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kuriositty

Full Member
Mar 4, 2015
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Alberta
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC Mississauga
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 21, 2015
AOR Received.
June 13, 2015 [OWP 7/15/2015]
Med's Request
May 5, 2016
Med's Done....
May 19, 2016
I have a few questions that I need answers to because I'm confused on how to go about doing this.
I have obtained, two sets of fingerprints that I am wanting to send to a FBI channeler to get my background check faster, however, I have recently discovered that Canada probably won't take the document unless its certified. I need to know if that is correct? I also want to know where I can get this certified at and if it will save me time by going around the FBI directly?

As I am in Canada currently do I have to get it certified in the U.S. or can someone in Ontario verify this document?
I wish there were more clear directions on these immigration forms.

Thanks in advance for anyone's time and help. I appreciate it.
 
I have a U.S. mailing address that is legally my own that I am mailing it to and having a family member mail it to me from there. i just assumed that getting a report through a channeler would be different than getting it directly from the FBI and assumed that I would have to get it certified or Apostilled in order for CIC to accept it. I just want the process to be clear to me as what is the correct things to do so I don't have to do any more running around than nescessary.
 
kuriositty said:
I have a U.S. mailing address that is legally my own that I am mailing it to and having a family member mail it to me from there. i just assumed that getting a report through a channeler would be different than getting it directly from the FBI and assumed that I would have to get it certified or Apostilled in order for CIC to accept it. I just want the process to be clear to me as what is the correct things to do so I don't have to do any more running around than nescessary.

At this point CIC isn't requiring an apostille. I would use one of the channelers that mail the report on the tamper proof paper that is eligible for an apostille. I used Accurate Biometrics. Also, when I got the online report, I downloaded the PDF and emailed the PDF into Ottawa. Surprisingly, Ottawa accepted it and noted on my file the FBI report was received, before I ever received the hard copy in the mail. I did continue to forward them the hard copy, just to cover all my bases.
 
saria1 said:
At this point CIC isn't requiring an apostille. I would use one of the channelers that mail the report on the tamper proof paper that is eligible for an apostille. I used Accurate Biometrics. Also, when I got the online report, I downloaded the PDF and emailed the PDF into Ottawa. Surprisingly, Ottawa accepted it and noted on my file the FBI report was received, before I ever received the hard copy in the mail. I did continue to forward them the hard copy, just to cover all my bases.

Yes I am using the same company. I have contacted both CIC and Accurate Biometrics. AB said that they provide a document just as the FBI would on the blue tamper proof paper and the FBI seal. CIC said that as long as the seal is there they will accept it.

I'm glad that it worked for you and now I know it will work for me. I wasn't sure about the online report so I was just getting an original mailed copy. This way also I can submit it with the rest of my paperwork all together and hopefully not have to worry about submitting anything else.

Thank you so much for your reply. If this is so much faster than going through the FBI why is it that more people are not doing it? No wonder why the FBI is taking so long even with their IT upgrade.
 
kuriositty said:
Yes I am using the same company. I have contacted both CIC and Accurate Biometrics. AB said that they provide a document just as the FBI would on the blue tamper proof paper and the FBI seal. CIC said that as long as the seal is there they will accept it.

I'm glad that it worked for you and now I know it will work for me. I wasn't sure about the online report so I was just getting an original mailed copy. This way also I can submit it with the rest of my paperwork all together and hopefully not have to worry about submitting anything else.

Thank you so much for your reply. If this is so much faster than going through the FBI why is it that more people are not doing it? No wonder why the FBI is taking so long even with their IT upgrade.

CIC just started allowing channelers reports in late January. I think most of us are now utilizing it. I had no choice since they rejected my husbands prints after 17 weeks.
 
saria1 said:
At this point CIC isn't requiring an apostille. I would use one of the channelers that mail the report on the tamper proof paper that is eligible for an apostille. I used Accurate Biometrics. Also, when I got the online report, I downloaded the PDF and emailed the PDF into Ottawa. Surprisingly, Ottawa accepted it and noted on my file the FBI report was received, before I ever received the hard copy in the mail. I did continue to forward them the hard copy, just to cover all my bases.

This is great news! I am sticking with my results from Fieldprint and I'll go with Accurate Biometrics if CIC has a problem with the results from Fieldprint.
 
It's also important to note that Accurate Biometrics requires that the fingerprints be taken at one of their locations OR by law enforcement only.
 
Ponga said:
It's also important to note that Accurate Biometrics requires that the fingerprints be taken at one of their locations OR by law enforcement only.

Since I live in Canada currently I got my fingerprints taken by a professional in Hamilton, ON. Then I sent them via mail to Accurate Biometrics and a week later I received my documents. It also states on the CIC website that the fingerprints need to be done by a professional. As long as you do that and they are on the appropiate printing cards then all is fine. Canadian law enforcement here doesn't do non-criminal fingerprinting anymore and a lot of times they send criminals to these professional fingerprinting offices as well. So by law enforcement is no always possible depending on your location.
 
kuriositty said:
Since I live in Canada currently I got my fingerprints taken by a professional in Hamilton, ON. Then I sent them via mail to Accurate Biometrics and a week later I received my documents. It also states on the CIC website that the fingerprints need to be done by a professional. As long as you do that and they are on the appropiate printing cards then all is fine. Canadian law enforcement here doesn't do non-criminal fingerprinting anymore and a lot of times they send criminals to these professional fingerprinting offices as well. So by law enforcement is no always possible depending on your location.

But again...Accurate Biometrics' own website states that fingerprints must be taken at one of their locations, or by law enforcement only. It doesn't say that any other `professional' can take them. They need to correct this information on their website.

Glad to hear that they didn't give you any problems.
 
Just FYI for others who might read this and think that Canadian police do not do fingerprinting, this is not true at least for Montreal.

I got my fingerprints done at the SPVM by calling here and making an appointment. They even had the FBI stock paper for fingerprints available (but I didn't know that, so I brought a home-printed copy which they didn't use).

When I was looking into getting my fingerprints done, I was first directed to the RCMP, but the RCMP's website said that while they do fingerprinting but not in QC where it is taken care of by local law enforcement.

So, check with RCMP in your province to get pointed in the right direction.
 
We are legal residents of USA? Would CIC accept FBI Police Clearance certificate if issued through FBI-approved Channelers?
When you say legal residents do you mean permanent residents/green card holders? If so then yes. You can be a legal resident without being a permanent resident.
 
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