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United States - Police Clearance Certificate (Criminal History Record)

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ProcedureEdit

APPLYING PROCEDURE FOR BOTH CITIZENS AND NON CITIZENS IN U.S

a. Through local police department in person
  1. Go to your local police department where you reside or last resided in the United States.
  2. Link to locate department: link use the information provided to locate required office address.
  3. Once you reach the office, request respective authority to conduct a local or state criminal records search and provide you with a document reflecting that there is no history of a criminal record.
  4. Local police departments may require your personal appearance in order to conduct the search.
  5. Please follow as authorities advice to process your request to issue the certificate.
  6. Link for page: link
Note:
  • You should determine whether the country where you intend to use the records check requires that it be authenticated


b. Through FBI records check - by mail (postal)
  1. The “Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)” centralizes criminal justice information and provides accurate and timely information for the applicants.
  2. The FBI offers two methods for requesting your “FBI Identification Record” or proof that a record does not exist.
  3. Both US citizens and permanent legal residents as well as foreign national shall follow the given procedure to apply for PCC when they are outside the country


c. Through local service provider
  1. Applicant shall use the service of the reputed immigration and Visa processing agencies, where they provide PCC service for your requirement.


d. Through Online - United States Police Clearance Certificate (Criminal History Record) Online with Images
  1. Go to the online portal: link
  2. Applicant has to enter his/her e-mail address in order to initiate the application process at the box provided below “Enter your e-mail address to get started” and hit submit to get a confirmation mail.
  3. Through the mail, applicant will get a secure link, along with a personal identification number and it will be used to complete the online application process as per the mail.
  4. Get your fingerprints taken on an official fingerprint form (FD-258) on standard white paper stock.
  5. If possible, have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician. This service may be available at a law enforcement agency. If fingerprints are not legible, the fingerprint card will be rejected. This could cause a delay
  6. Fingerprints taken with ink or via live scan are acceptable. If your fingerprints are taken via a live scan device, a hard-copy must be generated in order to enclose it with your request
  7. Pay your fees and get these details enclosed with the set of documents.
  8. Mail your fingerprints and a copy of your confirmation email to the “FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division” as per the address provided below.
    FBI CJIS Division,
    Attn: SCU, Mod. D-2, 1000 Custer Hollow Rd.,
    Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306.
  9. The same secure link and personal identification number will be used to check the status of the application and to access results.
  10. Once the process is complete, FBI will send it to you by:
    1. email through a secure link and personal identification number or
    2. First class mail via the U.S. postal service


APPLYING PROCEDURE FOR BOTH CITIZENS AND NON CITIZENS IN U.S AND OVERSEAS

a. Apply to CJIS division
  1. Complete the FBI’s applicant information form.
  2. Link for form: link and Link for contact : link
  3. If the request is for a couple, family, etc., all persons must sign the form. Include your complete mailing address.
  4. Obtain a set of your personal fingerprints. Applicant can get their finger print from a trained finger print expert through an reputed agency in the country from where you are applying.
  5. U.S. embassies and consulates abroad generally do not provide this service. You must provide a current fingerprint card. :#Previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted.
  6. Your name and date of birth must be provided on the fingerprint card.
  7. If possible, have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician. This service may be available at a law enforcement agency. If fingerprints are not legible, the fingerprint card will be rejected. This could cause a delay.
  8. Fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-258) commonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes. :#The FBI will accept FD-258 fingerprint cards on standard white paper stock.
  9. Fingerprints taken with ink or via live scan are acceptable. If your fingerprints are taken via a live scan device, a hard-copy must be generated in order to enclose it with your request.
  10. Please make sure of no mismatch of spelling in the name while applying.
  11. Please ensure the full nine-digit or last four digits of your “Social Security number SSN” on the fingerprint card when submitting your request.
  12. Make required payment by credit card or by money order or cashier’s check as advised to “Treasury of the United States”.
  13. Make sure to provide/submit all required information to ensure that your request is properly processed.
  14. Mail your request and other required documents to:
    FBI CJIS Division,
    Attn: SCU, Mod. D-2, 1000 Custer Hollow Rd.,
    Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306.
  15. If there is no criminal record, a report reflecting this fact is provided.
  16. Link for contact : link
  17. The request must be accompanied by satisfactory proof of identity (consisting of name, date and place of birth, and a set of rolled-inked fingerprint impressions) and a certified check or money order for the current processing fee.
  18. After the processing applicant will get the subject of the record. (copies of arrest records to individuals).


