Understanding Your Checkr Background Check Status: What "Considered," "Suspended," and Other Statuses Really Mean
If you’ve recently applied for a job and are waiting on your background check through Checkr, understanding your Checkr background check status can be confusing. Terms like "Checkr says Considered", "Checkr Suspended", or simply seeing a pending Checkr status might leave you wondering what’s next.
This article will break down each Checkr status, what it means, and what you should do depending on the message you're seeing.
What Does "Checkr Background Check Status" Mean?
Your Checkr background check status tells you what stage your report is currently in. Employers use Checkr to review your criminal history, driving records, employment verification, and more. Once you submit your personal information, Checkr processes your background check and updates the status as it progresses.
There are several possible status updates you might see, each with a different meaning.
Common Checkr Background Check Statuses Explained
1. Pending
Checkr Status: Pending means your background check is still being processed. Checkr is gathering information from various sources — courts, DMVs, and databases — and hasn’t completed the full report yet. Depending on the complexity, this can take anywhere from 1 to 7 business days, and sometimes longer if manual record searches are involved.
What to do: Be patient, but if it stays pending for more than 10 days, contact Checkr support or the employer.
2. Clear
Checkr Status: Clear means the background check found no information that would disqualify you based on the employer’s criteria. Your report has been sent to the employer, and you should hear back soon.
What to do: Wait for the employer’s final decision — you're likely moving forward in the hiring process.
3. Considered
Seeing Checkr says Considered is one of the most misunderstood statuses. It does not necessarily mean you’ve been rejected. Instead, it means your report has been completed and contains information that may require further review by the employer.
This could include:
A criminal record (even minor or old offenses)
Driving violations
Employment discrepancies
Identity verification issues
What to do: Wait for the employer to review the report and decide. You may be contacted for clarification. If you’re rejected, you must receive a pre-adverse action notice under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), giving you the right to dispute errors before the decision becomes final.
4. Suspended
Checkr Suspended means your background check has been put on hold due to missing or unverified information. This often happens when:
You didn’t submit proper ID or SSN documentation.
There was a system error during data entry.
Court records are unavailable or delayed.
Checkr needs more info to verify something.
What to do: Check your email or Checkr portal for any requests. Upload any missing documents promptly to resume the process. If no requests appear, contact Checkr support.
5. Dispute
If you’ve noticed a mistake and filed a dispute, your Checkr status may reflect this. While under dispute, Checkr must reinvestigate and correct any inaccurate information under FCRA regulations.
What to do: Monitor your email for updates. Checkr has 30 days to investigate and resolve your dispute.
6. Invitation Expired or Canceled
If your Checkr background check invitation expires, it usually means you didn’t complete the process in time. A canceled status may occur if the employer retracts the job offer or decides not to move forward.
What to do: Reach out to the employer to confirm the reason. You may be able to restart the process if it was an oversight.
How Long Does a Checkr Background Check Take?
While many checks complete within 3 to 5 business days, delays happen if:
You’ve lived in multiple states or counties.
The court system is slow or requires manual requests.
There’s a need for additional documents or verification.
If you’ve been in “Pending”, “Considered”, or “Suspended” for more than a week, it’s a good idea to contact either your employer or Checkr support.
What If You’re Rejected Based on a Checkr Report?
If your Checkr background check contains false or misleading information and you’re denied a job, you have rights under the FCRA. Employers must:
Send a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of your background report.
Give you time (usually 5 business days) to dispute any errors.
Only take final action after you’ve had a chance to respond.
If the information is wrong — for example, if Checkr included someone else’s record or failed to update the status of a case — you may be able to sue Checkr for damages.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Panic - Understand Your Checkr Status
Seeing an unfamiliar Checkr background check status like “Considered” or “Suspended” doesn’t mean the end of the road. Often, these statuses just mean your report is under review or needs more information. The most important thing is to monitor your email, respond promptly to document requests, and understand your rights.
And if your Checkr report includes inaccurate information that leads to a job denial, don’t just accept it — take action. You may have the right to dispute the report and sue Checkr for the harm caused.