Question about FBI background check

[jakesalomons]

Can I get my fingerprints and background check done at an FBI certified place? there are a few places that are FBI recognized in my area, and do the full fingerprinting and background check and I will get it back in a few days compared to a few months.
So I'm just wondering if they will accept this? Also, it's for a spouse visa

 

[parker24]

From my complete understanding, you have to get fingerprints from a local police station then send them to WV (FBI headquarters) no matter where you are. (For American spouses that is) So in short, no. You have to get them done at a local police station, send them to WV with a self addressed, and stamped envelope for them to return the results to you in and wait around two months.

 

[canadiangirl78]

You can do your fingerprints yourself if you want to. But my husban did them at UPS. Send two sets of fingerprints because if the quality is low they'll reject and return them and you'll waste a lot of time.

 

[jakesalomons]

are you sure i cant??

 

[muffy1]

I called CIC and confirmed with them that you can. So, I did use a channeler. Though, I've been told by others on this forum that you cannot. I haven't heard anything back, either way, so I will let you know if I hear anything.

are you sure i cant??

 

[canadiangirl78]

You can do your fingerprints yourself if you want to. But my husban did them at UPS. Send two sets of fingerprints because if the quality is low they'll reject and return them and you'll waste a lot of time.

Sorry I totally misunderstood your question. No you have to do it the slow way like everyone else. Took us about 8 weeks.

 

[JimM]

From my complete understanding, you have to get fingerprints from a local police station then send them to WV (FBI headquarters) no matter where you are. (For American spouses that is) So in short, no. You have to get them done at a local police station, send them to WV with a self addressed, and stamped envelope for them to return the results to you in and wait around two months.

No, you don't have to have them done at a police station, you can download the fingerprint card from the FBI's website along with the other forms and do it yourself if you wish. However I wouldn't advise it.

I had my first set done at a State Police barracks, (its free here in NY), but there was a problem with them and since you can't make an appointment you just have to keep stopping by till you get there when there's a trooper available to do it, I decided not to waste time and just made an appointment with a local PI who does fingerprinting as part of the firearms courses he teaches. $20 for two sets, and they were done and in the mail to the FBI in a matter of days.

 

[parker24]

I called CIC and confirmed with them that you can. So, I did use a channeler. Though, I've been told by others on this forum that you cannot. I haven't heard anything back, either way, so I will let you know if I hear anything.

The problem with that is how would they send it back? They won't pay for the postage stamp back, that has been made VERY clear to me by both CIC and the paperwork.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Can I get my fingerprints and background check done at an FBI certified place? there are a few places that are FBI recognized in my area, and do the full fingerprinting and background check and I will get it back in a few days compared to a few months.
So I'm just wondering if they will accept this? Also, it's for a spouse visa

The FBI channeler option is too new for there to be folks that have been approved based on it (or folks who have been told they need to re-submit them from the FBI) so, unfortunately, the answer is ... we don't really know. If it's the only thing you're missing to complete the application, consider sending the background checks from a channeler with your application and, just in case, also submitting a set of prints when you get a chance to WV (just in case they ask you for them you'll have them since they can take 3 months or so to be processed. Since they are valid as long as CIC receives them 3 months after that you have leeway and will minimize delays.)

And, report back either way to help others out in the future

 

[PMM]

Hi

The FBI channeler option is too new for there to be folks that have been approved based on it (or folks who have been told they need to re-submit them from the FBI) so, unfortunately, the answer is ... we don't really know. If it's the only thing you're missing to complete the application, consider sending the background checks from a channeler with your application and, just in case, also submitting a set of prints when you get a chance to WV (just in case they ask you for them you'll have them since they can take 3 months or so to be processed. Since they are valid as long as CIC receives them 3 months after that you have leeway and will minimize delays.)

And, report back either way to help others out in the future

I think that you find that you have a problem using a channeler as you don't receive the FBI record with the watermark.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Hi

I think that you find that you have a problem using a channeler as you don't receive the FBI record with the watermark.

Can you cite a source for this or is it your opinion?

This question keeps popping up and if a formalized decision exists from CIC one way or the other, it would be great to have as a reference for folks who are starting the process. So far, all the official info seems to indicate you need an original letter (which a channeler would also provide you with). It doesn't mention the watermark on the CIC PC instruction page (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/north-america/united-states.asp) and even if secure paper was being sought after, channelers provide their original letters on FBI-approved paper and letterhead. In addition, as reported previously on this thread and others, CIC seems to be telling folks that channelers are ok.

 

[Belinasha]

My Husband is an American visiting here while our PR application is in process. We got his fingerprints done from the Commissionaires in Ottawa. I think they have offices pretty much everywhere since they're security for the government. We paid 45 dollars and got a set done and just mailed them away to WV without a self addressed stamped envelope. The prints are guaranteed, so if they're sent back (which has never happened with Commissionaires), they will do a re-do for free. We originally sent a request to WV back in Nov 2011 and they sent it back to us and they paid for the postage. The only problem was, the FBI didn't update my Husbands file so there was a misdemeanor criminal charge on his file (he got caught spraypainting and was considered destruction of property of less than $1000) which should have been wiped off his file since his Iowa record shows he was never actually charged and convicted. We contacted the file place at the Iowa courthouse who faxed the updated information to the FBI. We sent off new prints and we're hoping that in those two months we waited for his record to be updated, they actually updated it. We filed in March for sponsorship and PR and are still waiting for the second set of prints to come back, hopefully clean. I don't know if a misdemeanor charge for spraypainting would make him inadmissible to Canada since stuff like that doesn't usually go to court in Canada. I don't even know how I would go about checking to see if he would be inadmissible in Canada for a charge like that. Anywho...we wait and see.