United States
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in United States,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a United States Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your United States police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division — Identity History Summary currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a United States PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in United States for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from United States as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including United States.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in United States.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in United States may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside United States, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division — Identity History Summary accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact United States’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division — Identity History Summary — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a United States PCC is:
Either Ink-and-Roll or Digital (confirm current preference). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to United States
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division — Identity History Summary. Use a tracked courier for original documents.
The document is called an FBI Identity History Summary. The applicant fills out Form I-783 (Identity History Summary Request, signed in black ink) and gets fingerprints rolled on an original ink Form FD-258 card (or FD-1164 on standard white paper stock) — an RCMP-accredited agency such as Surrey Fingerprint Company can complete this. The card and form are mailed directly to the FBI CJIS Division with an $18 fee (certified check or money order payable to "Treasury of the United States" — personal checks and cash are not accepted), OR submitted faster through an FBI-approved Channeler, a private company authorized to submit fingerprints electronically. The FBI also offers a self-service online request that does not use fingerprints (name/DOB based) — that option is not a fit for our fingerprinting service. Note: the FBI no longer returns fingerprint cards with the result, and requires a fresh fingerprint card each time (an old one cannot be reused).
Mailing address:
FBI CJIS Division, Attn: Summary Request, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306, USA
Receive your United States PCC
Processing time is A few business days via a Channeler; several weeks by mail directly to the FBI — confirm current turnaround. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for United States. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division — Identity History Summary before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a United States PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for United States applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from United States while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: A few business days via a Channeler; several weeks by mail directly to the FBI — confirm current turnaround. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on United States's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to United States for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your United States PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for United States.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com