I've got an interview coming up on short notice, and one of the many things they want is my (nonexistent) criminal history. Apparently a lot of operators want this, particularly foreign ones and contract companies. Anybody have an idea on how to best get one? I tried calling my local police, and ended up in an endless circle. I know I can mail a request to the FBI, but I don't have 6-8 weeks.

 

The only way i could do it was through the FBI. You might also want to ask the company that is interviewing you if the Criminal History has to be Apostilled. This is another hurdle but can be done with help of a local notary and then a trip to your State Govt offices. I know others that have gone to an interview with their state copy of the criminal history but it was not accepted by the airline.

Good luck,
Lifter

 

Just to add on Lifter's post

THEY ONLY ACCEPT FBI BACKGROUND CHECK!!!

Reason why? Because you will need to get your AIRPORT BADGE which has strict rules for foreigners. My company just wanted a criminal record for Europe, but it was a whole different ball game once I went to get my Airport ID. I had to go to the Embassy get the paperwork for the FBI background check (Translated into the language of the country you working in) then get fingerprints and send it to the FBI. Airport only accepted this, thank god they gave me a temporary and I was able to leave and enter the airport without getting hassled.

BTW: It won't take 6-8 weeks, on the FBI FORM it asks when you need it, LET THEM KNOW you need it for an interview and the EXACT DATE you need it, Im sure they will accomodate you as much as they can!

 

Thanks for the good info Olympic and Starlifter...was there any strange info the FBI needed, or certain forms, etc.? Do they charge a fee for it, or to translate it?

 

NOT TRUE.

I have a couple of friends and myself included that have passed background checks for foreign goverments (in this case China) and all they need was a certified copy of your criminal background history from the local police station. Albeit, it was notorized about three different times by three different offices to make it "offical" Actually I got it from the local court house in the county I live in.
It all depends on the country and who is handling the paperwork in that country. Some are more accepting than others.

 

This was my case as well, and remember that after 9/11 local cops don't give out this forms without running you through the system

 

The FBI BACKGROUND CHECK was needed for the Aiport Badge, not the Interview just to clarify. I don't know the deal in Asia, but in Europe most of my colleagues had to get the FBI forms.

 

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Criminal Justice Information Services Division - FBI Identification Record Request

Yes there is a fee. The link above is what I used to get through the process, Good Luck.

 

Emb,

It may be that some countries accept the local background check. I would say, yes this is very country dependent. It was used for my airport badge however, it was primarily used for my work permit. Again, the country you are applying in may have different procedures.
Strange enough, I had a colleague who came with a background check from the State of Washington and he thought he was good to go. According to the Company website which says to bring a copy of your "state" criminal history. He found out that this particular European Company meant "state" as in the Federal Govt Fingerprints (FBI), not from your home state in US. He was then quite surprised when the police met him at the company to escort him and his family across the border.

Again, I would recommend asking what type of fingerprints they need beforehand.