FBI Background Check

[Katie]

Hey everyone,

I tried searching for an answer to this question on the forum but I haven't had any luck. Does anyone know if it is possible to send for an FBI background check from Argentina? Or does it have to be done in the U.S.? I'm working on getting my work visa (yay!) but this is the last document I need (boo!).

I know I need to fill out the form, get my fingerprints taken and send them money, but will they accept fingerprints taken here? Maybe at the Embassy? Any info from someone who has gone throught this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
-Katie

 

[igor]

Hey everyone,
I tried searching for an answer to this question on the forum but I haven't had any luck. Does anyone know if it is possible to send for an FBI background check from Argentina? Or does it have to be done in the U.S.?

Yes, you can request FBI background check from here. In the US you can just go to your local police and get a certificate from them.

I know I need to fill out the form, get my fingerprints taken and send them money, but will they accept fingerprints taken here?

You need to go to any police station with the form and tell them that you want them to take your fingerprints on this form. Be persistent. Police does not charge for this procedure.

You can get all the details (and the fingerprint form in pdf format) on the FBI page:

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm

It looks like now you can even pay by credit card. In case of delays you can get status update by writing an email to [email protected] .

 

[Katie]

Thanks so much, Igor! I feel much better.

As for the form from the local police- it doesn't seem to work for work visas. I was at immigration today (had an appointment and everything) and was told that my apostilled, translated local police form wasn't valid and that they would only accept the FBI check. Maybe that's just for work visas?

 

[igor]

I was at immigration today (had an appointment and everything) and was told that my apostilled, translated local police form wasn't valid

May be it is too old?

 

[Katie]

No, I don't think so. She specifically told me that they don't accept anything from the local police and that only the FBI form would do. Like I said, I think it might only be for work visas, because she seemed familiar with the local police form.

 

[steveinbsas]

Regarding the police reports, there does seem to be different "rules" for different types of visas. I have made several posts that included the fact that I was granted my "vias rentista" with a local police report and no FBI report, but that was three years ago. The regulations can change at any time for any of the visas. Last year, a new Argintine police report was required for work visa renewals, but not for the visa rentista. If you have questions I suggest that you call migraciones. The answer you get on the phone still might be different what you are told when you go in person. If your qualifications are "iffy" it might be good idea to consult a "specialist/attorney" as well, but I advise only to pay if they review your qualifications and guarantee a positive outcome...or a refund.

 

[Davidglen77]

The only way to get this done is to go to the US embassy, they will give you the fingerprint form there (it's printed on a cardboard type paper). Then go to the police station at the corner of Gurruchaga and Santa Fe during the daytime and they will take the fingerprints for you free of charge and with a smile on their face. Once you have that done send it back to the FBI in the US with your credit card info so they can charge you the $18.00 fee. You will receive it back here within 30 days and then you take it to migraciones with the rest of your papers and they will process your file. I have done this for 2 years in a row and it works just fine. Migraciones can not accept a local police report as they are not able to verify a background check from a local or state agency. It must be a government agency, hence, the FBI. Good luck!

 

[steveinbsas]

Thanks, David. Apparently what worked for me three years ago might not/won't be accepted today. It appears that the FBI report is now the "only" way to go.

 

[KatharineAnn]

I can confirm that the police report used to be good enough for many visas, but now they ask for the FBI report (at least, in the case of the student visa. no one at my university had heard of such a thing before this year).

 

[cujodu]

You can download and print the FBI fingerprint card online, take it to any police station. I took mine here in Caballito and they were VERY friendly about doing them, no problem, I even had them do it twice at the same time. The officer was chatty and nice. I'm glad I took 2 cards because he did the first one wrong... there's a section at the bottom for all 4 fingers of each hand simultaneously and he did one of them individually before I could stop him, but he did the second one correctly and so I just sent the second one. I don't know if the FBI will pay for mailing them to Argentina, but I sent a bunch of stuff FedEx to a friend in the USA who is putting it all in the mail and will receive the documents back and then FedEx them to me. From my internet research you don't actually need anyone to take your prints for you. If you have the ink at home and know what you're doing, you can do them yourself. The FBI will not Apostille the report, but from what I've seen on here they don't require that, just the report itself.