Update: Received the email response from FBI.
I am posting the details to help if someone can get this process done at home very easily.
Amazon also sells the finger print cards but it is 32$ CAD just for few copies of finger print card, which is not even required. Although it takes 30min - 1hours to get the finger printing done at home, it is totally worth it as it saves money and the process can be repeated for family members.
Timeline:
Mailed the finger print card - Oct 10
Card Received at Virginia - Oct 19 ( regular canada post with tracking number )
E Mail received from FBI that finger print card received - Oct 30
E Mail received from FBI that summary request is available for review - Oct 30
Process:
Create a Identity Summary request on FBI website
Fill in the required details and make a payment of 50$ USD
Down the FD 258 form from the FBI website and fill the details of the PDF version on a computer. I have adobe software.
(I only filled Residential address, Date, last name, first name, citizenship ( CTZ ), social security(SOC- this is optional), Sex, Race, HGT, WGT, EYES, HAIR, Date of Birth, Place of Birth
India is represented as II
code ( capitalized I
twice). So I filled in II
for citizenship and place of birth. Make sure you get the right code by googling your country of birth.
For Race and SEX, i used codes. For Example, Race - A for Asian, F for Female, BLK for black(eyes/hair) etc.)
Provide the description for Reason Finger Printed : Canada Immigration
I left the other fields blank..
Print the FD 258 form atleast 5 copies. I got the regular A4 print in a print shop and asked the guy to print on hard paper ( not the regular paper )
Purchase a black stamp pad from Staples
Practice finger printing on 2 copies to make sure you get that right
Sign the FD 258 form with black pen.
Mail the FD 258 form ( at least 2-3 copies) to FBI Virginia Office along with the print out of the confirmation email.
Tips:
Although Youtube videos say - just do the rolled finger print on the card, I put the first impression on a rough paper and second impression on the actual finger print card. This is to make sure you don't get the finger print too dark or too light.
Make sure you do the rolled finger print ( not the regular finger print with just the tip of the finger)
Make sure you do not cross the boxes provided.
If the space inside a box is not sufficient for rolled finger print, then do the regular finger print.
Take the help of a second person if needed. They can hold your fingers and make sure you are putting it in the right boxes.
Cost:
Print out of the FD 258 forms - 5$ CAD
Staples Stamp pad - BLACK - 8$ CAD
Mail to Virginia, FBI - 15$ CAD ( with tracking, 6$ CAD without tracking )
I believe People (from Canada) cannot do at the United States post office because a local ID is required from USA, as per the website
https://ips.usps.com/IdentityCapture/ . The website also says a state issued Driver License.
Also ,it costs 60$ USD at US post office.
Amazon also sells few copies of the finger print cards but it is 32$ CAD just for few copies of finger print card, which is not even required.
If going through private immigration consultants, they charge 100$-150$ CAD just for getting the finger print done. I am not sure if the Canada police would help for finger printing. I am not sure about Commissionaires also.
