living in Andorra guide on residency relocation advice

You will require an FBI Identification Record Check (or also known as an FBI Police Criminal Record Clearance) , NOT a State Police Certificate for each applicant. You must also apply directly to the FBI, and not an "FBI Channeler" as they cannot have the form apostillised as there is only the seal and no signature required for Apostillisation.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/fbi-approved-channelers

If your family or spouse is relocating with you will also require where appropriate a Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificates of children, and in some cases a Divorce Certificate (These are state documents and are explained below).

You must obtain the FBI Certificates (for all persons over 18 years of age) by completing the following:-

the FBI Police criminal record clearance must be verified by fingerprints and issued by the U.S. Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Investigation.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks

How to Request a Copy of Your Record. (By clicking on the links in blue you can directly download all the documents that are required for your application to the FBI.)

Step 1: Complete the Applicant Information Form (pdf).

If the request is for a couple, family, etc., all persons must sign the form and complete the mailing address, and also provide your telephone number and/or e-mail address, if available.

I have also been advised to request a signature and seal for the document to be Apostillised:

"..... IMPORTANT: On a sticky note or a letter or even in writing on the form itself, write that you need the FBI Certificate "Authenticated" in order to get the Apostille. If you do not do this, the FBI Report may not come back NOTARISED, which is NECESSARY for the Apostille. (This is where I and many people have made a mistake.)

1. If you've already sent your FBI form without explaining that it needs to be authenticated, call the number on their web site: 202-324-3000. They are friendly on the phone and the hold time is only 5 minutes.
2. If you get the FBI report back and it is not notarized, you'll have to send it back to them and wait another 2 weeks........."

Step 2: Obtain a set of your fingerprints. It is advised to seek help from your local law enforcement agency.

Provide the original fingerprint card as previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted, also the name and date of birth must be provided on the card. Fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-258) commonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes. Rolled impressions of all 10 fingerprints and impressions of all 10 fingerprints must be taken simultaneously (these are sometime referred to as plain or flat impressions).

Step 3: Submit payment.

Option 1: Obtain a money order or cashier’s check for $18 U.S. dollars made payable to the Treasury of the United States. Please be sure to sign where required.
Option 2: Pay by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form (pdf). (Don’t forget to include the expiration date of the credit card that you are using).

Important note: Cash, personal checks, or business checks WILL NOT be accepted. Payment must be for the exact amount.the request is for a couple, family, etc., include $18 for each person.you are making multiple requests per person, include $18 for each request.

Step 4: Review the FBI Identification Record Request Checklist (pdf) to ensure that you have included all the information we require to process your request.

Step 5: Mail the required items listed above—applicant information form, fingerprint card, and payment—to the following address:

FBI CJIS Division – Record Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road,
Clarksburg, WV 26306


What Happens Next

If we find no record, you will receive a “no record” response. If you do have a criminal history record on file, you will receive your Identification Record, or “rap sheet.”

Note: Although the FBI employs the most efficient methods for processing these requests, processing times may take up to 12 weeks depending on the volume of requests received.


Next Step- The Apostillisation Requirement

A certification by the Hague Convention Apostille ensures the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no certification by the U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office nor legalization by the embassy or consulate is required.
Documents requiring certifications with an apostille by the U.S. Department of State are those that have been signed by a federal official with the official Seal of that agency, i.e. the FBI.

The CJIS Division will authenticate U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73 fingerprint search results for international requests by placing the FBI seal and the signature of a division official on the results if requested at the time of submission. Documents prepared in this way may then be sent to the U.S. Department of State by the requestor to obtain an apostille if necessary. This procedure became effective on January 25, 2010 and will apply only to documents finalized after that date. Requests to authenticate previously processed results will not be accepted. This procedure replaces the letter formerly provided by the CJIS Division that indicated the service was not provided. Note: FBI-approved Channelers cannot provide an apostille. A request for your FBI Identification Record must be submitted directly to the FBI if an apostille is needed.

Office of Authentications

The Department of State, Authentications Office is responsible for signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. Department of State (22 CFR, Part 131) providing authentication services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on documents that will be used overseas (THE APOSTILLE STAMP)

Fees

The authentication fee is $8.00 per document. A personal/company check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State must be submitted with documents. Visa and MasterCard are accepted for Walk-in Service only.


Mail Service

The Authentication of documents takes approximately 15 business days to process from the time of receipt**. Please include a cover-letter with your name, telephone number, address and email address. Please indicate the name of the country where the document will be used. We suggest using a self-addressed stamped envelope for faster return of your documents.
Documents received without a return envelope and postage will be returned through the State Department regular mail, which can result in a 2-3 week delay. You can use Fed/Ex, UPS, and express mail services for faster receipt/return of your documents. However, you must enclose a prepaid airbill and envelope.

Mailing Address

U.S. Department of State
Authentications Office
518 23rd Street NW.
SA-1
Washington, DC 20520

** U.S. Postal Service mail entering the U.S. Department of State must go through a screening process which may delay the time in which we will receive the document.

Walk-in (Counter Service)

Open 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. onlyMonday thru Friday except Federal Holidays
Each customer (company) is limited to 15 documents per day on a while-you-wait basis.

Location

Authentications Office
Columbia Plaza Store Front518,
23rd Street NW.
Washington, DC 20520


Contact Information

Due to the high volume of requests, we are not able to answer phone inquiries, and we recommend contacting the office via email.

You may also fax inquiries to their office at 202-663-3636.

Directions by Metro Rail

Nearest Metro Station - Foggy Bottom-GWU. Use Blue or Orange Metro rail to Foggy Bottom-GWU stop.
Exit Metro onto 23rd Street and turn right.
Walk down 3 blocks,Cross Virginia Avenue, walk down to Columbia Plaza on right.
Go through courtyard of Columbia Plaza to 518 - 23rd Street, NW.
The office is at the far left corner of the courtyard area.



Apostillisation of Marriage Certificates, Birth Certificates, Divorce Certificates and other documents which are required for Andorran Residency from the USA.

All certificates including but not limited to Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Certificates etc must be apostillised in the State in which they were issued, and do not require to be sent to The Department of State, Authentications Office in Washington.

Once these documents have been obtained and stamped as required it is always best to email them to me for preliminary approval at Immigration here in Andorra. Please remember also that you have 3 months from the date of the FBI police certificate, NOT the date of the Apostille, otherwise you will need to repeat the whole process again to be accepted in Andorra.

I am unaware if there is a fast track application process in the USA as there is in other countries, any reader may like to offer advice on this as 12 weeks is a significant waiting time, with up to another 15 days for Apostillisation. Applicants may wish to consider hiring the services of companies that assist with presenting the documents for Apostillisation to speed up the requirements.