A Guide to applying for an FBI Check
As of February 01, 2010
the Immigration Offices in Korea will only accept FBI Criminal
Record Checks and will no longer accept State-Wide Checks for US applicants.
The FBI Check is the highest level check available in the US and covers all US states in the search. Fingerprinting is required.
The information below has been taken directly from the FBI website (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks). For more detailed information, please contact your local FBI Office.
ACTION REQUIRED:
When you send in your request to the FBI, make sure to include a written request, asking for your FBI check to be AUTHENTICATED (signed or stamped by the FBI) before it gets sent back. If you forget to do this, you will NOT be able to get the FBI check apostilled by the Secretary of State. A template for this request is attached below. The word “Authenticated” must be included in your written request to clearly explain what you are asking for.
Step 1: Complete the Applicant Information Form (Pdf.):
Step 2: Obtain a set of your fingerprints:
Step 3: Submit payment:
Option 1: Obtain a money order or cashiers check for $18 U.S. dollars made payable to the Treasury of the United States. Please be sure to sign where required.
Option 2: Pay by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form (pdf). Don’t forget to include the expiration date of the credit card that you are using
Step 4: Review the FBI Identification Record Request Checklist (pdf) to ensure that you have included all the information we require to process your request.
Step 5:Mail the required items listed above—applicant information form, fingerprint card, and payment—to the following address:
FBI CJIS Division – Record Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
What Happens Next?
If we find no record, you will receive a “no record” response. If you do have a criminal history record on file, you will receive your Identification Record, or “rap sheet.”
Note: Although the FBI employs the most efficient methods for processing these requests, processing times may take up to 12 weeks depending on the volume of requests received.
Does the FBI provide Apostilles*?
(*An Apostille is a certification that a document that has been “legalized” or “authenticated” by the issuing agency through a process in which various seals are placed on the document.)
The CJIS Division will authenticate U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73 fingerprint search results for international requests by placing the FBI seal and the signature of a division official on the results if requested at the time of submission. Documents prepared in this way may then be sent to the U.S. Department of State by the requester to obtain an Apostille if necessary. This procedure became effective on January 25, 2010 and will apply only to documents finalized after that date. Requests to authenticate previously processed results will not be accepted. This procedure replaces the letter formerly provided by the CJIS Division that indicated the service was not provided. The Apostille service is not provided to individuals requesting search results for Canadian immigration, as it is not required for this purpose.
The FBI Check is the highest level check available in the US and covers all US states in the search. Fingerprinting is required.
The information below has been taken directly from the FBI website (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks). For more detailed information, please contact your local FBI Office.
ACTION REQUIRED:
When you send in your request to the FBI, make sure to include a written request, asking for your FBI check to be AUTHENTICATED (signed or stamped by the FBI) before it gets sent back. If you forget to do this, you will NOT be able to get the FBI check apostilled by the Secretary of State. A template for this request is attached below. The word “Authenticated” must be included in your written request to clearly explain what you are asking for.
Step 1: Complete the Applicant Information Form (Pdf.):
- If the request is for a couple, family, etc., all persons must sign the form.
- Include your complete mailing address. Provide your telephone number and/or e-mail address, if available.
Step 2: Obtain a set of your fingerprints:
- Provide the original fingerprint card. Previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted.
- Your name and date of birth must be provided on the card. Fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-258) commonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes.
- Include rolled impressions of all 10 fingerprints and impressions of all 10 fingerprints taken simultaneously (these are sometime referred to as plain or flat impressions).
- If possible, have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician. This service may be available at a law enforcement agency.
- To ensure the most legible prints possible, refer to the Recording Legible Fingerprints brochure.
Step 3: Submit payment:
Option 1: Obtain a money order or cashiers check for $18 U.S. dollars made payable to the Treasury of the United States. Please be sure to sign where required.
Option 2: Pay by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form (pdf). Don’t forget to include the expiration date of the credit card that you are using
- Important note: Cash, personal checks, or business checks WILL NOT be accepted.
- Payment must be for the exact amount.
- If the request is for a couple, family, etc., include $18 for each person.
- If you are making multiple requests per person, include $18 for each request.
Step 4: Review the FBI Identification Record Request Checklist (pdf) to ensure that you have included all the information we require to process your request.
Step 5:Mail the required items listed above—applicant information form, fingerprint card, and payment—to the following address:
FBI CJIS Division – Record Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
What Happens Next?
If we find no record, you will receive a “no record” response. If you do have a criminal history record on file, you will receive your Identification Record, or “rap sheet.”
Note: Although the FBI employs the most efficient methods for processing these requests, processing times may take up to 12 weeks depending on the volume of requests received.
Does the FBI provide Apostilles*?
(*An Apostille is a certification that a document that has been “legalized” or “authenticated” by the issuing agency through a process in which various seals are placed on the document.)
The CJIS Division will authenticate U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73 fingerprint search results for international requests by placing the FBI seal and the signature of a division official on the results if requested at the time of submission. Documents prepared in this way may then be sent to the U.S. Department of State by the requester to obtain an Apostille if necessary. This procedure became effective on January 25, 2010 and will apply only to documents finalized after that date. Requests to authenticate previously processed results will not be accepted. This procedure replaces the letter formerly provided by the CJIS Division that indicated the service was not provided. The Apostille service is not provided to individuals requesting search results for Canadian immigration, as it is not required for this purpose.
