Criminal Records Check Info

United Kingdom
   *The CRC form you will need to apply for is called a ‘Subject Access’ or a ‘Basic Disclosure’. You can obtain a form
    from your local police station. They will talk you through the requirements (2 forms of identification and a fee). It will
    take 20-30 days for the check to arrive.
 
   *Please do not get a CRB (Criminal Record Bureau), this is an organizational check, not an individual check and will
    not be accepted by the Korean Immigration Office.
 
   *You will need to get an apostille Seal for your CRC.
 
   *Please check http://www.met.police.uk/information/request_forms.htm for more information and to download the form.

 
USA

  * American citizens MUST get an FBI criminal records check. It can take up to 3 months to arrive so the sooner you start, the better.
 
   * Here is the process in brief (taken from the FBI website):

      How to Request a Copy of Your Record

      Step 1: Complete the Applicant Information Form (pdf).
       *  If the request is for a couple, family, etc., all persons must sign the form.
       *  Include your complete mailing address. Provide your telephone number and/or e-mail address, if available.

      Step 2: Obtain a set of your fingerprints.
       * Provide the original fingerprint card. Previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted.
       * Your 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.
       * Include rolled impressions of all 10 fingerprints and impressions of all 10 fingerprints taken simultaneously
         (these are sometime referred to as plain or flat impressions).
       * If possible, have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician. This service may be available at a law
          enforcement agency.
       * To ensure the most legible prints possible, refer to the Recording Legible Fingerprints brochure.

      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.
       * If the request is for a couple, family, etc., include $18 for each person.
       * If 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 they 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 six weeks depending on the volume of requests received.

    *Please check the FBI website for further information:

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

    *You will need to get an apostille Seal for your CRC.

     Vital:  Please check with your Secretary of State Office whether they will give an apostille Seal for your FBI check,
            few don’t. In which case you will need to get an apostille Seal from The US Department of State
            (http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/index.htm). If this is the case please read this carefully: 
           When you apply for the FBI check you MUST ask the FBI to Pre-Authenticate your check. This is very
           important; you will not be able to get an apostille Stamp from The US Department of State without this.

New Zealand
  *The CRC for New Zealand is usually called a ‘Police Clearance Report’; when you are applying for this please ask
   for a‘Federal Level Police Clearance Report’ as you will need a nationwide check.
 
  *Forms and more information can be obtained from
    http://www.justice.govt.nz/services/get-a-copy-of-your-criminal-record/application-forms/
 
  *You will need to get an apostille Seal for your CRC.
  
South Africa
  *Please visit this website: http://www.dirco.gov.za/consular/policeclear.htm for up-to-date information on the
   procedure for obtaining a CRC for South African Citizens. Please inquire which one is acceptable for the Korean
   Immigration Office

  *You will need to get an apostille Seal for your CRC. For further reading on the Apostille Seal for South African Citizens
    visit this website: http://www.dfa.gov.za/consular/legalisation.htm

  
Australia
  *The CRC for Australia is usually called a ‘Police Checks’ or a ‘Police Certificates’; when you are applying for this
    please ask for a ‘Federal Level Police Check’ as you will need a nationwide check.
 
  *Forms and more information can be obtained from
    http://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/police-checks/national-police-checks.aspx

  *You will need to get an apostille Seal for your CRC.

Ireland
  *The CRC is usually called a ‘Police Clearance Letters’ or a ‘Certificates of Character’. Obtaining the CRC in Ireland is
   one of the easiest processes—simply visit your local Garda Police Station, ask for the form, fill it in and show two
   forms of identification.
 
  *You will need to get an apostille Seal for your CRC.

Canada
  *Canadian Citizens must get a FINGER-PRINT based check from the RCMP; it has to be a nationwide check.  Name
   and Date of Birth checks will not be accepted.
 
  *It’s best to get an electronic finger-print check, instead of the print finger print. Most Police Stations offer an
   electronic finger-print testing facility.
 
  *Please check the webpage for more information: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/fing-empr2-eng.htm
 
  *Canadian Citizens need to get their CRC Notarized by a notary public, and then get the CRC verified by the Korean
   Consulate. Please read the Canadian Process page carefully.