Visa/Immigration

California law allows you to request a record clearance from the DOJ for Visa/Immigration purposes. The following are the basic steps to complete your request for a background check. Failure to follow these procedures may result in a delay or the rejection of your application for a DOJ response under Penal Code Section 11105(c)(9). If you currently reside in California, with limited exceptions, you must submit your fingerprints electronically from a Live Scan site. If you reside outside of California, you will need to submit a manual fingerprint card or “hard card.”

ELECTRONIC (Live Scan) SUBMISSIONS:

Step One (1):

Print out a copy of the Request Form:
Request Visa/Immigration - Form BCIA 8016VISA (Live Scan), pdf

Step Two (2):

Follow the instructions for completing your Request Form:
Instructions for Visa/Immigration Request Form, pdf
En Español, pdf

Step Three (3):

Get fingerprinted. Fingerprint services are usually available from your local police or sheriff’s department, or from private vendors engaged in the fingerprinting business. To find the site nearest to you and a listing of fees, see Public Live Scan Sites. Your total costs will be $32 plus the fingerprint rolling fee charged by the Live-Scan agency. Since the fingerprint-rolling fee varies widely among locations, you will want to review the cost along with the accepted methods of payment before going to the fingerprinting site.

Step Four (4):

Once the submission is received and processed, the DOJ will mail the response via U.S, mail to the applicant only. It is the applicant’s responsibility to forward the information to their legal counsel or assistance agency.

NOTE: An “Apostille” or a “Certification” is frequently required by foreign governments before the background check will be accepted. The document you receive from the DOJ is not the actual Apostille. As such, if you need this additional service, you will need to contact the DOJ at visa-immigration@doj.ca.gov AFTER you receive the DOJ response in the mail.

MANUAL FINGERPRINT CARD SUBMISSIONS

Step One (1):

Print out and follow the:
Instructions - Visa/Immigration, pdf (Manual)
En Español, pdf

Step Two (2):

Obtain a blank FD258 fingerprint card from your local law enforcement agency and fill it out according to the instructions. If you are having difficulty in obtaining a blank FD 258 fingerprint card, please contact the Applicant Processing Program at visa-immigration@doj.ca.gov.

Step Three (3):

Get fingerprinted. Contact your local law enforcement agency for fingerprinting services.

Step Four (4):

Mail the FD258 fingerprint card.

Submissions must be accompanied by either personal check drawn on a U.S. bank, money order or certified check. The check or money order must be in the amount of $32 and made payable to the “California Department of Justice.” Mail your application, FD258 fingerprint card and processing fee to:

California Department of Justice
Applicant Processing Program
P.O. Box 903387
Sacramento, CA 94203-3870
ATTN: VISA-IMMIGRATION

Once the submission is received and processed, the DOJ will mail the response via U.S, mail to the applicant only. It is the applicant’s responsibility to forward the information to their legal counsel or assistance agency.

NOTE: An “Apostille” or a “Certification” is frequently required by foreign governments before the background check will be accepted. The document you receive from the DOJ is not the actual Apostille. As such, if you need this additional service, you will need to contact the DOJ at visa-immigration@doj.ca.gov AFTER you receive the DOJ response in the mail.