Criminal Record Check for Immigration

What Immigration Authorities Actually Require

Requirements depend on the destination country and visa type. Some authorities require a police clearance certificate from each country where you lived for a specified period. For U.S. residents, an FBI Identity History Summary Check is often the relevant U.S. report — the fingerprint-based report from the CJIS division, not a commercial background check from a private screening company.

Some immigration pathways also require state-level clearances, court certificates of disposition for specific cases, or additional authentication depending on the destination country. The requirements vary by visa type (work permit, permanent residency, retirement visa, adoption); the FBI report is a common U.S. component, but it is not universal.

Getting the FBI Report for Immigration Use

The standard process applies:

1. Register at edo.cjis.gov and pay the $18 processing fee
2. Get fingerprinted at a USPS post office ($50) or FBI-approved channeler ($30–$75)
3. Receive the digitally signed PDF within 24 to 48 hours

For the mail-in route: Form 1-783, two FD-258 fingerprint cards, and $18 to the FBI CJIS Division in Clarksburg, WV. Processing takes 2 to 6 weeks.

Critical timing note: Check the destination authority's required validity period before ordering. Requirements vary, and some authorities require a recently issued FBI report.

The Apostille Step

For countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, your FBI report must be authenticated with a federal apostille before a foreign government will accept it. This is a common sticking point — state-level Secretary of State offices cannot authenticate federal documents. Only the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications has that authority.

Mail-in ($20, 5–8 weeks): Send the original FBI report (printed without modification), completed Form DS-4194, a $20 check per document payable to the U.S. Department of State, and a prepaid trackable return envelope (USPS or UPS — FedEx is not accepted) to the Office of Authentications in Sterling, Virginia.

Walk-in drop-off ($20, 9 business days): Hand-deliver to 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006. The walk-in window is open 7:30–9:00 AM, Monday through Thursday only, limited to 15 documents per day. You'll need to return after 9 business days to collect the apostilled document.

Expedited service ($120–$385, 7–9 business days): A registered third-party expeditor can handle the D.C. drop-off on your behalf. Upload your FBI PDF, and the service manages the physical delivery and pickup.

State-Level Clearances for Immigration

Some countries and some U.S. visa categories also require a state police clearance from every state where you lived. This adds complexity because each state has its own process:

• California requires a separate "Visa/Immigration" request (Form BCIA 8016 VISA, $32 fee) — the personal-use report is explicitly marked "Not Certified" and is not valid for visa or immigration use
• New York through IdentoGO with the appropriate service code
• Florida, North Carolina, Illinois — each has its own form and fee structure

If you've lived in a state like Arizona or Connecticut where the central repository doesn't issue personal clearances for immigration purposes, you'll need to obtain records directly from the courts in the counties where you lived.

Country-Specific Considerations

Canada: IRCC's police-certificate requirements depend on the application and residence history. Check the current IRCC instructions for the required U.S. certificate and authentication.

Australia: Police-certificate requirements depend on the visa and residence history. Check the Department of Home Affairs instructions for whether an FBI and/or state-level record is required and how it must be authenticated.

UK: Police-certificate requirements depend on the visa and residence history. Check the Home Office instructions for the required certificate and authentication.

Schengen Zone / EU: Requirements vary by member state and visa type. Check the specific consulate's current instructions for the required criminal-record certificate and authentication.

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

Between the FBI processing time, potential fingerprint rejections, the apostille backlog, and possible state-level clearances, the full process can take 2 to 4 months end-to-end if you're using mail-in options. Starting early gives you time to fix errors — and errors are common, especially missing disposition data that makes a dismissed case look like an open charge.

The Get Your Own Criminal Record toolkit walks through the complete process for immigration applicants, including a jurisdiction mapping worksheet and timelines for each step.