Need help with how to get a U.S. police clearance certificate? Also known as an FBI Identity History Summary Check, a U.S. police clearance certificate is an official document that provides any detail of an arrest along with the reason and outcome of such arrest in the USA. There might be several reasons why you may need to submit a police certificate – immigration, employment, education, etc.

Here is a comprehensive guide to getting a U.S. police clearance certificate.

How Do I Obtain a U.S. Police Clearance Certificate?

Complete the Application Form

Download the Identity History Summary Request Form from the official website of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and complete all required fields, including your full name, contact details, and date and place of birth.

Provide Your Fingerprints

A crucial step in requesting an FBI Identity History Summary Check is to get an FBI Card and provide your fingerprints. For FBI background checks, you will typically need FBI-approved, FD-1164 or FD-258 fingerprinting cards. You can take fingerprints on your own or visit an accredited fingerprinting agency that uses hi-tech equipment to capture and register your fingerprints as per the FBI standards. The details on the card must also be filled out, you can read this guide to learn more about it.

Pay the Processing Fee

Once you know how to get a U.S. police clearance certificate, you have to duly fill up the form and pay the processing fee before you submit the request. Presently, the FBI charges $18 to process the police certificate. However, you should check their official website to know the latest fee information. They accept payments via credit card, certified check, or money order.

Submit the Request

There are two ways you can submit the form:

i) Via Mail: Once you complete the form, get your fingerprints, pay the processing fee and mail the application directly to the FBI along with all required documents.

ii) Via an Agency: You can also visit an authorized fingerprinting agency in the USA that can help you submit the request electronically to expedite the process. They are approved by the FBI to collect your fingerprints digitally and submit your application online.

Get Your U.S. Police Clearance Certificate

You will receive your original police clearance certificate within around 2 weeks of submitting your request under the normal processing mode to the FBI. If you choose the expedited mode of application processing, expect to get your certificate in 2-3 business days. The processing time will vary based on whether you are ever detained by the police.

Apostille the Police Clearance Certificate

For your U.S. Police Clearance Certificate to be internationally recognized, you may need an FBI apostille. The USA apostille process legalizes and validates your document, so you can use it outside the U.S. in countries which are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention.

Getting a U.S. Police Clearance Certificate can be intimidating because it involves completing several critical steps. Working with a dependable agency such as Globeia can help streamline the process as they will guide you through every step of submitting your request and obtaining your FBI Identity History Summary Check. Click Here

Written by :

We are a background screening and document verification agency in Toronto. While we cover the Greater Toronto Area for in-person appointments, the bulk of our clientele uses our online services from different countries of the world. Globeia makes it simple and cost-effective for companies and individuals to navigate governmental red tape without breaking the bank.

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