FBI police checks for Americans applying for the 820/801 Australian Partner Visa
Last Updated on 2 February 2022
If you’ve lived in the United States of America for a period of more than 12 months during the last 10 years, you’ll need to submit an FBI Identity History Summary police check as part of the requirement for your 820/801 Australian Partner Visa. This applies even to non-US citizens and non-US permanent residents who have lived in America.
Unfortunately, it can be a bit of a headache to complete the FBI police check if you’re currently living in Australia— you’ll be required to mail off a set of fingerprints and the FBI is notoriously particular about it, which means most people will use a professional fingerprinting service… expensive and very limited appointments. Instead, I decided to take my own fingerprints and had great success! Here’s everything you need to know about getting your FBI police check while living in Australia.
Need to complete your police check in Australia, too? COMPLETING AFP NATIONAL POLICE CHECKS (NPC) FOR YOUR 820/801 AUSTRALIAN PARTNER VISA
Read my whole series on applying for the 820/801 Australian Partner Visa for more information about preparing your evidence, lodging your application, and the next steps. If you’re just beginning, start with this post to get an overview (and to read about our story). And, as always, please remember that I am not a migration agent or affiliated with Home Affairs in any way, so all the information provided in these posts and in the comments below is based entirely on my own experience and my own understanding of the application process.
How to apply for the FBI police check
There are essentially 3 options for applying for the FBI police check:
- Online: submit the application for an FBI police check online and then mail just the fingerprints to America
- Snail mail: mail the entire FBI police check application along with your fingerprints to America
- Use an authorised “channeler”: a third-party service can submit this request for you. I’ve heard that this is the easiest and quickest option for getting your FBI police check, but it is more expensive, can only be used by American citizens or PRs (so not someone who has just lived in America on a visa), and you need to be in America to receive the results by mail. So this is not useful if you’re applying for a Partner Visa onshore in Australia!
The FBI also has a great page outlining all of the different options and steps. This post will cover the steps for submitting an online application for an FBI police check, as this is the best option in my opinion!
Online application for FBI police check
1. To begin your online application, visit the Electronic Departmental Order website and enter your email address in the blue box on the right hand side of the screen (you’ll need to scroll about half way down the page).
2. You’ll receive an email from Criminal Justice Information Services with a 6-digit PIN number. Click the link in your email (“Click here to access your request”) to be directed to a new webpage, where you can enter the PIN.
3. Begin the application by completing some basic personal information, including your full name, DOB, and the last 4 digits of your social security number.
4. Provide your mailing address and phone number in Australia (if you are living in Australia).
5. Confirm how you would like to receive the FBI police check. I requested a hard-copy for my records (it’s likely that an electronic copy would suffice, but I wanted to be safe!).
6. You’ll be asked to confirm your full name, mailing address, DOB, and social security number one last time.
7. You can pay for the FBI police check using a credit card, PayPal, or Amazon Pay. As far as I could tell, the cost is $18USD irrespective of payment method.
8. Following payment, you will be redirected to a page with status information about your application. Don’t be alarmed that it reads INCOMPLETE, this just means that the FBI is still waiting on your fingerprints. Take note of the address on this page, it’s where you’ll be sending your fingerprints! I’d also recommend downloading a copy of the application (using that long blue button on the top of the page) just for your own records.
Getting your fingerprints in Australia
Regardless of whether you’ve applied online or by paper application for the FBI check, you’ll need to mail fingerprints to the FBI in America. These fingerprints must be on an Applicant Fingerprint Form (FD-258), which you’ll also fill out with some personal information (name, DOB, address, social security number, height, weight, eye colour, hair colour, etc).
Professional fingerprinting
It used to be that you could just rock up to a police station and get your fingerprints taken for free, but apparently that’s no longer the case. There are only a few police stations that offer the service now and you’ll need to make an appointment, as well as pay a fee ($50.40 for a single set or $71.10 for 2 sets; note that these prices may be specific to VIC).