b. Through FBI records check - by mail (postal)
  1. The “Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)” centralizes criminal justice information and provides accurate and timely information for the applicants.
  2. The FBI offers two methods for requesting your “FBI Identification Record” or proof that a record does not exist.


c. Through FBI-approved channeler
  1. Applicant can submit their request with an FBI-approved channeler and follow the steps as advised by the channeler
  2. Please use the link: link for the list of FBI-approved channelers.
Note:
  • FBI-approved channeler are contracted with the FBI to receive fingerprint submissions and relevant data, collect the associated fee(s), electronically forward the fingerprint submissions with the necessary information to the “FBI CJIS Division”, and receive the electronic record check results for dissemination to the individual


Authentication of certificates of lack of a criminal record
  1. Authentication of the certificate can be requested at the time of submission. The “FBI’s CJIS Division” will authenticate “U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73” fingerprint search results for international requests by placing the FBI seal and signature of a division official on the results.
  2. Please be sure to indicate the country in which the document is to be used. Requests to authenticate previously processed results will not be accepted.
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Required DocumentsEdit

  • Prescribed application form: link
  • Fingerprints of both hands on FD 258 fingerprint card on your own or duly attested by authorized organization.
  • Self-attested photocopy of current passport and two Identity documents.
  • Social Security Number(if any).
  • PCC Application Fee with Processing charges.
  • Documentary proof of stay is to be provided.
  • First entry and last exit date STAMP.
  • All pages of VISA (colour copy).
  • State police certificate (If required).

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

FBI Headquarters
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
(202) 324-3000.

FBI CJIS Division,
Attn: SCU, Mod. D-2, 1000 Custer Hollow Rd.,
Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306.
Contacts link : link

EligibilityEdit

  • Applicant with valid passport and a valid address proof
  • For those who resided more than 6 months in USA.
  • You must be 16 years of age. For minors, apply as per authorities advice.
  • Applicants who are in need of residential status, employment or long term visa or for immigration to a foreign nation.


FeesEdit

  • Pay to “Treasury of the United States” as per the applicable fees
  • Obtain a money order or cashier’s check for $18 U.S. dollars made payable to the “Treasury of the United States” per person.
  • Pay by credit card using the credit card payment form. 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 the request is for multiple copies per person, include $18 for each copy requested.
  • Link for credit card payment form:link


ValidityEdit

Validity period of the issued certificate varies from country to country



Documents to UseEdit

Applicant fingerprint Form

Sample DocumentsEdit

Sample finger Print

Processing TimeEdit

  • Normally 5 to 6 weeks time
  • Longer than 60 days to process a mail-in (post) request for a police certificate.
  • 3 to 5 business days for an electronic check
  • The processing time will increases if a person was ever charged by the police


Related VideosEdit

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M".



InstructionsEdit

Obtain a Set of Your Fingerprints:

  • Your fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-258) : FingerPrint Formcommonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes. The FBI will accept FD-258 fingerprint cards on standard white paper stock.
  • You must provide a current fingerprint card. Previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted.
  • Your name and date of birth must be provided on the fingerprint card.
  • You must include rolled impressions of all 10 fingerprints and impressions of all 10 fingerprints taken at the same time (these are sometimes 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.
  • Fingerprints taken with ink or via live scan are acceptable. If your fingerprints are taken via a live scan device, a hard copy must be generated so the fingerprint card can be mailed to the FBI.
  • To ensure the most legible prints possible, refer to the Recording Legible Fingerprints page Legible finger print. If fingerprints are not legible, the fingerprint card will berejected. This could cause delays in processing and could also result in additional fees.
  • The name on your response letter will match the name indicated on the fingerprint card when your application, payment, and fingerprint card are submitted via the mail.
  • If the last four digits of your social security number are needed on your response letter, then please ensure the full nine-digits or last four digits of your Social Security number are on the fingerprint card when submitting your request.

