Hello all,
I work in Japan, but have gotten hired for a new job in another country. In addition to standard things for getting the work visa (like my degree authenticated), they are requiring a “No Criminal Record.” For me, an American, that would be an “Identity History Summary Check” ([https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks](https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks)). Usually this is referred to as an “FBI Criminal Background Check.”
I have already filled out the request form electronically on the FBI’s website, and have paid the $18 fee. Now I just have to mail them my fingerprints, and OMG, this is turning out to be so traumatic. I live in downtown Tokyo, and have found a VERY expensive fingerprint service nearby; while I am now willing to pay anything to get this done, it is booked solid until the end of the month.
That leaves the police stations. The US Embassy says they “may be able” to assist me, and in recent years, two Reddit threads have said that the police station is the way to go. But I have been to the local police station, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, and they’ve told me they don’t do fingerprints, and have directed me to the Embassy. On the Metropolitan Police Department’s website ([https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/index.html](https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/index.html)), there is no phone number or e-mail provided where you can inquire about this sort of thing and schedule an appointment.
Has anyone had to do this recently, and you’d be able to provide concrete advice — a specific person or phone number, or a fingerprinting service that I’ve overlooked? I’m amazed that this is so difficult. My employer in the other country, who is handling the work visa documents, didn’t give me much time (30 days), and I’m getting stressed about this whole thing.
3 comments
I had to get an IHSC a few months ago in order to get my standard teaching license. I too thought the companies offering the fingerprint service in Tokyo/Osaka were too expensive, so I opted to do it myself. I purchased some ink and the fingerprint cards off of Amazon (no need to purchase cards though – can just print them on A4 if you prefer), took the prints myself, and sent them to the FBI myself.
This ended up much cheaper than having it done for me. The most expensive part of the process was sending the letter as you could only send letters to the US via EMS at the time. One warning with this method is that my first attempt failed due to the quality of the fingerprints I took. My second attempt was successful. Even with two attempts, it was still significantly cheaper to do it myself. However, as you’re on a strict time limit (I wasn’t), it might just be worth coughing up the money and paying for the electronic fingerprinting for peace of mind. From sending off my fingerprints to receiving the IHSC, each attempt took close to a month each, so you would only have one shot at this. I would bite the bullet and pay just for peace of mind.
I have been doing my once a year for the past three years at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
First, you don’t need an appointment. In fact, if you call, they might discourage you from coming.
You should go first thing in the morning, as they take first come first serve. Be sure to bring a fingerprint card. You can buy them off of Amazon or Rakuten or try to print them out on your own.
They will tell you they can’t sign the card which is fine. I’ve checked with someone at the fbi department and they said they don’t need it.
Be sure to bring an official looking letter that says you need it. It’s up to their discretion if they will do it for you. Let me know if you have any questions.
I had mine done in another city in Japan and the prints were rejected by the FBI due to low quality. I looked at them and thought the same thing (could barely see the grooves) but sent them anyway. My mistake.
Thanks for the advice to do my own. I think I’ll try it!