Just got my Approval.

Applied: 4-21-17
Cond Approval: 5-16-17
Interview: 9-19-17
Approval: 9-20-17

For anyone concerned about criminal history, I have multiple infractions from my college days, all alcohol related (poss. of alcohol, open container as a passenger, consumption of alcohol), driving while suspended, along with 1 arrest for public intoxication 14 years ago. I put all of this in the application and got conditionally approved. Had my interview last night that took 5 minutes. The officer scanned my passport, scanned my fingerprints, and asked if I traveled international often (this question seemed to be asked to determine if he had to explain how the program worked).

He then asked 3 other questions, if I had ever been charged with a crime in Canada or Mexico (no), arrested in Canada or Mexico (no), and if I had ever been arrested in the US. He seemed surprised when I answered yes to the last one, as if he hadn't even read my file. He asked how long ago and what for, and I told him public intoxication, 14 years ago, he kind of laughed and asked if it was football game related. He then said that probably wouldn't be a problem as long as that was the only arrest. They send the fingerprints out somewhere, he said he didn't know where but suspected it was at different locations. They check for arrests, send him the info back, and he approves it.

I got my approval this morning. Based on my conversation, it sounds like when you go through this process with a criminal record, you will need to think back to any time you have been fingerprinted for a crime, because that will come back. Seems like that is what sets up the red flags.