FBI Approved Channeler Experience in 2015?

[saria1]

I hear these channelers only offer services to US citizens or legal permanent residents. Can someone on a work visa in the USA use their services? any one has any experience with that?

You have to submit directly to the FBI for a report.

 

[RajaJi]

Answers to some FAQ's on FBI Channeler (Fieldprint) Website

I need an official sealed/apostille copy of my background check results for a specific agency. Can Fieldprint provide this?

No. All requests for a sealed or apostille copy of your FBI criminal history record information MUST be requested directly through the FBI. FBI-approved channelers are not able to provide results in this manner.

What format will I receive my results in, and what information will be on it?

Fieldprint will provide an electronic copy of your FBI criminal history results in PDF format available only through the Report Management Portal (RMP). The results are delivered exactly as provided by the FBI and will contain any criminal history record information the FBI has on file in their system. Fieldprint is not permitted to modify the format or contents of the results in any way.

Please note: this is not an apostille copy of your FBI criminal history results. If you require an apostille copy, you must submit your request directly through the FBI.

I am trying to re-access my FBI criminal history results, but they have been purged. How can I view them again?

Your criminal history results are available online for 30 days from the time Fieldprint receives the results from the FBI. If you do not access your results in this 30 day period, Fieldprint is required to purge them from our system. Once you access your results, you will have the option to save them for 7 days, during which you will be able to view them again as needed. After this 7 day period, the results will be removed from our system. If you choose not to save your results for the 7 day period, they will be removed immediately after you access them. In all cases, once your results have been removed from our system, they cannot be accessed. To obtain a new copy, you will need to complete the process again.

Can I save or print my results once I receive them online?

Yes. Your criminal history results will be displayed to you in PDF format (download free Adobe® Reader®). We urge you to save and/or print a hard copy of this file for your records. Once your electronic results have been purged from our system, you will not be able to access them without completing the process again.

You can download the application form from the FBI website or send a request by mail (see Special notes and considerations for complete address).


Following information is from CIC Website:

There are two options:

Option 1: You must fill out the applicant information form and obtain a set of your fingerprints.

Option 2: You may submit the application to an FBI-approved channeler; a private company contracted to provide the certificate on behalf of the FBI. Processing times may vary. Please check the FBI website for a list of approved channelers.

Please mail your completed fingerprints card along with a certified cheque or money order for the applicable processing fees, payable to the U.S. Treasury (see Special notes and considerations for complete address).

The FBI or channeler will send you a letter with the results of your record check. That letter will be your police certificate. You should send the letter and any attached documents to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada office processing your file. All police certificates must be originals. Photocopies will not be accepted.

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In view of the above information, the question is:

Will CIC accept the self printed copy of Results received from FBI Approved Channeler?

 

[saria1]

Answers to some FAQ's on FBI Channeler (Fieldprint) Website

I need an official sealed/apostille copy of my background check results for a specific agency. Can Fieldprint provide this?

No. All requests for a sealed or apostille copy of your FBI criminal history record information MUST be requested directly through the FBI. FBI-approved channelers are not able to provide results in this manner.

What format will I receive my results in, and what information will be on it?

Fieldprint will provide an electronic copy of your FBI criminal history results in PDF format available only through the Report Management Portal (RMP). The results are delivered exactly as provided by the FBI and will contain any criminal history record information the FBI has on file in their system. Fieldprint is not permitted to modify the format or contents of the results in any way.

Please note: this is not an apostille copy of your FBI criminal history results. If you require an apostille copy, you must submit your request directly through the FBI.

I am trying to re-access my FBI criminal history results, but they have been purged. How can I view them again?

Your criminal history results are available online for 30 days from the time Fieldprint receives the results from the FBI. If you do not access your results in this 30 day period, Fieldprint is required to purge them from our system. Once you access your results, you will have the option to save them for 7 days, during which you will be able to view them again as needed. After this 7 day period, the results will be removed from our system. If you choose not to save your results for the 7 day period, they will be removed immediately after you access them. In all cases, once your results have been removed from our system, they cannot be accessed. To obtain a new copy, you will need to complete the process again.

Can I save or print my results once I receive them online?

