πŸ“‘ How to Initiate Bulk Background Checks (CSV Import)

πŸ“‘ How to Initiate Bulk Background Checks (CSV Import)

If you need to process a high volume of background checks at once, the Smile Checks CSV Import tool allows you to initiate up to 100 requests in a single upload.

1. Prerequisites

  • User Permissions: You must have an Owner or Administrator role to access the import feature.

  • Credit Balance: Ensure you have enough credits available. A credit estimate will be provided during the upload process.

2. Getting Started

  1. Navigate to the Requests screen in your portal.

  2. Click the Import CSV button located at the top of the list.

  3. Download the CSV Template provided in the popup window. Note: We strongly recommend using our template to ensure your column headers are perfectly aligned with our system.

3. Preparing Your CSV File

To ensure a successful upload, please follow these formatting rules strictly:

ColumnRequirementFormat Example

First Name

Required

Juan

Last Name

Required

dela Cruz

Email

Required

juan.delacruz@email.com

Check Types

Required

employmentCheck;idCheck

Phone

Optional

+639171234567

The "Check Types" Rule

In the check_types column, you must use the specific Short Names for the services you want. If you are requesting multiple services for one person, separate them with a semicolon ( ; ), not a comma.

Common Short Names:

  • employmentCheck (Identity + Employment)

  • clearanceCheck (NBI Clearance)

  • referenceCheck (Reference Check)

  • idCheck (ID & TIN Verification)

  • academicCheck (Education Verification)

4. The Import Process

Step 1: Upload & Validate

Once you upload your file, the system will show you a Preview Table.

  • Green Rows: Ready to be submitted.

  • Red Rows: These contain errors (e.g., invalid email or incorrect check names). Hover over the error icon to see how to fix it in your file.

Step 2: Review Credit Estimate

The portal will calculate the total credits required for the batch. If your balance is lower than the required amount, you will need to top up before proceeding.

Step 3: Submit

Once you click Submit, the system will process each row. You will receive a Results Summary once completed, showing you exactly which candidates were successfully invited.

5. Usage Limits

To maintain platform stability, the following limits apply:

  • Max candidates per file: 100

  • Max batches per day: 5

  • Max total candidates per day: 500

6. Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I run out of credits in the middle of a batch?

The system processes rows from top to bottom. If you run out of credits, the system will successfully create the first few requests and stop once the balance hits zero. The remaining rows will be marked as "Failed."

Can I use an Excel file (.xlsx)?

No. Please save your file as a .csv (Comma Separated Values) file before uploading.

I made a mistake in one row of my batch. Can I undo the whole import?

Imports cannot be undone as a group. Once a request is created, it is treated as an individual check. You will need to cancel any incorrect requests manually from the Requests list.

Need Help?

If you encounter any technical issues during your upload, please contact Smile Checks Support at smilecheckssupport@getsmileapi.com with a copy of the CSV file you are trying to upload.

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