You can make an appointment or find more information on these pages:
I originally planned to just get my fingerprints done at the police station in Melbourne since it seemed the easiest choice, but appointments were booked out months in advance and I didn’t like the idea of turning over $71.10 (better to get 2 sets, in case one is rejected by the FBI, which does happen), so I ended up taking my own prints.
Taking your own fingerprints
It’s surprisingly easy to take your own fingerprints— I’d recommend getting a specific “fingerprinting pad” (these are actually inkless, so they don’t smudge or stain), which should cost around $10-15 from a craft store.
You need to provide a rolled fingerprint for all 10 fingers, as well as a flat fingerprint for each hand (4 fingers together for right and left, then both thumbs together), and the best way to learn the technique is to watch this YouTube video and read this handout from the FBI on fingerprinting:
Using these resources, I managed to take decent fingerprints completely on my own and these were accepted by the FBI. Granted, I sent them 6 copies of the form because I wasn’t sure which prints they’d like best and I wanted to be safe… but my Police Check was finalised with no issue! I’d suggest sending at least a few versions to avoid possible delays.
Sending your police check request to the FBI
After completing your FD-258 fingerprint form (including all the necessary personal details), you need to mail that form AND a copy of your online application email confirmation to the FBI at the following address:
FBI CJIS Division
ATTN: ELECTRONIC SUMMARY REQUEST
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306
The best way to do this is by Registered Post or Express International Post, since these both have end-to-end tracking. It’ll definitely cost you ($24 or $36, depending on which option you choose), but at least you’ll know exactly when your forms have been received.
Just 4 days after I got the SMS notification from AusPost that my parcel had been delivered, I got an email from the FBI saying that my “Identity History Summary Response” was available for review online.
Using the link and pin given in their original email (after submitting the online application), I was able to log-in and download my letter from the FBI, which could then be uploaded to my application. It’s not to say that everyone’s turn-around will be this quick, but at least it’s promising to know that there’s not a large backlog of these requests at the FBI!
* I am not a migration agent or affiliated with Home Affairs in any way, so all the information provided in these posts and in the comments below is based entirely on my own experience and my own understanding of the application process.
If you found this post helpful and want to contribute to some of the costs associated with running the blog, I would be infinitely grateful!
You can use the PayPal button below to donate whatever you feel this information is worth. If you aren’t able, don’t worry— I will always keep my posts free and accessible for everyone!
UPDATE: A MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who’s commented to let me know that you found these posts helpful— I can’t tell you how much it means to me to read your success stories! I worked incredibly hard to compile all of this information (while getting my PhD & teaching), but it’s genuinely been worth it to make even a small difference for my fellow immigrants.
More importantly, though, THANK YOU to everyone who has shared their own experience or answered questions for other readers in the comments below! We are building a wonderful & supportive community of Partner Visa applicants here, and every comment and question is a resource for others.
If you felt like these posts helped with your application, I’d encourage you to come back after your visa is granted (or even after various milestones) and let us all know what happened— it might mean the world to someone else struggling with this process! Best wishes to you all xx bb
The Comments
Liz
For people interested in timelines and self-fingerprinting successes:
I ordered a few copies of the Form FD-258 and fingerprinting ink off of Amazon. I watched a few tutorial videos on how to fingerprints yourself (especially helpful to have the row you’re printing right at the edge of a table) and did some practice runs on scrap paper. I mailed 3 forms, my confirmation email, and a small note explaining I did not have any local police stations in AU that could take my prints on paper. With express shipping from melbourne to the USA, it took a week for my fingerprints to arrive. Then another 10 days for them to go through the mail and match my prints to my application. That day they also completed my report and emailed it was ready to view 🙂
Lily
Hi there thank you for your post!
I accidentally bought an international prepaid envelope, dont know how it works but could it work instead of the Registered Post or Express International Post?
Thank you much!