Yes. Your criminal history results will be displayed to you in PDF format (download free Adobe® Reader®). We urge you to save and/or print a hard copy of this file for your records. Once your electronic results have been purged from our system, you will not be able to access them without completing the process again.

The main quote you are missing is from the CIC site

"All police certificates must be originals. Photocopies will not be accepted."

A PDF file printed is just like a photocopy. You can make as many printouts as you want, and since PDF documents can be manipulated, or even made at will. They are not a reliable form. Plus it was not mailed to you.

Another thing, CIC will not accept emailed police reports.... Why? Because it could be a manipulated "document".

Fieldprint is only good to check on your own report. CIC isn't going to trust that we didn't manipulate these PDF documents ourselves. That seems like it's screaming basic common sense.

I'm just trying help, by pointing out the obvious.

 

[RajaJi]

The reason I posted this is so that anyone who reads this information is aware of what they will be getting. Your point is also important. I will add edit the post to add that information. Thanks.

 

[saria1]

The reason I posted this is so that anyone who reads this information is aware of what they will be getting. Your point is also important. I will add edit the post to add that information. Thanks.

I feel like CIC approved this, without really spending even a few hours looking into what the Channelers offer, to better set the ground rules for us applicants. :-\

 

[Snowisland]

Saria1 , thank you for posting about accuratebiometrics. I will now go to a police station and get fingerprints on cards, then use accuratebiometrics and hope to get a letter from them in the mail that I can submit to CICS.

And thanks to all for everything posted. We would be lost without your help.

 

[zibi762]

Not to be completely obtuse, but I'm thoroughly confused. It looks like the FBI-channelers link to the same fingerprint card as the FBI - but the FBI certainly must accept fingerprints that were taken abroad, right? I mean, they have law enforcement agencies in Germany as well. Or is it just that the channelers do not accept fingerprint cards taken outside of the US, even if they comply with the FBI fingerprint card? I don't want to send fingerprints to the FBI only to wait weeks and weeks and find out they were rejected :S

 

[RajaJi]

Not to be completely obtuse, but I'm thoroughly confused. It looks like the FBI-channelers link to the same fingerprint card as the FBI - but the FBI certainly must accept fingerprints that were taken abroad, right? I mean, they have law enforcement agencies in Germany as well. Or is it just that the channelers do not accept fingerprint cards taken outside of the US, even if they comply with the FBI fingerprint card? I don't want to send fingerprints to the FBI only to wait weeks and weeks and find out they were rejected :S

Channelers accept applications from US Citizens or Legal Permament Residents in USA only. Most FBI Approved Channelers will provide the results online only, which can be downloaded/printed. Self printed results may not be acceptable by CIC.

FBI does accept fingerprints taken abroad as long as they are per specifications and on FBI fingerprint Card (which can be printed on a standard white paper stock). Read the instructions on FBI website. Links are posted below:

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks/submitting-an-identity-history-summary-request-to-the-fbi

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/fingerprints_biometrics/recording-legible-fingerprints

 

[rugrat907]

Even though the CIC is saying channelers are OK, there's been so much debate on the forums about them that I'm just waiting on the actual FBI report. I had one done by the FBI before the current slow down, but it expired before medicals were completed. We are filing next week when I am visiting Canada and I am sending in the report that expired in December 2014 while I wait for the new one, which I also applied for in December.

I figure one of two things - the original one will be close enough (a big wish and hope, but you never know and maybe we get very lucky) or by the time we get sponsor approval, the new one will be here and I can send it in when they request it.

 

[AshesNdust]

This is the way to go. My husband has to go through a channeler now, after 17 weeks of waiting for his FBI report, I called this morning to learn his prints, which were taken by a law enforcement agency, were rejected. :-\ :-\

If you don't ming sharing, what number did you call to get the status of your report? Thanks!

 

[saria1]

If you don't ming sharing, what number did you call to get the status of your report? Thanks!

