Why is the background check taking longer than expected?

Last updated: August 19, 2026

Applies to: all workers whose assignment requires a background check.

Summary: Most background checks finish within a few days, but some legitimately take longer — county courthouses that search records by hand, a long address history, international checks, or a step that's waiting on you. Your screening runs through one of the professional screening providers Ascen works with; you'll see the overall status in your onboarding, and the fastest thing you can do is respond promptly to any request from the provider.

The usual timeline

Checks typically complete in a few days. The provider estimates a completion time, and while those estimates are usually accurate, they're not guaranteed — a small share of checks take several weeks, and court-dependent searches generally can't be expedited by anyone.

Common reasons a check runs long

  • County courthouse searches. Criminal searches run in the counties where you've lived and worked. Some counties still require a court clerk to search physical records, and courts have seasonal backlogs.

  • You have a lot of history. More addresses and employers = more counties and verifications to search. A long (or international) history takes longer than a short local one — it doesn't mean anything is wrong.

  • A common name. Extra research is required to confirm potential records aren't a different person with your name.

  • International checks. If your check covers time outside the US, some countries' criminal and employment verifications take substantially longer.

  • Something is waiting on you. The most fixable delay: the provider has emailed you for a document, ID verification, or additional information — or your invitation link expired before you completed it. Until you respond, the check is paused.

  • Drug test timing. If your package includes one, the clock includes your collection appointment and lab processing.

What you can do

  1. Complete your part immediately — the check doesn't start until you finish the provider's forms.

  2. Watch your email (including spam) for requests from the screening provider, and respond the same day if you can.

  3. Check your onboarding status at app.ascen.com — your check's overall status shows there.

  4. If it's been well past the expected window and nothing is waiting on you, email support@ascen.com — we can see a more detailed, step-by-step progress view than your portal shows, and we can chase the status with the provider.

Ascen is your employer of record and owns the screening process, so we're the right first call for "what exactly is it waiting on?" — including a correction to your name or details, a copy of your report, or a dispute. Your staffing partner is the right contact for scheduling questions, such as whether a start date can move while a check finishes.

  • Getting started — your onboarding checklist

  • Who to contact and when