Question:
Jim, Approximately how long does the VA take to complete a background check on a VA advocate candidate? Thanks and appreciate what you and team are doing! Semper Paratus,
Jim's Reply:
The background check you're referring to is conducted by the VA Office of General Counsel to determine the suitability of non-attorney candidates who wish to represent veterans as 'agents' in appeals cases. I haven't participated in that process in quite a while but the last I knew the process was as inefficient as could be and was taking about 2-3 years. The reasoning that was offered to me at the time was that they were just too busy and that these weren't high priority tasks on their lists.