When looking for work, one requirement that employers look for is the NBI Clearance, if not a police or barangay clearance. However, applying for an NBI Clearance tends to raise a few questions, so, to soothe your stressed minds, dear job applicants, here are some answers to these questions.
What is the NBI Clearance For?
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is an agency under the Department of Justice which helps solve crimes and maintain criminal records. The NBI Clearance is a declaration from the NBI that you have no pending court cases or criminal record. Employers check your NBI Clearance just to make sure that you are a law-abiding citizen. Since the NBI is a national government agency, it is more useful than a police or barangay clearance, which are merely local in scope.
How Long Does It Take to Get One?
Getting your NBI Clearance can take around two days, since all you have to do is book an appointment and pay online. On the day of your appointment, all you need to do is to go to the NBI Office you booked and present your Driver’s License, Passport, or any other government-issued ID. If you are lucky, then you will be able to get your clearance right away. However if you don’t, you have just joined the ranks of those who have gotten a hit, so you will get your clearance in a week or two.
What is a Hit?
When you get a hit, this does not mean that you should worry, because just because you got that hit does not automatically mean you are a criminal. It just means you have a common name, or sometimes, you share a name with someone who is a criminal. I even heard a story where someone got a hit because his namesake was a cop who got arrested. So if you get a hit, don’t panic, since you are no criminal.
Tips for Applying for Your NBI Clearance
Now that we have answered your NBI Clearance Questions, here are some tips for applying for the NBI Clearance:
- Come Early: When you apply for your Clearance, be sure to go to the NBI Office as early as possible (but still close to your appointment time), since the lines may be long.
- Bring Something to Read: You might have to wait a while before the NBI staff can attend to you, so please bring something to read. You might end up being bored if you don’t.
- Wear Comfortable Clothes: Since your picture will be taken, be sure to wear a comfy outfit. However, since the NBI is a government office, please make sure you dress decently.
- Relax: Don’t stress yourself out, since for sure you don’t have a criminal record. Also, the hit system is there to make sure that nobody steals your identity to hide from the law.
- Get Your Clearance In School or In a Job Fair : If there is NBI Clearance processing in your school or in a job fair, take advantage of it and get your clearance done there. This way, you don’t have to wait long in an NBI Office.
NBI Clearance: Just a Routine Requirement
Even though an NBI Clearance is a crucial employment document that allows your potential employer to check if you have a criminal record, it is merely a routine requirement. So, this means you don’t have to panic if you get a hit. Hits are there to protect your identity from being compromised by namesakes. So, all you need to do is apply for your clearance, give your IDs, and relax. Getting your Clearance is very easy!