Criminal Record & Fingerprints in Canada

[ogopogo 0]

I learned the hard way yesterday that fingerprints are a necessary part of your record check.

There are two ways of accomplishing this task:

1. Go to your local RCMP detachment and ask for a criminal record check that INCLUDES finger printing. (Most administrative staff in police stations are ignorant to the requirements of a K1 Visa.)

If they have to take your prints with ink and mail them in, your wait will be approximately 20 weeks. If your local RCMP detachment has graduated from the dark ages, they will be able to take your prints with a digital machine and your wait will be ~7-10 business days.

**If you have a dark ages detachment and can't wait 20 weeks, read on!

2. Google 'Commissionaires' and find the closest location to you. (Mine was a 2 hour drive.) Call them to set up an appointment. (They were able to fit me in the next day.) Show up on time with 2 pieces of picture ID.

The entire finger printing process took 20 minutes, cost $80 and the staff were pleasant!

Good luck everyone!

[pro_star 52]

Thanks for this!! I didn't know about the fingerprint requirement!

[CDNme 11]

For real?

How did you find this out? Interview?

[CDNme 11]

Just to clarify - I was under the impression that you only needed to submit a full-fingerprint version IF you were convicted of a crime in Canada. If you have not and a police record check comes up clean, no fingerprinting was necessary.

What are the circumstances in which they requested the finger prints? TIA!

[toshibaa 0]

No fingerprinting need it for me..I'm done it two week ago!

[waitingonwaito 0]

Hey! How did you figure out you could do this instead of going to your local RCMP? Mine is still in the "dark ages" as you call it but my interview is in 5 weeks. When I read the process for the police certificate was going to take 22 weeks I balled my eyes out.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Canada regional forum - topic specific to those in Canada ~

[NikLR 13,227]

Fingerprints are you necessary if youve ever been arrested which includes being in the drunk tank.

Hey! How did you figure out you could do this instead of going to your local RCMP? Mine is still in the "dark ages" as you call it but my interview is in 5 weeks. When I read the process for the police certificate was going to take 22 weeks I balled my eyes out.

What? Crazy! Try the commissionaires instead!

[Rob & Monika 87]

Hey! How did you figure out you could do this instead of going to your local RCMP? Mine is still in the "dark ages" as you call it but my interview is in 5 weeks. When I read the process for the police certificate was going to take 22 weeks I balled my eyes out.

We had ours that day, waited maybe 15 minutes. I think she just went to the local police station. No finger prints were required as she had no criminal record.

[waitingonwaito 0]

hey thanks! I just talked to my local police station. They said it would only take a week. So i don't know what this 20 weeks thing is about? And you're sure i dont need fingerprints if I have no criminal past?

[Flames9_RN 358]

NO criminal record = no fingerprinting.....your residing in canada,simple as that

[ricnally 258]

Fingerprints are you necessary if youve ever been arrested which includes being in the drunk tank.

What? Crazy! Try the commissionaires instead!

Not needed if you have past arrests, only past convictions.

[NikLR 13,227]

Not needed if you have past arrests, only past convictions.

lol thanks for the correction. Ive never been arrested and only have 2 speeding tickets ever...

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

There's no need for prints without a rap sheet. I actually just went and ordered a second certificate because my first will expire a month before my interview. First certificate had no prints and was fine till now. Second will have prints, was told I should have it in a week and a half.

Went through commissionaires, took 15 minutes.

[NikLR 13,227]

Police check should be good for a year.