How identity is verified in background check? (verification, credit card, application)

[curidpostn]

My spouse got a job recently and waiting for her background check to be complete. They are doing basic background check.. probably identity and criminal.

They have taken her SSN, first name, last name, DOB and address. The HR told that it would be done in 1-2 days, but it has been 3 days and background verification is still going on.

I would like to know the following..

She got her work authorization 6 or 7 months back. So she applied SSN only after that. Since she doesn't have a job, she hasn't applied for a credit card yet. I learnt that checking credit report is one way of doing identity verification. She tried signing up with Creditkarma, but they could not pull her info as her details aren't present with neither of credit bureau.

Is there any other way background agencies use to check identity ? I figured out that SSN check is another way to do identity check. Since she doesn't have any income so far, will her SSN be verifiable through SSA portal?

I am concerned that it shouldn't delay her joining process as the employer might move on if it takes too long for verification.

[ThisIsATrueStory]

There is a type of search called a social security track that brings up names and addresses that are associated with a social security number, but it pulls results from things like credit applications and postal records. It's not really 'official', and generally doesn't find any results for very young people or people who are new to the US and just got a social security number. The company may be aware of that and just don't think it's a big deal since your wife's social security number number is new.

There's another type of search that actually checks directly with the Social Security Administration to confirm that the name and social security number provided match, but your wife would have had to complete a special authorization form. The SSA won't verify the social without it.

If they're doing criminal checks that's probably what's taking a while. Depending on what types of criminal checks they're doing and in what areas, three days isn't very long at all.

[curidpostn]

Originally Posted by ThisIsATrueStory

There is a type of search called a social security track that brings up names and addresses that are associated with a social security number, but it pulls results from things like credit applications and postal records. It's not really 'official', and generally doesn't find any results for very young people or people who are new to the US and just got a social security number. The company may be aware of that and just don't think it's a big deal since your wife's social security number number is new.

There's another type of search that actually checks directly with the Social Security Administration to confirm that the name and social security number provided match, but your wife would have had to complete a special authorization form. The SSA won't verify the social without it.

If they're doing criminal checks that's probably what's taking a while. Depending on what types of criminal checks they're doing and in what areas, three days isn't very long at all.

Thank you!

They haven't asked her for any form so far, but she was made to fill up an online form and got some declaration ticked before submission. Not sure if that would be used.

Regarding criminal checks.. is it basically running one's last name + DOB combination against the set of criminal databases they have?

[psichick]

I'm curious, when did it finally come back and were they able to even find anything?