Ali Zaidi
Hi Brooke,
I must say you have taken a great initiative , very helpful . I have gone through this FBI clearance many times in USA during Australian PR. After many ink prints rejection Live scanning was the solution for my fingers. Just got the result in 1 hours. (FBI Clearance email) but unfortunately Live scanning is not available outside of USA (in my knowledge)
This is the 1st time I am applying outside of USA so my question is if I am sending multiple prints to FBI do I need to pay for each FD 258 for processing or just pay the FBI fees once and mail multiple finger print cards.
Thanks
Nayla
I tried to do it myself. Bought a fingerprint ink online, printed 6 copies, and it got rejected 🙁 After a month the FBI said they were bad quality and couldn’t proceed. Anyone else had this problem?? I’m going to go to my local Police Station in Sydney and I’ll see if they could help me. I feel so disappointed.
Gaurav
NaylaIn how many days you got to know about fingerprints being rejected ?
Abby
Hi Brooke, do you know if the ORI field on the form needs to be filled out in order for the FBI to accept it? If so, I went to the Docklands Police station in Melbourne to do my fingerprinting, do you think they’d know what to do about finding this information? Thank you!
Evie
Our fingerprints were recieved a few days ago now (according to the post tracking), but it still says incomplete online. I’m hoping it just says that until they finalise the check on their end. Does anyone know if this is the case?
brooke brisbine
EvieHey Evie, I would expect there’s a slight delay in the system– has it updated to say complete now?
Nese
Hi Brooke,
Thanks so much for creating these free guides and resources, it’s been such an immense help. I was just wondering, for the fingerprinting document where it says ‘signature of official taking fingerprints’ what you put since you did it yourself?
Thanks so much 🙂
brooke brisbine
NeseHi Nese, so glad you found these posts helpful!
You can just write “N/A” or even “self”, since you took your own prints.
xx bb
Paul C
Great advice Brooke. Thanks!
Did you need to get a State police check as well as the Federal one? How did you handle that if so?
Thanks!
brooke brisbine
Paul CHi Paul,
I believe it was just the federal check!
xx bb
Alyson
hello I’m currently struggling with trying to figure out how to do police check for both me and my partner for my 820 visa. I’m American and my partner is Australian. we have both spent more than 12 months living in the US and in Australia so we are needing to both get American police checks and Australian Police checks. reading your blog I understand on how I can get my American Police check but can he also get his this way as well or do you have to be an American citizen to Apply as they ask for your social security. thanks
brooke brisbine
AlysonHi Alyson, I believe the process is the same and there will be an option to say you are not a citizen, but I’ve not personally had to do a police check this way, so perhaps someone else can weigh in here in the comments if they know??
xx bb
Mia
Hi just reading through this and i was wondering what kind of paper you used for your fingerprints? Thanks so much
brooke brisbine
MiaHi Mia, I just used normal printer paper 🙂
xx bb
Krish
Did you take print out of the form or bought a card F-258 availble online?. Please advice.
brooke brisbine
KrishHi Krish, I just printed the form on normal printer paper 🙂
xx bb
Mariel
Thank you this is so detailed and helpful! Much appreciated 🙂
brooke brisbine
MarielHi Mariel, so glad you found it helpful! Wishing you luck 🙂
xx bb
Alex
Question, did you use plain computer paper to print the form?
brooke brisbine
AlexHi Alex,
Yes, just use normal printer paper 🙂
xx bb
Anthony
Hi Brooke,
Thanks so much for this! My wife and I spent a year and a half waiting for our visa to be approved and were dispirited when Home Affairs responded requesting an FBI Clearance. This post gave us the confidence to give it a go on our own rather than trying the more expensive options.
Thanks for the step-by-step directions and tips. sending multiple copies of our fingerprints was definitely valuable advice. We used a regular inkpad from OfficeWorks and did a lot of practice rounds first!
