Obtaining US police check for visa

[annfoo241]

I wonder if anyone else has experience with obtaining US FBI/police checks (which is a prerequisite for Australians who resided in USA for more than 6 months, apparently...)

The process is that you must print the FBIs approved fingerprint card off, then send in your fingerprints. As I was in Korea when the request came through, I went to a police station in Seoul to get a fingerprint technician to take my fingerprints. I sent them to US, paid the fee, 2 weeks later I got an email from FBI saying that my fingerprints were inadequate and I had to send them again and pay the fee again.

I'm worried that I could see this process repeating over and over again, and I have only been given 3 months to obtain the police check. Anyone who has done this before have any advice about where in Sydney to get acceptable fingerprints taken? I'll be back in Sydney in 2 weeks, I won't risk again doing it in another country.

Thanks all,
Ann

 

[SokieBia]

I did this last month. Just go online and register then pay the $18 fee. Once in Sydney, print out the fingerprint form on the application website and take it to the Sydney police offices. Ask for fingerprinting services and they will do it for you. They are aware of it. Remember to send your form via express mail if you want it quick. You get an email to download it within hours to two days after they receive it. Don’t fold the fingerprint form when posting

 

[annfoo241]

Thankyou, it's a good tip to not fold the form, which I did the first time since I was travelling. Got it all back now

More info if anyone needs to do this: you can make appointments at Sydney City police station to do this, but if you want it faster you can just call into any police station and they can do it on the spot provided they don't have anyone in custody... since the fingerprint machine is often the custody holding area. The best time to go is probably late night when it is not busy (cop shops are open 24 hrs, so the weirder the hour, the quieter it likely is.). On the day I was trying to do this, Surry Hills, Redfern and Newtown all had people in custody so I just went further out to Marrickville. You need to bring all the forms and prepaid envelope with you so the police can send it off for you. You're not allowed to take the fingerprints out of the police station so the police must post it on your behalf. The police charge $44 for ink fingerprints or $55 for livescan prints. FBI clearance check arrived on the same day they received my fingerprints in the mail