KRESS Candidate Help Center

24 to 72 hours, depending on the types of searches being conducted.

While many reports are completed within 24 hours, some may take longer due to the complexity or source of the requested information. Our team prioritizes both speed and accuracy to ensure reliable, compliant results.

Learn more about the life of a background check.

Depending on the position and employer, your background check might include one or more of the following:

• Criminal Record Checks: Searches federal, state, and county databases for convictions or pending charges.
• Employment Verification: Confirms where you’ve worked, job titles, and dates of employment.
• Education Verification: Validates schools attended, degrees earned, and graduation dates.
• Driving Record Checks (MVRs): Reviews your license status, violations, and accident history.
• Drug Testing: Screens for commonly restricted substances via lab testing.
• Credit Checks: Reviews your credit history (only for certain financial roles).
• Professional License Verification: Confirms valid licenses for fields like healthcare or finance.
• Social Media Screening: Flags public posts or content that may be relevant to workplace behavior.
• Reference Checks: Gathers insights from previous supervisors or coworkers.

Each check is performed with strict attention to accuracy, compliance, and fairness.

Once your background check is finished, here’s what typically happens:

1. Your Report Is Sent to the Employer: KRESS shares the completed report with the company that requested it. They’ll review the findings as part of their hiring decision.
2. You Can Request a Copy: You're entitled to see your report. You can request a copy directly through our Applicant Request Form.
3. You’ll Be Notified of Any Issues: If the report contains information that may impact your job opportunity, you’ll receive a pre-adverse action notice along with a copy of your report and your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
4. You’ll Have a Chance to Respond: If something seems inaccurate, you can file a dispute. KRESS will investigate and correct any verified errors, typically within a few business days.

Transparency is a key part of our process. If you have questions at any step, our team is here to help.

If you believe that any information in your background reports is inaccurate or incomplete, you may file a dispute with KRESS. The dispute investigation process generally may take several business days, depending on the nature of the information being disputed. See how to file a dispute below.

At KRESS, we value and protect privacy and secure all personal information. Read more in our Screening Privacy Statement.

Go to our applicant registration form to receive a copy of your background check, dispute information, and add any new information.

To help us complete your background check as quickly as possible:

• Provide complete and accurate information, including phone numbers and addresses of previous employers or educational institutions.
• Monitor your email regularly. KRESS may reach out requesting additional information to proceed with your verification. The faster you respond, the faster we can finalize your report.

This often results from what’s called a Social Security Trace (also known as an Address History Trace or Skip Trace), which is a standard and critical part of the background check process.

When you apply for credit, loans, utilities, or other services, you often provide personal information like your name, date of birth, and current and past addresses. This data is collected by credit bureaus and other consumer reporting agencies and can then be accessed by background screening companies through licensed data providers.

The Social Security Trace compiles this historical address data, which helps identify:

• Jurisdictions that need to be searched for criminal records
• Names or aliases you may have used
• Potential red flags or discrepancies

Because this data is compiled from a variety of sources, it may occasionally include an address tied to:

• A previous spouse, cosigner, or family member
• A misentry from a credit or utility application
• A shared residence or mail forwarding situation

While this doesn’t automatically indicate fraud or identity theft, it’s important to review the address history carefully. If something looks unfamiliar, KRESS is here to help clarify and correct the information when appropriate.

The Social Security Trace is a vital tool used to ensure that criminal record searches are thorough, accurate, and based on the correct personal identifiers.

You can also request a free credit report here: Request Your Free Credit Report.

Most background checks go back 7 years, but this can vary.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state laws regulate how far back records can be reported. However, certain positions, like those in healthcare or roles involving vulnerable populations, may require a more in-depth check.

For specifics, ask your prospective employer how far back they’ve requested the background check to go.

Usually not.

Inaccurate or approximate employment dates rarely delay verification. Most delays are caused by missing contact information for previous employers. Make sure to include phone numbers or other reliable contact details.

Yes, if a criminal background check has been requested by your prospective employer.

In many cases, pending charges do appear on employment background checks, especially when court records are included in the search.

At KRESS, we provide a comprehensive report based on available public data. If a charge is still pending, and it appears in official records, it may be included in your report.

KRESS will send the completed background report to you and the client. After that, the client will review the report and determine how to proceed.

If you see any inaccurate information, please contact us right away.

Several factors can delay a background check, many of which are outside our control. These include:

• Court closures or backlogs, especially if records are not available online
• Applicants not responding to requests for missing information
• Common names that return multiple records needing manual review
• Unresponsive past employers, schools, or references

Providing complete information and staying responsive helps minimize delays.

Only the company that ordered your background check and KRESS investigators have access to your full report.

KRESS uses multiple personal identifiers, such as date of birth, address and Social Security number, to help ensure accuracy and avoid mistaken identity.

Sometimes third-party sources (like former employers or schools) don’t respond promptly. To complete your check faster, we might ask you to submit things like pay stubs or diplomas. Please make sure to check your emails and respond as needed to help speed up the process.

No. Employment-related credit checks are considered soft inquiries and won’t impact your credit rating.

You have the right to know why. If a background check influenced the decision, the employer must notify you and provide a chance to dispute the findings before taking final action.

Your background check reflects data available at the time it is run.

Some employers may accept a report for 30 days, others for several months, and some require a new check for each position. Also, more employers are using continuous monitoring, which means your background may be reviewed periodically even after you’re hired.

Yes. If an employer might take adverse action based on your background check, they must notify you first. You’ll receive a pre-adverse action notice along with a copy of your report and your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), giving you a chance to respond.

After your test is completed at the collection facility and the sample is received by the lab, results are typically available within 24 to 72 hours.

If you receive a call from the Medical Review Officer (MRO), it usually means:

• There may have been a non-negative result, or
• Additional information is needed to verify prescription medication or clarify test results

Please respond promptly so your drug screening can proceed without delay.

Yes!

KRESS has access to over 3,200 collection sites nationwide. If the assigned location doesn’t work for you, just give us a call and we’ll help you find another: 713-880-3693.

Unfortunately, no. 

Drug test results cannot be expedited, as they are dependent on the lab’s processing timeline. Once the test is completed, results are typically returned within 24 to 72 hours.