FBI Background Check and Getting Fingerprints Done

[samuelmp]

any police station will do fingerprints for you, best place would be Gwanghwamun though because they are used to it more because of the US embassy being so close but your local police station in korea should be fine.

[Sara]

Can you get your criminal check through the US Embassy or is it better to mail it in to the American FBI?

I heard the US Embassy is rarely open and not very helpful.

[buckeyebill]

Where can I get the FBI background check apostilled? I am currently in Korea. Thanks for your time! :)

[samuelmp]

can't get it apostilled in korea, have to have a family member back home have that done, you can take it to the embassy and get a affidavit and they will except that like an apostille since you are in korea

[Sara]

I found this on another board about getting an apostle on the background check:

If you're an American citizen you DON"T go to the embassy. I think they once handled this stuff but no longer. You need to get your fingerprints done and send that with an application, payment, and letter requesting the seal and signature of an FBI official on the back of the background check TO THE FBI. The embassy won't help you. Go to fbi.gov and do a search for their FAQ about background checks, it includes what you need to say on the letter to request the seal and signature. That is in lieu of an apostille, which they don't do anymore either. Once you get that stuff, you then send it off with more paperwork and payment to the State Dept (also in the US, not the US embassy here) and THEY verify the background check as authentic.

It takes a while, so I would FedEx everything. Include a SASE with it so they can mail it back to you in Korea when they're done. Unfortunately you can't include a prepaid FedEx envelope unless you're a business with a FedEx account number

Hope this helps.

[Ben-Ja-Meen]

I got mine done by the CSI department at Jongro Police Station, right by Anguk Station. They were very kind and helpful and clearly experienced in fingerprinting Americans for the FBI check. They did three sets of fingerprints for me for free and with a smile.

You were lucky.  :)

I went to the same CSI dept at Jongro and had a completely different expreience.  The guy who did my prints was a total asshole.  He was angry that the U.S. Embassy had delegated the fingerprinting task to local police stations.  I guess he gets a lot of Americans coming in for prints since he's so close to the Embassy. 

I went with my Korean girlfriend.  The guy was clearly pissed off, did a terrible job, and spent the entire time complaining aggressively (in Korean) about Americans to my gfriend.  At one point he became frustrated and asked me in English: "How old are you?"...as though I was a child or something for not holding my hand correctly.  If he had shut up long enough for my gf to translate his instructions I would have known what to do.  My gf also said he was criticizing her for dating a waygook.  She was in tears by the time we left the station.  The whole experience was humiliating.  The prints are so bad that I don't want to risk sending them to the FBI only to have them turned down.   Looks like I have to go to another police station and have them done again.  If anyone had a good experience (i.e. decent cop, good prints), please let me know where you went. 

[JamericanTeacher]

I got mine done by the CSI department at Jongro Police Station, right by Anguk Station. They were very kind and helpful and clearly experienced in fingerprinting Americans for the FBI check. They did three sets of fingerprints for me for free and with a smile.

You were lucky.  :)

I went to the same CSI dept at Jongro and had a completely different expreience.  The guy who did my prints was a total asshole.  He was angry that the U.S. Embassy had delegated the fingerprinting task to local police stations.  I guess he gets a lot of Americans coming in for prints since he's so close to the Embassy. 

I went with my Korean girlfriend.  The guy was clearly pissed off, did a terrible job, and spent the entire time complaining aggressively (in Korean) about Americans to my gfriend.  At one point he became frustrated and asked me in English: "How old are you?"...as though I was a child or something for not holding my hand correctly.  If he had shut up long enough for my gf to translate his instructions I would have known what to do.  My gf also said he was criticizing her for dating a waygook.  She was in tears by the time we left the station.  The whole experience was humiliating.  The prints are so bad that I don't want to risk sending them to the FBI only to have them turned down.   Looks like I have to go to another police station and have them done again.  If anyone had a good experience (i.e. decent cop, good prints), please let me know where you went.

I went t the Nambu Police station in Suwon.  Dont know how far this is from you but I went with my co-teacher and had a pleasant experience.  I dont see why you should go out of your way to get your prints done though.  Go back to the station and make them re-do the prints.  If is the same rude guy ask for a supervisor.  Dont put up with that kind of crap.

