them to perform a status inquiry with CCRTIS. Accredited agencies have direct communication channels with the RCMP and can quickly determine if the file is pending, rejected, or lost.
Step 4: Await the CCRTIS Investigation
Once your agency submits the status request, CCRTIS will review their digital servers. 💻 They will identify where the bottleneck occurred. Sometimes, files are flagged for manual review due to historical convictions (such as older indictable offences or summary convictions) that have not been fully updated in the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database. The agency will update you once the RCMP provides a response.
Step 5: Resubmit Biometrics if Deemed Necessary
If the RCMP confirms that a technical glitch caused the file to be permanently corrupted or lost, you will need to have your fingerprints taken again. If the error was entirely on the part of the federal government or the agency’s software, the agency will typically process your new submission free of charge. You will simply need to attend the office again with your identification.
How Much Does it Cost to Trace or Resubmit?
Dealing with lost documents shouldn’t drain your wallet. 💵 Here is a breakdown of potential costs in Canadian dollars (CAD) if you find yourself in this situation:
| Action Required | Estimated Cost (CAD) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| DCN Trace / Status Update | $0 | Most accredited agencies do not charge a fee to check the status of a delayed file. |
| Re-printing (Agency Error) | $0 | If the agency software failed, they should legally re-take your prints for free. |
| Re-printing (Lost DCN) | $50 to $100 | If you lost your receipt and DCN, the agency cannot trace it, forcing you to pay for a totally new submission. |
| RCMP Federal Fee Resubmission | $25 | Usually waived if the RCMP lost the file, but charged again if you are starting over from scratch. |
How Long Does the Process Take?
Tracing a file requires patience. 📅 When your agency sends a query to CCRTIS, it can take the RCMP between 1 to 3 weeks to respond with a status update. If the RCMP determines that your file is genuinely lost and you need to submit a new set of prints, the 120-business-day processing clock restarts from the moment your new prints hit the federal database. This underscores how important it is to keep your DCN safe so you can intervene early.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between a lost file and a rejected file?
A lost file means the data did not properly transmit to the RCMP servers. A rejected file means the RCMP received it, but the fingerprint quality was too poor (smudged, worn ridges) for the biometric software to read. Both require a new set of prints to be taken.
Can a lawyer speed up the RCMP fingerprint process?
No. Even the best law firm in Canada cannot force the RCMP to process fingerprints faster. Federal security clearances and criminal record checks operate on strict, non-expeditable timelines.
Will my Record Suspension application be cancelled if my prints are delayed?
No, because you should not submit your final application to the Parole Board of Canada until you have your certified criminal record back from the RCMP. The delay simply postpones when you can officially apply.
Can I use a provincial police force to trace my RCMP prints?
If you used the OPP or Sûreté du Québec to take your initial prints, you must contact that specific detachment with your DCN. If you used a private agency, provincial police cannot track your federal submission.
Leave a Reply