In short, HR and the whole process are very professional and I feel very positive. Interviewers are very kind.
I got contacted by internal HR for another role in Jul 2017 and went for a 1 hour phone call interview. But I had taken up a job from a bank and I told the interviewer so. Obviously I were not considered for that role.
This year I found out this new role and applied online and LinkedIn the interviewer who interviewed me last year and he referred me also.
I received email from HR within hours after the referral. I have talked to 3 people in the team (2 in US via phone) The whole process took 2 months from getting email from HR to receiving official offer.
They are very kind to allow me to postpone my start date just because I need more than a month for my CFA even though the role would have been posted for more than 6 months by the time I will join.
I thing I need to remind everyone interested is besides background check conducted by third party, they really call your previous/current bosses to know more about you.