Criminal Record Check for American In Canada

[Prelude]

Hi again.

My wife is American and has been living up in Canada with me for the past few months. We're trying to get our PR application done and sent, but I feel like I'm hitting conflicting information at every turn and I'm so frustrated!

When I go to the CIC website re: criminal record checks, there's a section under "Canada" for people living in Canada who aren't citizens (applicable) and one under "USA" for Americans living outside America (also applicable). The directions for the two are not the same.

Please help. ):

What page should I be following? Do I need to just go to the correct recognized police office to get her record, or do we need to do the thing involving the FBI? I'm really lost and this needs to get done ASAP. Anything you can tell me would be so appreciated.

Links, so you can take a look, too:
Canadian Thing: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/north-america/canada.asp
American Thing: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/north-america/united-states.asp

 

[scylla]

You need to obtain an FBI certificate.

 

[Ponga]

The FBI PCC will take ~ 14-16 weeks to receive.

 

[Prelude]

Okay, so we go to the proper police location, get fingerprints done, and then do the FBI thing as listed under the American link?

(Side note: I am really freaking frustrated because my lawyer--when I was still using one--said we couldn't get this thing done before she came up here and it sort of looks like we could have. This is a nightmare.)

 

[Ponga]

Apparently a lot of police stations are no longer doing prints for immigration purposes. You might try contacting your local Commissionaires office to have her prints taken.

A word of advice: Have her get two sets of prints taken, in case there's a problem with the first set! It's only another ~$10-$15 and sooooo worth it for the added peace of mind.

Can you even imagine your angst, if after 3 months of waiting for the FBI to even open up her packet, they tell her that the prints are not legible?!

 

[Prelude]

Okay, good idea. Do I send both sets initially, in that case?

Also, the place where we're getting the prints done should know if they're able to do them for immigration purposes, I imagine? I'm in Calgary AB, so it's not a really small place, and I'm sure they deal with this a lot.

 

[Ponga]

Yes, send them together with a note explaining that the second set is included `just in case' there is a problem. You do NOT want them to run two reports (which would cost an extra $18).

 

[Prelude]

Okay, we'll do that. Thank you so much.