pre-enrolment security screening or citizenship

[caozx09]

Hi guys,
I need your help and insights about my application.
Background: I am a PR from China landed in Canada back in early 2022, I appreciate the freedom that Canada gives me so I always want to pay back to this country that I love. So, I submitted my application once PRs were allowed to apply to join CAF in winter 2022.
However, that was how the waiting game began. In May 2022, I passed the interview and medical, and was told that as a PR from China, I need to pass the secret level secrurity clearance before getting enrolled. Then I conducted the security interview with CSIS in October 2023. then radio silence for more than one year.
At the beginning of 2025, a recruiter asked me if I still want to join CAF as ACSO or AEC, I said yes, then I was booked to do the CFAST in Trenton, and passed for both trades in June, then followed by interview and medical again.
Now seems like I entered the same deadlock as two years ago. As a PR from China, even though I have submitted my citizenship application, I still need to get pre-enrolment security clearnance before getting enrolled, in my case that is level 2, secret level clearance; or I need to get my Canadian citizenship which can waive the pre-enrolement security clearance.
my question is:
since the level 2 secret security has started almost for 24 months, is that possible to be done within 24 months? or it is possible to wait for longer?
thank you so much for your time!

 

[halifaxwanderer]

i think the citizenship would be granted before you get the level 2. Once you have the certificate, go to the CFRC for file update.
Would you mind if I ask how the interview was notified? Was that from email or phone?

 

[caozx09]

i think the citizenship would be granted before you get the level 2. Once you have the certificate, go to the CFRC for file update.
Would you mind if I ask how the interview was notified? Was that from email or phone?

thank you bud! it was through email. also you will receive notifications from your portal

 

[halifaxwanderer]

thank you bud! it was through email. also you will receive notifications from your portal

Thanks. but my TBS-330-60E has been submitted to Director General Defence Security like 6 months ago, but have not heard anything like CSIS interview from them. but will keep going to CFRC for monthly update. hope you get enrolled soon. Cheers.

 

[caozx09]

Thanks. but my TBS-330-60E has been submitted to Director General Defence Security like 6 months ago, but have not heard anything like CSIS interview from them. but will keep going to CFRC for monthly update. hope you get enrolled soon. Cheers.

thank you, hopefully you will get into caf soon also

 

[MalayanTapir]

I assume citizenship would be the faster route if you request for urgent processing?

 

[sarahsmom]

I assume citizenship would be the faster route if you request for urgent processing?

Already having your citizenship would be a faster/easier route. If you are a PR, the file will take the time it takes unfortunately.

 

[caozx09]

Already having your citizenship would be a faster/easier route. If you are a PR, the file will take the time it takes unfortunately.

I request that already, but ircc is still not moving at all

 

[MalayanTapir]

I request that already, but ircc is still not moving at all

How long has it been? You might be able to submit a webform requesting urgent processing for employment purposes.

 

[Underway]

Hi guys,
I need your help and insights about my application.
Background: I am a PR from China landed in Canada back in early 2022, I appreciate the freedom that Canada gives me so I always want to pay back to this country that I love. So, I submitted my application once PRs were allowed to apply to join CAF in winter 2022.
However, that was how the waiting game began. In May 2022, I passed the interview and medical, and was told that as a PR from China, I need to pass the secret level secrurity clearance before getting enrolled. Then I conducted the security interview with CSIS in October 2023. then radio silence for more than one year.
At the beginning of 2025, a recruiter asked me if I still want to join CAF as ACSO or AEC, I said yes, then I was booked to do the CFAST in Trenton, and passed for both trades in June, then followed by interview and medical again.
Now seems like I entered the same deadlock as two years ago. As a PR from China, even though I have submitted my citizenship application, I still need to get pre-enrolment security clearnance before getting enrolled, in my case that is level 2, secret level clearance; or I need to get my Canadian citizenship which can waive the pre-enrolement security clearance.
my question is:
since the level 2 secret security has started almost for 24 months, is that possible to be done within 24 months? or it is possible to wait for longer?
thank you so much for your time!

Your Canadian citizenship will not waive the pre-enrollment security clearance requirements, whoever told you that is incorrect. It doesn't matter what citizen you were, Canadian or otherwise, as you were living in China for longer than 6 months in the last 5 years.

I would wait out as your file is still in process and the CSIS interview was already done. Which means you're over halfway.

 

[caozx09]

Your Canadian citizenship will not waive the pre-enrollment security clearance requirements, whoever told you that is incorrect. It doesn't matter what citizen you were, Canadian or otherwise, as you were living in China for longer than 6 months in the last 5 years.

I would wait out as your file is still in process and the CSIS interview was already done. Which means you're over halfway.

I did my csis interview 2 years ago bro. What i mean is, once i get my Canadian citizenship, i can join caf before my security check is done.

 

[caozx09]

How long has it been? You might be able to submit a webform requesting urgent processing for employment purposes.

