Waive in DC-Pending Report Forum

[rothchan]

It seems that there is no thread specifically concerning about this, but I know many people who apply to waive in DC by motion are really upset about the efficiency of COA. So here is the place.

I paid the application fee in January and NCBE finalized my report in March, but I stuck in stage 3 pending report for almost five months. Just want to know how many people have successfully certificated recently by waiving in?

How long have you waited?

[bob311]

Similar timeline. Nothing yet, but was recently told by the COA when I called that it will likely be 12 months minimum, so probably not until next January or so.

[rothchan]

Similar timeline. Nothing yet, but was recently told by the COA when I called that it will likely be 12 months minimum, so probably not until next January or so.

Previously they told me the whole process will take about 8 to 10 months and asked me to check back around in late August. Maybe I have to send an e-mail within the next two weeks.

[Count1234]

I think it's really hit or miss. I applied January 2018 and didn't get approved until March 2019. I believe my application just fell through the cracks though. After I applied I was in the NCBE background check stage pretty much the entire time my application was pending. A helpful timeline:

January 2018 - Application submitted and application is in NCBE background check stage
Mid 2018 (Maybe June/July) - Received notice from NCBE that my employer didn't verify that I worked there; followed up with employer
August 2018 - Received notice from NCBE that my employer submitted the verification form, but noted that I no longer worked there (I had recently left for a clerkship); submitted new employment information for current employer to verify
December 2018 - I reached out to the NCBE person who was running my background check and asked what the holdup was; she responded to tell me she had approved and closed my file in August
January 2019 - I tried to call the DCCA, but they were closed because of the government shutdown
March 2019 - I call the DCCA and ask about what's going on with my application and let them know that I already confirmed with the NCBE that NCBE had approved my background check in August; they tell me to check back in 3 days if I don't hear anything; a couple hours after the call my application was approved

If it's been a suspiciously long period of time I would just follow up. I only waited so long to follow up because I was clerking and didn't have any need to be barred in DC.

Edited to add: several friends that also waived in were approved within 12 months.

[rothchan]

I think it's really hit or miss. I applied January 2018 and didn't get approved until March 2019. I believe my application just fell through the cracks though. After I applied I was in the NCBE background check stage pretty much the entire time my application was pending. A helpful timeline:

January 2018 - Application submitted and application is in NCBE background check stage
Mid 2018 (Maybe June/July) - Received notice from NCBE that my employer didn't verify that I worked there; followed up with employer
August 2018 - Received notice from NCBE that my employer submitted the verification form, but noted that I no longer worked there (I had recently left for a clerkship); submitted new employment information for current employer to verify
December 2018 - I reached out to the NCBE person who was running my background check and asked what the holdup was; she responded to tell me she had approved and closed my file in August
January 2019 - I tried to call the DCCA, but they were closed because of the government shutdown
March 2019 - I call the DCCA and ask about what's going on with my application and let them know that I already confirmed with the NCBE that NCBE had approved my background check in August; they tell me to check back in 3 days if I don't hear anything; a couple hours after the call my application was approved

If it's been a suspiciously long period of time I would just follow up. I only waited so long to follow up because I was clerking and didn't have any need to be barred in DC.

Edited to add: several friends that also waived in were approved within 12 months.

Thanks for sharing! At least now I have some thoughts about when I should contact them.

[Honikane]

It seems that there is no thread specifically concerning about this, but I know many people who apply to waive in DC by motion are really upset about the efficiency of COA. So here is the place.

I paid the application fee in January and NCBE finalized my report in March, but I stuck in stage 3 pending report for almost five months. Just want to know how many people have successfully certificated recently by waiving in?

How long have you waited?

Don't say I said...but it will take on average 10-12 months. No way around it. The NCBE usually completes their investigation within 3-4 months if you have an uncomplicated background BUT COA will then completely ignore investigation results once returned by the NCBE forever!. Their reasoning is always either prepping for the bar exam, grading the bar exam, or prepping to release results of the bar exam. It never changes and they even recently updated their guidance to extend the wait times for waive-ins.

