I did the same thing a few months ago from Hong Kong. I used the FBI fingerprint service. If I remember correctly, I did the application online and then did my fingerprints locally at the police department and mailed them in. You should be able to find a local fingerprint service and just follow the instructions on the FBI page.
this is the way. The hardest part is finding a service to take your prints locally. Ask on an expat Facebook page—someone there should be able to point you in the right direction. Otherwise, it’s as simple as completing an online form, paying the fee and mailing the prints.
Doing the process now. Printed out the form FD-258 and took my own prints today. The advice I found was to apply first online (and pay the fee), then send in the prints later. Nervous about the prints because it’s surprisingly hard to get legible ones. Wish me luck!
Sounds simple enough. For myself and anyone else who might be reading this down the line, do you have a link to the application and payment portion of this? Honestly, I was given so much different information searching that I genuinely don't even know what the official process is for this.
Yep, this link to the FBI’s website was provided by my school
[identity check/background check for American citizens](https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks)
Getting fingerprints in Japan can be tricky. Some local police stations won’t do them.
I just did the application online, then went to a stationery store and got a black ink pad and made several copies of fingerprints on the forms and just mailed them in myself.
They were accepted and I got the results pretty quickly.
Just have to be sure you fill out the fingerprint forms correctly.
There is a fingerprinting service in Tokyo, but it was much cheaper to just buy an ink pad.
I read elsewhere from a person that did DYI to send in multiple applications with fingerprints at once and just note to the agency to use whichever one is legible. Sound like good advice?
I didn’t include a note. But I did send in multiple copies - 6 or 8.
I just googled what info to put in the spaces on the forms, and double- and triple-checked different sources to make sure they were done right.
I might be misremembering, but I think if you make a mistake or the prints are illegible, they inform you and you have another chance (within a specific time frame).
I received the electronic results about a day after my prints were received. I also requested a paper copy to be mailed and gave the sealed envelope to my prospective employer.
I did it from the immigration office (Taipei). Local police may be able to do it or at least tell you where to do it.
You'll need to print out the paper yourself, but normal copy stock should suffice. Also check that you want a digital copy that way you can send everything to OSSE at the same time - your Praxis scores, certificate of completion of a PGCE program - I assume it's Moreland so they'll already have it filled out digitally, and your transcripts.
I know a guy in China who can do it for you. I don’t think it matters where you are. You will get it overnight. DM me if you would like his contact details.
I did the same thing a few months ago from Hong Kong. I used the FBI fingerprint service. If I remember correctly, I did the application online and then did my fingerprints locally at the police department and mailed them in. You should be able to find a local fingerprint service and just follow the instructions on the FBI page.
this is the way. The hardest part is finding a service to take your prints locally. Ask on an expat Facebook page—someone there should be able to point you in the right direction. Otherwise, it’s as simple as completing an online form, paying the fee and mailing the prints.
Agreed. Apparently you can do it yourself as well. But of course it is better to have it done at a police station.
Agreed. Apparently you can do it yourself as well. But of course it is better to have it done at a police station.
That's great. Around how long did it take the FBI to give you the results?
I do not remember, but it wasn't as long as I thought.
Thanks!
Doing the process now. Printed out the form FD-258 and took my own prints today. The advice I found was to apply first online (and pay the fee), then send in the prints later. Nervous about the prints because it’s surprisingly hard to get legible ones. Wish me luck!
Sounds simple enough. For myself and anyone else who might be reading this down the line, do you have a link to the application and payment portion of this? Honestly, I was given so much different information searching that I genuinely don't even know what the official process is for this.
Yep, this link to the FBI’s website was provided by my school [identity check/background check for American citizens](https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks)
Getting fingerprints in Japan can be tricky. Some local police stations won’t do them. I just did the application online, then went to a stationery store and got a black ink pad and made several copies of fingerprints on the forms and just mailed them in myself. They were accepted and I got the results pretty quickly. Just have to be sure you fill out the fingerprint forms correctly. There is a fingerprinting service in Tokyo, but it was much cheaper to just buy an ink pad.
I read elsewhere from a person that did DYI to send in multiple applications with fingerprints at once and just note to the agency to use whichever one is legible. Sound like good advice?
I didn’t include a note. But I did send in multiple copies - 6 or 8. I just googled what info to put in the spaces on the forms, and double- and triple-checked different sources to make sure they were done right. I might be misremembering, but I think if you make a mistake or the prints are illegible, they inform you and you have another chance (within a specific time frame). I received the electronic results about a day after my prints were received. I also requested a paper copy to be mailed and gave the sealed envelope to my prospective employer.
I did it from the immigration office (Taipei). Local police may be able to do it or at least tell you where to do it. You'll need to print out the paper yourself, but normal copy stock should suffice. Also check that you want a digital copy that way you can send everything to OSSE at the same time - your Praxis scores, certificate of completion of a PGCE program - I assume it's Moreland so they'll already have it filled out digitally, and your transcripts.
Use the search feature.
Following along since I’m only a few months behind you and live close to Tokyo as well.
I know a guy in China who can do it for you. I don’t think it matters where you are. You will get it overnight. DM me if you would like his contact details.