I requested about 2 months ago via webform, just get my gcms back today, ircc ignored me as always.

 

[MalayanTapir]

I requested about 2 months ago via webform, just get my gcms back today, ircc ignored me as always.

Sorry to hear man.

 

[Underway]

I did my csis interview 2 years ago bro. What i mean is, once i get my Canadian citizenship, i can join caf before my security check is done.

You can't until 2027. 5 years after you spent 6+ months in China.

China is a red flagged country. And you, as an applicant who isn't in the military or security services at this time is at the bottom of the pile for the folks who do the security clearances.

 

[halifaxwanderer]

You can't until 2027. 5 years after you spent 6+ months in China.

China is a red flagged country. And you, as an applicant who isn't in the military or security services at this time is at the bottom of the pile for the folks who do the security clearances.

Hi. Thanks for the info. Would like to confirm that a person can only be enrolled 5 years after they lived in a red flagged country? That is a policy new to hear. Well, the policy changes frequently, but thanks again for the input. Will confirm with CFRC to see if they can tell more about it.

 

[Underway]

Hi. Thanks for the info. Would like to confirm that a person can only be enrolled 5 years after they lived in a red flagged country? That is a policy new to hear. Well, the policy changes frequently, but thanks again for the input. Will confirm with CFRC to see if they can tell more about it.

In the person above's case they were not a Canadian Citizen. If you are a Canadian Citizen and lived in a red flagged country for 6+ months in the last 5 years you will require a Pre-security Screening, and will also require a police check from that country, and a credit check from the same country. Asking for a police check from some of those places means you will never get one (North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan etc...).

I haven't seen a Pre-Security Screening come back in less than a year. If you were visiting a red-flagged country for less than 6 months then you can process as normal.

Thats the CFRC policy. The best bet is to apply and see what they say when they get around to your file. There are also some trade restrictions on those who were flagged.

 

[halifaxwanderer]

In the person above's case they were not a Canadian Citizen. If you are a Canadian Citizen and lived in a red flagged country for 6+ months in the last 5 years you will require a Pre-security Screening, and will also require a police check from that country, and a credit check from the same country. Asking for a police check from some of those places means you will never get one (North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan etc...).

I haven't seen a Pre-Security Screening come back in less than a year. If you were visiting a red-flagged country for less than 6 months then you can process as normal.

Thats the CFRC policy. The best bet is to apply and see what they say when they get around to your file. There are also some trade restrictions on those who were flagged.

Thanks for the detailed explanation over the policy and how it works. Guess it is what is. I have submitted TBS-330-60E long time ago and also filled the security screening form in the new platform (GAMBIT) last November --CFRC told me that the new system would facilitate the process From what I have heard from them, they told me that they got the police certificate checked in the red flagged country and also National police database in Canada. So was wondering what is next.

 

[Underway]

Thanks for the detailed explanation over the policy and how it works. Guess it is what is. I have submitted TBS-330-60E long time ago and also filled the security screening form in the new platform (GAMBIT) last November --CFRC told me that the new system would facilitate the process From what I have heard from them, they told me that they got the police certificate checked in the red flagged country and also National police database in Canada. So was wondering what is next.

Talk to the Centre. They normally don't get the police certificate themselves, thats your responsibility. You'll have to request it and submit it. Same thing for the foriegn Credit check. I have never seen CFRC request a police check on someones behalf, so that sounds a bit odd to me.

As well the 330-60E isn't used anymore, all the reliability forms (23E, 60E and internal security clearance forms) have now been combined into the 330-61, as we switched from WebSPS to PSPS programs. You may have to fill that out as well, though normally you're grandfathered under the old form.

As for next, wait. I've never seen a Pre-Sec come back in under a year.

 

[halifaxwanderer]

Talk to the Centre. They normally don't get the police certificate themselves, thats your responsibility. You'll have to request it and submit it. Same thing for the foriegn Credit check. I have never seen CFRC request a police check on someones behalf, so that sounds a bit odd to me.

As well the 330-60E isn't used anymore, all the reliability forms (23E, 60E and internal security clearance forms) have now been combined into the 330-61, as we switched from WebSPS to PSPS programs. You may have to fill that out as well, though normally you're grandfathered under the old form.

As for next, wait. I've never seen a Pre-Sec come back in under a year.

Hi, thanks for your time and answer and sorry for not being clear in the matter of foreign police certificate. I did requested it myself and had it notarized and translated before submission to CFRC. They told me that it was verified earlier this year. As for the 330-60E vs the new platform (GAMBIT), they asked me to fill it new platform GAMBIT, which is the PSPS program you mentioned earlier. I did it last November, and it took me two days to complete it

Last thing I heard from them is they had verified the foreign police check I submitted and also done the police check in Canada through a national database operated by RCMP, I could not remember the acronym, it was a four letter one starting with N.

That is my current progress now might be a bit wait.

Again, thanks for your time