Proof that you're "one-of -a-kind"
When you apply for permanent residency in most countries, you’ll need to have a police background check.
If you’re from the US, you get it from the FBI. When you go through the normal procedure, it will take a while to get those results back. When I requested mine, it took 78 days to receive it.
However, here’s some (possible) good news for you, if you need to get your FBI background check results back fast.
For a fee, there are FBI-approved “channelers” (private companies) who can get your results back faster. You may even be able to get them back within a day or two.
Unfortunately, you cannot use one of these services if you need to have your background check Apostilled. For those countries, you need to go through the normal, slower procedures.
For countries like Paraguay, which has the results legalized at their consulate, instead of using Apostilles, you can use one of these services.
For a list of the approved companies, visit the FBI’s web page here.
“Thanks” to my friend, “M”, for letting me know about this.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Can one really use these channelers b/c when I look it up at the fbi site, it says if one needs the results authenticated (or apostilled) one must deal directly. I would LOVE to know they could be used b/c we are about to send in our prints! I know PY doesnt need apostilles, but they still need authentication from the Dept of State to be legalized… and from what I am reading, these fast results wont be authenticated…
From what I’ve seen, you cannot use these services if you need an Apostille, but you can use them if they only need to be legalized by the Embassy/Consulate.
A friend of mine said he was using them for his background check for Paraguay. I’ve sent him an e-mail to see if he did use them, and if he was able to have them legalized. I’ll post another reply when I hear back from him.
I heard back from my friend. He was able to use the channeler and got his FBI background check results legalized by the Paraguayan Consulate in the US.
He also mentioned that he knows of two other people who did this and have already received their cedulas from Paraguay. So, it sounds like this should work for Paraguay.
Senor Lilly,
I went thru a FBI channeler (Fieldprint) and the results were returned in an all-text PDF file. Sent that in for legalization.
The Consulate just told me it was not acceptable and the sample they sent to me comes directly from the FBI, on FBI letterhead, with signature
Now I am forced to go thru the direct, longer FBI method and already wasted 2 weeks trying this shortcut !!! and my trip is set for May 28 (this date is not flexible due to commitments in Brazil)
How was your friend’s results presented???
thanks
My friend received a physical letter, on tamper-proof paper (the kind the shows “COPY” on it, if you make a photocopy). He used Accurate Biometrics to get his.
Looking at the webiste for the Brazilian Consualte in Loas Angeles (http://losangeles.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/basic_information.xml), one of their requirements for document legalization is that “All official documents and school documents must be original, bear the organization letterhead, the official stamp or dry (raised) seal and the signature of the authorized person.” So anyone using a service would need to verify that they’d receive a document that meets those requirements.
If you’re hiring someone in Brazil to help you with residency, contact them to see if there are any alternatives. They may be able to have you get your fingerprints done at the local Interpol office, then submitted to the FBI. Or they may be able to start the process, while you get your results directly from the FBI – I was able to do that when I applied for residency in Paraguay. I don’t know if they can in Brazil, but you should definitely ask.
Sorry Scott,
Above post was about Paraguay. (The reference to Brazil is because I’m in Brazil that week for a coconut farm tour, therefore I would go to Asuncion the following week and Uruguay right after that. Just flying to South America is already $1,200 and 23 hours so might as well go to all the countries)
The trouble with Fieldprint is that they only give you electronic. PY consulate said “Must be original, not printed from Internet”
Thanks, I will check with Accurate Biometrics. Another provider says they provide ‘hard copy’ but asked them for a sample to be sure what it looks like. Also have asked the attorney if it is ok to send him the FBI check later as obviously it wont be ready by the time I’m there
thanks
OK. My friend had his FBI background check results legalized by the Paraguayan Consulate in Los Angeles and said they also wanted it notarized – even though the requirement is “original OR notarized copy”. He had a little difficulty getting the document notarized, since it didn’t have a signature on it, but found someone who was able to do it for him.