Fingerprints for FBI record check in UK
- Thread starter silky28
- Start date
If you Google “fbi fingerprint clearance near me” you should find a bunch of 3rd party places that do it according to FBI’s regulations. in some countries you can also do these at your local police department
My wife and I *just* completed this. The FBI will let you take them yourself and mail them in. As long as they meet the specifications, you will get your certificate in the mail. Pay close attention to the details and I believe that you will be fine.
Also, you can email identity@fbi.gov if you have any questions about the process (if you can do it via mail for the UK, for example.) They were really nice, and super helpful to me.
Thanks!
To be clear when you take them yourself do you mean going to a 3rd party and sending it in or taking photos or something yourself? I need to get my USA police certificate but with coronavirus it's hard to find a good 3rd party places to do it and my local police departments in my city are all closed for fingerprint clearances.
How did you do yours?
Thanks
I mean that we acquired the correct forms, the ink, and took the fingerprints ourselves. We then completed the application online on the FBI website, and then mailed the fingerprints in (we sent 5 copies, which you can do in case one of the copies wasn't done quite correctly.) We didn't have to leave our house, technically, as we ordered everything online, completed the process online, and mailed it out ourselves. (I guess I had to leave to drop the envelope in the mailbox, but you get the drift.)
My wife ordered this inkpad - https://www.amazon.com/ExcelMark-Inkless-Thumbprint-Pad-Fingerprint/dp/B0043GF5H0/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=fingerprint+cards&qid=1592100722&sr=8-11
and these cards (I think that you can literally just print these off of a regular printer, but we wanted something a little "nicer" and stiffer so they didn't get banged up in the mail - https://www.amazon.com/Fingerprint-Applicant-FD-258-50-pack/dp/B0018DWAAQ/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=fingerprint+cards&qid=1592100864&sr=8-5
Here is a link to the form that you can print yourself - https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/standard-fingerprint-form-fd-258-1.pdf/view
I'm not sure if being in the UK has any influence on the process (I live in the U.S.A. right now), but you can always email the address that I posted if you want clarification. I felt it was a bit wild myself, so I emailed them to double check (I was facing the same issue... where do you go to get these taken with Covid-19 being a thing?) The person told me that it's perfectly acceptable to take the fingerprints yourself and mail them off.
Does that answer your question?
Thanks!
Oh that's great news, didn't know this was possible. We're in Canada right now. How long did it take from sending in the fingerprints to receiving your police certificate?
Best
That looks like the correct website. It didn't take a long time, but we mailed it within the USA. Probably a week or maybe a tad longer after we mailed our cards. You'll be able to access and print it online as well, so you won't even have to wait for it to get mailed back to you. I opted to get a copy in the mail as well though, because I thought it might look more official. It really doesn't lol. They likely used the same printer I did
. Glad I could help!
Awesome thanks for the info, saved me a lot of time!That looks like the correct website. It didn't take a long time, but we mailed it within the USA. Probably a week or maybe a tad longer after we mailed our cards. You'll be able to access and print it online as well, so you won't even have to wait for it to get mailed back to you. I opted to get a copy in the mail as well though, because I thought it might look more official. It really doesn't lol. They likely used the same printer I did
Glad I could help!
thanks so much for this. This is all we need before we can apply for PR...pretty straightforward process for American spousal applications!That looks like the correct website. It didn't take a long time, but we mailed it within the USA. Probably a week or maybe a tad longer after we mailed our cards. You'll be able to access and print it online as well, so you won't even have to wait for it to get mailed back to you. I opted to get a copy in the mail as well though, because I thought it might look more official. It really doesn't lol. They likely used the same printer I did
Glad I could help!
I will definitely do it myself since everything around here is closed.
thanks again
No prob! Hey - would you be able to PM me (or respond to this thread) what you're sending off for supporting documents? How are you organizing your packet? Are you including any appendices or additional commentary on your application? I'm gathering my stuff together, but I feel such a high volume of decision paralysis about so much of this, especially because so many details can be mined into. I just wanted to see how someone else, specifically dealing with the U.S.A., is structuring their application.
Let me know. Thanks!
I would ask you the same thing as well. This is a stomach-turning process for me. My wife and I have sooooo much history, but that almost complicates things as we have more to pull from.Awesome thanks for the info, saved me a lot of time!
Thanks!
We have not submitted yet, but we are not planning on providing that many supporting documents or pictures. Because she is American, and we are married, the burden of proof is not tremendously high. I think all they want is her birth certificate, our marriage certificate, and a few things like that. We had planned to provide photos, travel itineraries etc. but, based on the documentation, it is unnecessary.
Where did you get the ink pad for your fingerprints? We bought the fingerprint cards and an ink pad on Amazon but we are finding the ink pad way too wet and leaves blotchy finger prints.
Did someone advise you on that, or are you just feeling it out? My wife and I could not have a more clear-cut case - married for 7 ish years, She is American, we have oodles of history together. I’m still ticking each box and giving a little extra, but that’s my own paranoia.
At any rate - I linked the inkpad I used in this thread. It’s “ExcelMark,” and was advertised as an inkless(?) inkpad. It worked super well.
Here is the link - https://www.amazon.com/ExcelMark-Inkless-Thumbprint-Pad-Fingerprint/dp/B0043GF5H0
Hello,
I have not looked at the documents in a few weeks so I am not sure exactly where I saw this. I did find on form IMM5533e (Document Checklist) Section 7, subsections A-E...
By my understand, 7(e) says that you only need to send photographs, a maximum of 20, if you do not answer "yes" to the 4 questions in 7(a) which are
1) are you living together (Yes, for 3 years now)
2) do you have children together (Yes, 1)
3) is this the first marriage for applicant and sponsor (yes)
4) have sponsor and applicant been married for a minimum of 2 years. (yes)
Since we answer 'yes' to all 4 of these questions it seems to me that I can ignore 7(e) which begins with "if you did not answer yes to all four (4) of the above questions (the questions from 7a), also provid...
ie. I only need to supply what is requested in 7(e), like photographs, if I do not answer "yes" to the 4 questions in 7(a). Since I answered "yes" to those 4 questions I do not need to send in photographs.
My goal, especially given the current covid delays and annoyance, is to keep things simple!
I have not looked at the documents in a few weeks so I am not sure exactly where I saw this. I did find on form IMM5533e (Document Checklist) Section 7, subsections A-E...
By my understand, 7(e) says that you only need to send photographs, a maximum of 20, if you do not answer "yes" to the 4 questions in 7(a) which are
1) are you living together (Yes, for 3 years now)
2) do you have children together (Yes, 1)
3) is this the first marriage for applicant and sponsor (yes)
4) have sponsor and applicant been married for a minimum of 2 years. (yes)
Since we answer 'yes' to all 4 of these questions it seems to me that I can ignore 7(e) which begins with "if you did not answer yes to all four (4) of the above questions (the questions from 7a), also provid...
ie. I only need to supply what is requested in 7(e), like photographs, if I do not answer "yes" to the 4 questions in 7(a). Since I answered "yes" to those 4 questions I do not need to send in photographs.
My goal, especially given the current covid delays and annoyance, is to keep things simple!
That's wise. My wife and I don't have a kid, so we have to provide the relationship substantiation documents. I'm also living outside of Canada right now, so establishing that I will move and support myself adds some extra burden. Based on what you're saying, I'd be doing the same thing. Keeping it simple, and just going with what the checklist asks for.
I'll probably keep mine lean and mean as well, to the best of my abilities. I'm required to send photos and documents, but I don't need to drown them.