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Getting a PCC from the USA (living in India currently)

Nihal_A

Star Member
Jul 16, 2020
85
4
Hello,

I have to get a PCC from the US as I stayed there from 2013 - 2017. I have been living in India since. I have a few questions about this -

1. Is entering the Social Security Number (SSN) mandatory on the application?
2. Can I provide my relative's US mailing address instead of my Indian address so that my report can be sent there instead of mailing it to India? That can save international mailing time.
3. Should I print the FD258 form on A4 card stock paper or any different type of paper?
4. If anyone has gone through this process, should I only go to the local police station or CBI for these services?
5. How much do they charge approximately?

Looking forward to an expeditious response. Thank you in advance!
 

primaprime

VIP Member
Apr 6, 2019
3,387
884
1. No.

2. If you want to, I guess.

3. Any sort of card stock should be good.

4. You should get your prints taken by people who know what they're doing.

5. USD 18.
 

smash1984

Champion Member
Oct 7, 2018
2,084
850
Hello,

I have to get a PCC from the US as I stayed there from 2013 - 2017. I have been living in India since. I have a few questions about this -

1. Is entering the Social Security Number (SSN) mandatory on the application?
2. Can I provide my relative's US mailing address instead of my Indian address so that my report can be sent there instead of mailing it to India? That can save international mailing time.
3. Should I print the FD258 form on A4 card stock paper or any different type of paper?
4. If anyone has gone through this process, should I only go to the local police station or CBI for these services?
5. How much do they charge approximately?

Looking forward to an expeditious response. Thank you in advance!
1. If i recall correctly, this is not necessary. Although if it is on the form and optional, then maybe a good idea to put it there.
2. Yes, that is what I did
3. To be safe I ordered good quality paper from a website and had it delivered to myself.
4. Can't answer this since I am not Indian but I did it myself and this is not necessary, although professionals will obviously do it better. The key was to send not just one paper. I did 4 copies of finger prints for myself and 4 copies for my wife. You can check the video out on youtube where an FBI guy shows how it is done properly. Sending 4 copies meant that even if prints did not come out clear in one copy, chances are they would be fine on at least one other copy.
5. Not sure which charges you mean here.
 

lampbreaker

Champion Member
Apr 7, 2015
1,734
378
Hello,

I have to get a PCC from the US as I stayed there from 2013 - 2017. I have been living in India since. I have a few questions about this -

1. Is entering the Social Security Number (SSN) mandatory on the application?
2. Can I provide my relative's US mailing address instead of my Indian address so that my report can be sent there instead of mailing it to India? That can save international mailing time.
3. Should I print the FD258 form on A4 card stock paper or any different type of paper?
4. If anyone has gone through this process, should I only go to the local police station or CBI for these services?
5. How much do they charge approximately?

Looking forward to an expeditious response. Thank you in advance!
1. Not needed
2. Yes, you can. In fact, if you apply online (you should), getting the paper report is optional. They will send you a pdf report and that's all you need to upload with your PR application. So address is kind of irrelevant. In fact, you should keep the India address, that way you don't need to involve a third party.
3. Yes, that's fine
4. I haven't done it in India, so no idea. I heard htere are some private agencies in some cities.
5. No idea
 

Nihal_A

Star Member
Jul 16, 2020
85
4
1. If i recall correctly, this is not necessary. Although if it is on the form and optional, then maybe a good idea to put it there.
2. Yes, that is what I did
3. To be safe I ordered good quality paper from a website and had it delivered to myself.
4. Can't answer this since I am not Indian but I did it myself and this is not necessary, although professionals will obviously do it better. The key was to send not just one paper. I did 4 copies of finger prints for myself and 4 copies for my wife. You can check the video out on youtube where an FBI guy shows how it is done properly. Sending 4 copies meant that even if prints did not come out clear in one copy, chances are they would be fine on at least one other copy.
5. Not sure which charges you mean here.

Thank you for your response! I appreciate it!

I think I'll take the professional route, even if it costs a little more. To read about the exact ridges that they expect from a fingerprint was a little overwhelming.
 

Nihal_A

Star Member
Jul 16, 2020
85
4
1. Not needed
2. Yes, you can. In fact, if you apply online (you should), getting the paper report is optional. They will send you a pdf report and that's all you need to upload with your PR application. So address is kind of irrelevant. In fact, you should keep the India address, that way you don't need to involve a third party.
3. Yes, that's fine
4. I haven't done it in India, so no idea. I heard htere are some private agencies in some cities.
5. No idea

Thank you for your response! I appreciate it.

Btw which country did you do it from? and did you also not put your SSN on there?
 

lampbreaker

Champion Member
Apr 7, 2015
1,734
378
Thank you for your response! I appreciate it.

Btw which country did you do it from? and did you also not put your SSN on there?
I applied from US. I have an SSN so I mentioned it. If you have one, you should mention it too.
Create the online application on FBI website, if SSN is mandatory (it is not), the online application will tell you so.
 

Nihal_A

Star Member
Jul 16, 2020
85
4
I applied from US. I have an SSN so I mentioned it. If you have one, you should mention it too.
Create the online application on FBI website, if SSN is mandatory (it is not), the online application will tell you so.
Cool. I have an SSN. I'll mention it then. Thanks!