CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS FOR U.S. CITIZENS

U.S. citizens may be asked to present a "certificate of good conduct" or "lack of a criminal record" for a variety of reasons for use abroad including adoption, school attendance, employment, etc. U.S. law enforcement authorities may not be familiar with such a procedure since it is not commonly requested in the United States. There are a variety of options available to U.S. citizens seeking to obtain proof of their lack of a criminal record.

LOCAL POLICE CHECK: Go to your local police department where you last resided in the United States, request that the police conduct a criminal records search and provide you with a document reflecting that there is no history of a criminal record. Local police departments may require your personal appearance in order to conduct the search. Your local police department can phrase this in whatever way they deem appropriate. The document should then be authenticated for use abroad following our guidance on authentication or legalization of documents.

FBI RECORDS CHECK: The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) centralizes criminal justice information and provides accurate and timely information and services to local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies, the private sector, academia, and other government agencies. The subject of an identification record may obtain a copy thereof by submitting a written request to the CJIS . The request must be accompanied by satisfactory proof of identity (consisting of name, date and place of birth, and a set of roll-inked fingerprint impressions) and a certified check or money order for the $18 processing fee. The FBI will not provide copies of arrest records to individuals other than the subject of the record. Requests should be directed to FBI CJIS Division, Attn: SCU, Mod. D-2, 1000 Custer Hollow Rd., Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306. If there is no criminal record, a report reflecting this fact is provided.

GETTING YOUR FINGERPRINTS TAKEN:
If fingerprints are required, U.S. citizens should be able to obtain fingerprint cards from their local police departments. U.S. Embassies and consulates do not generally provide this service. You may contact the organization below for fingerprinting services in Beijing. Fingerprint Identification: An Overview.

Fingerprinting services are available at the following location:

Beijing Tongdashoucheng Institute of Judicial Expertise Science
北京通达首诚司法鉴定所  
Address & Location: No. 23 Yongtaizhuang Zhonglu, Haidian District, Beijing  (Note - the entrance is around the corner from the address given) 地址：海淀区永泰中路23号

The fingerprinting service company is actually co-located inside the same compound as the Beijing Forensic Center (北京市公安局法医鉴定中心).  Clients can walk in through Beijing Forensic Center main entrance which is located on No. 1 Longgang Road, Qinghe.  （清河龙岗路1号）

Driving directions: From Jingzang Expressway (京藏高速, previous called Badaling Expressway 八达岭高速), take exit 999 (999急救中心出口), make a right turn under the Qinghe Bridge, go straight past the first traffic light, then turn left.

Fee: 300 RMB per set, extra copies: 100 RMB each set
Business hours: Monday through Friday 9-11:30 am, 1-4:30 pm

This same day service usually takes 30-40 minutes processing time. It may take longer if the prints are not clear and they have to do "retakes." 

Telephone: 010-6290 7011, 010-8399 4891

An appointment is preferred, but not required.  Most of the personnel do not speak English. 

AUTHENTICATION OF POLICE OR FBI CERTIFICATES OF LACK OF A CRIMINAL RECORD: Documents required for use abroad may require additional authentication after you obtain the local police seal or FBI certificate. See our guidance on authentication or legalization of documents.