[Daegu Chingu]

Hi guys! 

I guess a lot of you are from Seoul, but is anyone in Daegu doing this now?  About a month ago, I went to the big police station in Daegu and had a person in the CSI department do my fingerprints.  He kept getting mad at me because first of all, I didn't bring a Korean person with me (I know basic Korean, but he spoke fast and knew no English), and secondly, because I am cursed with having weak fingerprints and was hard to print.  I finally got one copy from him, and felt like I couldn't ask him to do more for me. 

I also went to a regular police station, but they just had me do it myself while they went out for patrol.  I don't think they knew how to properly take prints like the CSI person did and easily got frustrated by my poor prints.

Anyway, I sent in my application from Korea to the FBI center and found out that it was rejected for poor fingerprints.  I am getting really worried because I know that my fingerprints are very shallow and my skin is very thin on my fingers.  All I can do is just keep getting more prints taken and send it in again.  I heard you can send up to 5 copies of your prints in one application and that the second application is free if you paid for the first one, but for the third one, you have to pay again (and if you need a fourth one, it's been paid for by the third one). 

SO, IF YOU ARE GETTING YOUR PRINTS TAKEN, MAKE SURE THEY ARE GOOD!  Just go to another police station or be persistent, because it probably will get rejected if they don't look good.  You don't want to lose time like me.  I bet you guys have better prints than me, but if you have dry or moist hands or have gardened a lot or worked with bricks or chemicals, you might have problems. 

As for Benjamin, I feel really bad for what happened to you and your girlfriend.  That's not cool.  I would recommend you trying to go alone to the police station with a handwritten note of what you need.  Or you could go with a co-teacher if you are already teaching in Korea.  In my experience, police officers in Korea don't seem to know English and are more chauvanistic than perhaps other people, so some of them will be mean to you and your girlfriend.  If you just have her write a note of what you need, it should go over better.  You need to get good prints or you will lose time.  Good luck!

Has anyone applied for the FBI background check and gotten rejected based on their fingerprints?  Is it true that you can't get rejected on the third try?  Does anyone know if there is a way around the fingerprints card and if another form of ID might work?  I think this is a new law so people might not have had these problems yet. 

For those people living in America, you should definitely try to get your fingerprints scanned digitally, but that service is not allowed in Korea.

[Daegu Chingu]

So, I will answer my own post in case anyone else is having the same problem as me! 

If you live in Daegu, you should go to the main Dongbu police station with a Korean co-teacher or friend, but call ahead and make an appointment with the CSI division.  They will call your co-teacher or Korean friend and let you know if they have time.  They are really busy with actual CSI business, so they are really doing us a favor because this isn't really part of their normal duties.  They are open until 6 PM, so you can go after work.  If you have problems taking fingerprints, let them know ahead of time so they can prepare.

I know now why I had such a big problem there originally.  I went without a Korean person, so the man didn't know what I wanted, but also that person was the BOSS of the office.  He was pissed because he was too high up to do stuff like take fingerprints.  The regular workers were happy to help me, so you should call ahead to make sure you can work with one of the normal people. 

I have hard-to-print fingerprints, so they used fingerprint dust and special tape on me.  It's basically what they used on "diseased people" or cadavers.  The people were really nice and two people were taking my fingerprints as a team.  It was a pleasant experience, which surprised me because the last time had been so bad.  If you live in or around Daegu and want to get this FBI background check while in Korea, this is the way to go.  I don't know what the response will be from the FBI, but I think it will be good.  I hope you guys have better luck than me the first time around!  ^^

Oh, PS: If you have any skin problems like dryness or hyperhidrosis (sweating) you might want to get a doctor's note saying that and include it in your application if you are worried about it not going through. 

[sheila]

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/background_checks You can get all of the forms, fingerprint cards, and check list at this web address.  You can also check out their frequently asked questions to ensure you have accurate information. 