Submit Payment

  • Option 1: Pay by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form Credit card Payment don’t forget to include the expiration date of the credit card that you are using.
  • Option 2: Obtain a money order or certified check for $18 U.S. dollars made payable to the Treasury of the United States. Please be sure you sign where required.
  • Important note: Cash, personal checks, or business checks WILL NOT be accepted and sending any of these will delay processing of your request.
  • Payment must be for the exact amount.
  • If the request is for a couple, family, etc., include $18 for each person*.
  • The FBI will provide one sealed response for each request received. You may make as many copies as needed upon receipt of your response. Note: If you need additional sealed responses mailed to the same address or separate address, you must submit an additional request with another payment of $18 for each sealed response requested. Also, if you need additional copies of your response that do not need to be in a sealed envelope, you may make as many copies as needed upon receipt of your response.
  • If you are unable to pay the $18 fee, your request for a waiver of the fee must include aclaim and proof of indigence, such as a notarized affidavit of indigence.
  • The FBI will not accept additional payment to expedite your request.

Required InformationEdit

Follow this link to ensure you have all the required information necessary for this process : identification history

Need for the DocumentEdit

U.S. citizens may be asked to present this document for variety of reasons for use abroad including adoption, school attendance, employment, etc.

Information which might helpEdit

Identity History Summary Checks for Employment or Licensing
 

If you are requesting a background check for employment or licensing within the U.S., you may be required by state statute or federal law to submit your request through your state identification bureau, the requesting federal agency, or another authorized channeling agency.

The FBI’s authority to conduct an Identity History Summary check for noncriminal justice purposes is based upon Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544. Pursuant to that law, the FBI is empowered to exchange Identity History Summary information with officials of state and local governments for employment, licensing—which includes volunteers—and other similar noncriminal justice purposes,if authorized by a state statute which has been approved by the Attorney General of the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice has advised that the state statute establishing guidelines for a category of employment or the issuance of a license must, in itself, require fingerprinting and authorize the governmental licensing or employing agency to exchange fingerprint data directly with the FBI.

An Identity History Summary search obtained pursuant to U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73 may not meet employment requirements. Governmental licensing or employing agencies covered by federal laws and/or state statutes may refuse to accept Identity History Summary information directly from the subject of the summary, as there would be no way to verify that the information contained on the summary had not been altered. Also, an Identity History Summary provided to the subject for personal review contains only information maintained by the FBI and may lack dispositional data and/or arrest records that are maintained only at the state level.

You should contact the agency requiring the fingerprinting or the appropriate state identification bureau for the correct procedures to follow.

Other uses of the Document/CertificateEdit

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External LinksEdit

website
Police Certificate
Criminal record

OthersEdit

Challenge of an Identity History Summary

The FBI is responsible for the storage of fingerprints and related Identity History Summary information for the nation and does not have the authority to modify any Identity History Summary information unless specifically notified to do so by the agency that owns the information. If you believe your Identity History Summary contains inaccurate or incomplete information, you have three options for requesting a change or correction:

Option 1: Contact the agency or agencies that submitted the information to the FBI

  • Missing or Incorrect State (Non-Federal) Information
  • Most states require that changes to Identity History Summary information be processed through their respective state centralized agency (State Identification Bureau) before any changes can be made to your information. You may contact the respective State Identification Bureau for assistance,and, if applicable, request that they provide the FBI with updates to your Identity History Summary.Contact information for each state is provided on the state identification bureau listing
  • Several states maintain their own record system. Record updates are made at the state level only, so the FBI cannot change its records. Instead, the FBI accesses the state’s system for authorized purposes to review the record. Contact information for states maintaining records at the state level is provided on the state maintained records listing
  • Missing or Incorrect Federal Information
  • For federal Identity History Summary updates, the FBI must receive a request directly from the original arresting agency, from a court with control over the arrest data, or from another agency with control over the arrest data.

Option 2: Electronically submit your challenge request directly to the FBI

Step 1: Go to Website
Step 2: Follow the steps under the “Challenging Your Identity History Summary” section.
  • If you submitted a challenge request electronically directly to the FBI, you will receive a response electronically and an option to receive a response by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service.

Option 3: Send a written challenge request to the FBI

  • Your written request should clearly identify the information that you feel is inaccurate or incomplete and should include copies of any available proof or supporting documentation to support your claim.

For example, if your disposition information is incorrect or missing, you may submit documentation obtained from the court having control over the arrest or the office prosecuting the offense. The FBI will contact appropriate agencies in an attempt to verify or correct challenged entries for you. Upon receipt of an official communication from the agency with control over the data, the FBI will make appropriate changes and notify you of the outcome.

  • You may submit an Identity History Summary challenge to the FBI by writing to the following address:
FBI CJIS Division
Attention: Criminal History Analysis Team 1
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306


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