For those reading in 2023, our time between FBI receipt and acceptance was nine business days; there appears to be a bit of a backlog.
Thanks again!
brooke brisbine
AnthonyHi Anthony, so happy to hear you found these posts helpful and thank you for sharing details about your timeline!
Wishing you all the best 🙂
xx bb
Haley
Thanks so much for all of this information! It has been very helpful for working on my 820/801 visa. 🙂 I am American and my partner is Australian. He has lived in the US in the last 10 years. As the sponsor, do you know if he also has to do an FBI background check? Thank you! – Haley
brooke brisbine
HaleyHi Haley,
Just to clarify, he HAS lived in the US in the last 10 years? Then yes, even foreigners who’ve lived in the US must complete the FBI check.
Hope that helps!
xx bb
Harvey
Hi Brooke,
I am from Malaysia and I have previously studied in the States for four years. In order to prove my good conduct with Australia Immigration, I would have to submit my fingerprint to FBI as well.
I would like to express gratitude for your diligent compilation of information and generous sharing! I follow the step-by-step guide and I have successfully gotten my response too from FBI.
For my fellow Malaysians who are in the same situation, I would advise you to go to Bukit Aman Police Station to get a clear set of fingerprints for only RM 30, following the instruction in this https://my.usembassy.gov/u-s-criminal-records-good-conduct-check/
It is hard to get inkless fingerpad in Malaysia and I have tried 1 hour taking my own fingerprints, only to realize they are not good and clear. In the end, I resorted to visiting Bukit Aman and the officer there is incredibly helpful and professional!
Anonymous
HarveyHowever, there is a question I would like to ask. In my response letter from FBI, there is a sentence: “THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE FURTHER CRIMINAL HISTORY AT THE STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL.”
a) Is this a standard response from FBI;
b) Do I require extra criminal check at state level in US? is this even possible?
Thanks,
Harvey
QN
Hi
Thank you for the helpful post, I would like to ask a couple of things. If I did not have a social security number when I was living in USA, can I put N/A instead? Also what is the ORI section for?
brooke brisbine
QNHi QN,
I don’t personally know what to do, so if you’ve since figured out a solution, it would be amazing if you wanted to come back and share your experience to help future applicants reading this post!
Wishing you all the best,
xx bb
Anonymous
Very helpful blog
Cache Carpenter
Does this also apply for 190 application process?
Cheers,
Cache Carpenter
brooke brisbine
Cache CarpenterHi Cache,
I believe it is the exact same process regardless of the visa you are applying for!
Best of luck,
xx bb
Bournie
Thank you so much for your post. It helped me a lot to get the FBI police checks. All the best.
brooke brisbine
BournieSo happy to hear it helped you, Bournie!
All the best,
xx bb
Baili
Hi Brooke!
This has been incredibly helpful. I’ve found this process to be extremely difficult! I went on a cultural exchange program in 2019-2020 and was told to get a SSN. I can’t find it anywhere and I’m currently in Aus trying to submit my partner visa. I didn’t get a tax number while I was there. If you could help me out with any information I would be SO GRATEFUL!
brooke brisbine
BailiHi Baili,
I just saw a similar question from another reader– I don’t personally know what to do, so if you’ve since figured out a solution, it would be amazing if you wanted to come back and share your experience to help future applicants reading this post!
Wishing you all the best,
xx bb
ellie
Thank you for sharing such a nice Post.
brooke brisbine
ellieHi Ellie,
So glad to hear you found these posts helpful!
Wishing you all the best,
xx bb
Momo
Hi,
I was just wondering what type of paper you used for the fingerprinting? I googled and apparently standard A4 is okay? But other sites have said a harder paper so I’m getting paranoid lol. I was thinking about buying the FD 258 cards from Amazon but idk how legit they are. A bit iffy since I’m currently in Australia
brooke brisbine
MomoHi Momo, you can just use standard A4 printer paper, nothing fancy required (other than the ink pad).
xx bb