Unfortunately, there is no way around it (believe me I tried) so you just need to pack your patience. If you start calling/emailing after 5-6 months they will ignore you. I would say start asking questions at month 9-10.

P.S.They most likely already have your report from the NCBE but you know...they're grading bar exams

[rothchan]

It seems that there is no thread specifically concerning about this, but I know many people who apply to waive in DC by motion are really upset about the efficiency of COA. So here is the place.

I paid the application fee in January and NCBE finalized my report in March, but I stuck in stage 3 pending report for almost five months. Just want to know how many people have successfully certificated recently by waiving in?

How long have you waited?

Don't say I said...but it will take on average 10-12 months. No way around it. The NCBE usually completes their investigation within 3-4 months if you have an uncomplicated background BUT COA will then completely ignore investigation results once returned by the NCBE forever!. Their reasoning is always either prepping for the bar exam, grading the bar exam, or prepping to release results of the bar exam. It never changes and they even recently updated their guidance to extend the wait times for waive-ins.

Unfortunately, there is no way around it (believe me I tried) so you just need to pack your patience. If you start calling/emailing after 5-6 months they will ignore you. I would say start asking questions at month 9-10.

P.S.They most likely already have your report from the NCBE but you know...they're grading bar exams

I have made an inquiry about my application status twice in the past two months but they totally ignored my e-mails. Nine months have gone.

[purpleparrot]

I applied in mid-December 2018. NCBE completed my background investigation and sent it to the admissions committee in late April 2019, but my application status still says "The NCBE is currently performing your background investigation." I asked the committee what the deal was around mid-August and I got an email in response basically saying to expect the entire process to take 10-12 months.

[rothchan]

I applied in mid-December 2018. NCBE completed my background investigation and sent it to the admissions committee in late April 2019, but my application status still says "The NCBE is currently performing your background investigation." I asked the committee what the deal was around mid-August and I got an email in response basically saying to expect the entire process to take 10-12 months.

We are on the same boat. You stuck at stage 3 "pending report" as well but actually the NCBE has already completed our investigations. One thing I don't understand is: if the "entire" process will take around 10-12 months to complete (previously they told me 8-10 months but you know ), at least now the COA has to start to review our reports to ensure that we can swear in within 10-12 months (but they don't promise anything). According to my knowledge, after they receive our reports, it may take around a month to review. So, ideally, we can hear something from them next month (finger crossed).

[Anonymous User]

Just to make sure I have this right.. you would apply to waive into DC AFTER taking the bar in another state and receiving your results?

[purpleparrot]

Just to make sure I have this right.. you would apply to waive into DC AFTER taking the bar in another state and receiving your results?

Yes. If you waive in using your MBE score you must be admitted in the state where you took the MBE. I think if you waive in based on your UBE score you do not necessarily have to be admitted before doing so (but not sure because I did the MBE waive-in).

For anyone who was following this thread--I'm still waiting.

[Harvey Birdman]

Just curious if anyone has been sworn in. I applied March 2019 and here it is March 2020 and I'm still stuck on Pending NCBE Report, even though the committee/Bar received the report spring 2019.

[sdphill]

Just curious if anyone has been sworn in. I applied March 2019 and here it is March 2020 and I'm still stuck on Pending NCBE Report, even though the committee/Bar received the report spring 2019.

Hey. I would definitely call if I were you. In March 2020, I decided to write an email to my NCBE investigator. He advised me that he completed his investigation and closed everything in January. (I applied in November 2019). I called DC COA shortly thereafter, and a woman looked up my file while I was on the phone and confirmed that COA got my NCBE C&F report. She also told me that she would not have time to review my application until August 2020. After the phone call, I checked my portal and noticed that it moved to "4. Certification Review." I've been there ever since.

With all of the being said, you should call them to confirm receipt and ask for a status of when you may hear back regarding certification.