A few questions regarding immigration

[irotas]

I am an American citizen now residing in Toronto with my Canadian wife. Today I started looking through the immigration forms from CIC, and I've got a few questions hopefully someone here can help me with.

1) To obtain a police certificate from the US I will need to send an application to the FBI containing fingerprints. Can I walk into any police station in Toronto and ask to be fingerprinted? Are there private companies out there that do fingerprinting? Is there any fee associated with getting fingerprinted?

2) Guide 5289E says that a clearance can be used as an alternative to a police certificate. I do have a clearance through the Department of Defense in the US. Is there any reason to provide my clearance with my immigration application rather than a police certificate? Should I submit both?

3) Guide 5289E also says "You and all your family members aged 18 and over who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents must undergo background checks. This applies even to your family members outside Canada, whether or not they intend to join you here." In this context, what is a "family member"? Surely they don't mean siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc, do they?

4) I lived in Canada on a student visa from 99-03. Do I need to obtain a police certificate from Canada to provide with my application? If so, how do I get one?

Thanks for your help!

[irotas]

<gratuitous bump>

[PMM]

Hi

I am an American citizen now residing in Toronto with my Canadian wife. Today I started looking through the immigration forms from CIC, and I've got a few questions hopefully someone here can help me with.

1) To obtain a police certificate from the US I will need to send an application to the FBI containing fingerprints. Can I walk into any police station in Toronto and ask to be fingerprinted? Are there private companies out there that do fingerprinting? Is there any fee associated with getting fingerprinted?

Look up fingerprinting services in the yellow pages, Corp of Commissionaires is one, and yes you will have to pay.

2) Guide 5289E says that a clearance can be used as an alternative to a police certificate. I do have a clearance through the Department of Defense in the US. Is there any reason to provide my clearance with my immigration application rather than a police certificate? Should I submit both?

No, you need the police certificate.

3) Guide 5289E also says "You and all your family members aged 18 and over who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents must undergo background checks. This applies even to your family members outside Canada, whether or not they intend to join you here." In this context, what is a "family member"? Surely they don't mean siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc, do they?

No, they mean children who are not included in the application, but who are eligible to be included.

4) I lived in Canada on a student visa from 99-03. Do I need to obtain a police certificate from Canada to provide with my application? If so, how do I get one?

You don't need it yet, CIC will do a name check on CPIC, if there is a "hit" you will be required to get a police certificate from Canada.  You get digital prints done (Corp again) results in 72 hours usually instead of 4 months for paper prints.

Thanks for your help!

PMM

[RobsLuv]

Commissionaires can do fingerprinting, but they may be even more expensive than your local police department - and I don't know for sure whether or not they can get a digital clearance from the FBI.  If not, you can find explicit information on how to get and expedite your FBI clearance at this US2Canada.com link.  You might also consider getting State clearances for each State in which you resided for longer than six months since turning 18 years of age.  CIC may request that you send them, so getting them ahead of time and submitting them with your application can help prevent delays once your application is in process.