For foreign nationals who have lived, studied, or worked in the U.S. for more than a certain period of time, or U.S. citizens who wish to develop in other countries, such as applying for visas, immigration, or study, a police clearance certificate for the duration of their stay in the U.S. is usually required. This document is not only proof of personal innocence, but also a basic requirement for entrants in many countries. And in order for this document to be widely recognized internationally, it is often necessary to have an apostille.
Learn more about foreign-related notarization and certification!
1. Application for a Certificate of No Criminal Record in the United States
There are two main ways to apply for a police clearance certificate in the United States:
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The police clearance certificate provided by the FBI is valid nationwide. This is especially convenient for people who have lived or worked in multiple states. However, it should be noted that the FBI Police Clearance Certificate requires fingerprint information.
State police department: For people who only live or work in a single state, it may be easier and faster to apply for a police clearance certificate from that state's police department. This kind of proof usually only covers records within the state.
2. The importance of apostille
Apostille is designed to allow documents issued by one country to be recognized and accepted when used in another country. For the U.S. Police Clearance Certificate, an apostille is required if it needs to be used in other countries.
3. The apostille process for the U.S. Certificate of No Criminal Record
Notarization: First, the police clearance certificate needs to be submitted to a local notary for notarization. The notary will verify the authenticity of the document and affix a notary seal to the document.
Secretary of State *** Apostille: Once the notarization is completed, the documents need to be submitted to the Secretary of State or *** for apostille. This step is to confirm the authenticity of the notary's signature and seal. After this step, the document receives a special Apostille stamp indicating that the document has met the requirements of the Hague Convention.
4. Precautions
The requirements for a police clearance certificate may vary from country to country, so it's a good idea to find out about the specific requirements of your target country before applying.
To apply for an FBI Police Clearance Certificate, you will need to complete I-783** and submit an FD-258 fingerprint card. These materials can be obtained through the FBI's official** or relevant agencies.
The process of apostille can take some time, so it is advisable to plan your time well in advance to avoid delaying your subsequent plans.
In conclusion, the application for a police clearance certificate in the United States and the apostille is a relatively complex but necessary process. By knowing and following the right steps, you can ensure that the process runs smoothly to support your international travel or career development.