CJIS's number is 304-625-5590

Not to be completely obtuse, but I'm thoroughly confused. It looks like the FBI-channelers link to the same fingerprint card as the FBI - but the FBI certainly must accept fingerprints that were taken abroad, right? I mean, they have law enforcement agencies in Germany as well. Or is it just that the channelers do not accept fingerprint cards taken outside of the US, even if they comply with the FBI fingerprint card? I don't want to send fingerprints to the FBI only to wait weeks and weeks and find out they were rejected :S

To help you avoid having your prints rejected, the FBI advised my husband send in 4-5 print cards.... INSANE! But that is the advice I would pass on to you. Good luck, that queue is long and growing every few weeks.

Channelers accept applications from US Citizens or Legal Permament Residents in USA only. Most FBI Approved Channelers will provide the results online only, which can be downloaded/printed. Self printed results may not be acceptable by CIC.

FBI does accept fingerprints taken abroad as long as they are per specifications and on FBI fingerprint Card (which can be printed on a standard white paper stock). Read the instructions on FBI website. Links are posted below:

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks/submitting-an-identity-history-summary-request-to-the-fbi

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/fingerprints_biometrics/recording-legible-fingerprints

So interestingly enough Raj, I called CJIS back to discuss the outcome of the rejected prints. I wanted to learn if we were going to get the card back with an explanation of why the prints were rejected. While I had them on the phone I asked a ton of questions. They have clearly stated that the reports are no longer printed on tamper proof paper, they are printed on plain white paper. They are trying to change the way reports are ordered, and their choice would be through a channeler, instead of direct submission.

Also, the prints the channelers receive or take are sent STRAIGHT to the FBI. In the case of my husband, we have to send in print cards, the channeler will scan the cards and off the scans will go to the FBI. The FBI processes all the prints which are electronically received from the channelers and issues "your" report back to the channeler to provide us clients. It appears the channelers get first line of business and service from CJIS.

The man, Eddie, discussed with me with, after I asked how clients needing these reports to immigrate could easily manipulate a PDF file in their favor. I pointed out how few channelers will mail the report on tamper proof paper. Since we're mailing our reports off to immigration, he highly advised using a channeler that does provide the tamper proof report.

Hope this helps to shed a little light on what is going on with FBI CJIS. Now, CIC needs to get their police report page cleaned up, with more clarification on the requirements from channelers. I just hope if we all mail in the tamper proof reports, they won't require an apostille, which will be a new pain in the arse! Some states take months to do an apostille.

 

[zibi762]

What is the verdict about needing an apostille? I tried speaking to an agent from CIC who was completely useless and said whatever is on the website is what I need to send in and he didn't know anything about the apostille. Completely aggravating.

I emailed National Background Check directly and was told they accept fingerprints from outside the U.S. and will send the report to a relative's address within the US, however, they do not supply an apostille. Ugh. What a hassle.

 

[saria1]

What is the verdict about needing an apostille? I tried speaking to an agent from CIC who was completely useless and said whatever is on the website is what I need to send in and he didn't know anything about the apostille. Completely aggravating.

I emailed National Background Check directly and was told they accept fingerprints from outside the U.S. and will send the report to a relative's address within the US, however, they do not supply an apostille. Ugh. What a hassle.

At this point, an apostille is not required.

 

[saria1]

Saria1 , thank you for posting about accuratebiometrics. I will now go to a police station and get fingerprints on cards, then use accuratebiometrics and hope to get a letter from them in the mail that I can submit to CICS.

And thanks to all for everything posted. We would be lost without your help.

Did your PDF channeler report look like this one? But not on blue paper and the top logo in the left corner is in color?

http://nurturingnest.in/read-fbi-aaa-identity-history-summary-checks.html

We just did my husbands, and the PDF format looks identical. We're having the hard copy mailed to us on the tamper proof paper.

 

[cali2bc]

So if someone goes though a channeler, it is only acceptable to go through one that provides the report on tamper proof paper, even though the FBI prints their reports on regular printer paper? Does anyone know if the reports that come directly from the FBI contain original signatures? Are there original signatures on the tamper proof reports from channelers?

Also, do the FBI reports that come directly from the FBI include the social security number, or does it look like xxx-xx-xxx?

Finally, we called the CIC and the lady on the phone said that from looking at the website, it seems like channelers are the only option for submitting FBI reports, which is, of course, false. It goes to show that not everyone is on the same page.