[forza_star]

Hi.
I have been working for SMOE and I was thinking about renewing.  I was starting the paperwork for my background check but my head coteacher said he called the smoe office and it wasn't necessary for me to give a background check when I was renewing.  I'm American and only submitted a state check when i came in October.  Does anyone else know if this is true as I thought I needed a new background check.  THanks

[coolstuff]

I'm pretty sure that you need to get an FBI background check if you're planning on staying another year.  I just got to Korea a week ago, but my friend who resigned his contract said that he had to get one.  Here's a link that might be helpful:

http://www.thewaygookeffect.com/2010/10/fbi-background-check-walk-through-for-e.html).

[mtmartin84]

I was informed by my recruiter that since its such a hassle to get the new federal check the government delayed needing it for another year. This however is only if you are renewing your contract with the same school. If you are changing schools or leaving and coming back you have to get the federal check.

Since the rules about visas in Korea seem to change bi-weekly I would call immigration just to double check.

[suzettec]

I just renewed my contract in March with the same school.  I had called immigration to make sure I did not need a background check and they said not if I was going to be renewing with the same school.  All you will need it the contract, a copy of the business license from your school, the sponsorship papers - you will get that signed from the Principal, the application which you get at the immigration office, your ARC card, 30,000 won and that's it.

[samuelmp]

is there anywhere I can get non-ink fingerprints done in Seoul, I need electronic fingerprints done, I sent in 5 sets last time and the refused my prints so I need to do it again but this time I want there to be no problems and electronic is almost foolproof. Any help?

[iamtheepic]

So I will be looking for a new job in korea from sept and i know as of this year we need an FBI level background check to teach english right?
I work in korea now but last year when i applied for my job i only had a state level background check so im assuming that i have to get another check done this year correct?
does anyone know how we can go about getting fingerprints in korea done so that i can apply for an FBI check? do i have to go to the US embassy?
thanks

[Ben-Ja-Meen]

There is a TON of information on this topic in other Waygook threads... with all due respect, just type your subject in the search function before starting a new thread.   :)

[gilbert.a.h]

Well, you can't get anything done at the embassy.

First, you should go to the FBI website and print off a few of their official fingerprint forms.

FBI website : http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks
Fingerprint PDF Form:  http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/standard-fingerprint-form-fd-258

Take the form to any large police station here in Korea. Go to a station which has a CSI unit. They should do it for free. It is a free service. If they get huffy with you, tell them to talk to their boss. It happened to me, but thankfully I also have a friend who is management level in the national police service here.

After you have the form completed, send it to the FBI along with the application form and either a check for $18 or use their credit card form.

US DoS website: http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/

Application form : http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/applicant-information-form
Credit card Form: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/credit-card-payment-form

When applying, make sure to ask for the signature and the official seal on the CBC. After you recieve it, you have to send it to the US Department of State. That is another $8 in check or money order, I think. They will need to apostille it for you and then they will send it back.

It takes quite some time for this process to finish, around two to three months. It is all a serious pain in the bum, but it has to be done.

[iamtheepic]

ben> i figured there were so i tried looking at the most recent 5 pages of topics in general discussion so couldnt find anything and decided to make a quick post. sorry for doublin over on topics if its already been posted before

gilbert>thanks for the info! i shud prolly get on that ASAP

[brentdws]

Ok, people, seriously?! You sound like a bunch of babies.  I did it all sitting at my desk at my school.

I went to the FBI website and read this info:
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks

I printed out about 10 copies of the fingerprint card. Scavenged around the office looking for a blank ink pad. 
Couldn't find one, so I ended up using the dark purple one. 
Did my fingerprints about 6 times.  I messed up on the the first few. 
I selected the two best completed fingerprint cards (that I did at my own desk at my school using the school property).
Filled out the personal information part required and sent them to the FBI. 
I included a letter requesting the seal of the FBI and signature.
After work, I walked down to the post office and sent it.  ALL DONE, BING, BANG, BAM!

The FBI sent my criminal background check to my parents who in turn, sent it to the Apostille office. 
It is now on its way to be apostilled.

If you are so upset with Korean fingerprinting incompetence, arrogance, and rudeness, DO IT YOURSELF!

That's one thing I've learned in life.  If you want something done right, do it yourself.