Commissionaires BC

Fingerprinting

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Fingerprint results processed faster with Commissionaires’ friendly, reliable service

Commissionaires BC offers cutting-edge digital fingerprinting services for the fastest, most reliable results available. As one of only two providers, Commissionaires has clearance from the RCMP to capture fingerprints and submit them directly to the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services for processing. This reduces the RCMP processing time to as little as 72 hours, which means your fingerprinting results will be in the mail to you in as little as three business days after your submission, instead of 120 days.

In addition to offering digital fingerprinting, we still offer traditional ink & roll fingerprinting with a processing turnaround time of approximately 120 days.

Fingerprinting services from Commissionaires BC:

• are delivered by friendly, professional, and knowledgeable commissionaires;
• are competitively priced, efficient and quick;
• use the latest digital technology for reliable capture and RCMP processing in as little as 72-hours in our Vancouver and Surrey location
• traditional ink and roll method also available at our Vancouver, Surrey and Kelowna locations;
• are provided in multi-languages at many locations;
• can be provided at three locations in BC or with our mobile fingerprinting services.

How to Get Your Fingerprints

We want to make sure your experience is a pleasant one. Our respectful and friendly staff members are the experts in providing fingerprinting services. To speed up the fingerprinting process, please ensure you have all the necessary materials in hand before you visit our office.

Identification Required

You must bring two pieces of valid government issued identification and one must be a photo ID. The following are types of acceptable identification:

• Passport
• Citizenship Card or Document
• Immigration Document (i.e., Landing Papers)
• Birth Certificate
• Drivers Licence
• Health Card
• Permanent Resident card or Record of Landing for Citizenship Applicants
• Government ID

Notes:

• If you have a letter or file number from the requesting source, please bring it with you.
• All digital fingerprinting requests for Canadian Citizenship must include a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This letter must include the address for third party results and should have a CIC file number, which will be included in your transaction. Please ensure you bring your letter with you to your fingerprinting session.

Our experienced staff will answer any questions you may have.

Fees

Digital: $45 plus GST (plus $25 RCMP fee if applicable)
Ink & Roll: $30 plus GST (plus $25 RCMP fee if applicable)

Payment Methods

We accept cash, MasterCard, VISA, American Express or bank card.

Appointments

No appointments are necessary to have your fingerprints taken.

Locations

Fingerprinting services are available at our centres in Vancouver, Surrey and Kelowna.

*Digital service is available in our Vancouver and Surrey locations.
**Digital fingerprinting is not available at our Kelowna office at this time.

Note: For some applications, e.g., submission to FBI, we offer traditional ink and roll method of fingerprinting. In this case a hard copy document of your fingerprints will be given to you to send to the requesting source.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fingerprinting

What is digital fingerprinting?

Digital fingerprinting is the electronic capture of a person’s fingerprints via an optical scanner at a capture station. The scanned fingerprints, along with the application details, are then formatted into a standardized electronic package that is attached and emailed, via a secure link, direct to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Information System (CCRTIS).

CCRTIS compares the fingerprint package against the RCMP’s criminal record database. If no record is present, the RCMP will issue a certificate indicating a clear record. If the applicant does have a criminal record this will be indicated in the results.

Who needs fingerprints?

• Immigration Applicants

If you wish to immigrate to Canada you may be required to provide a police clearance with fingerprints;

• Citizenship Applicants

If you are applying for Canadian citizenship you may be required to provide a police clearance with fingerprints;

• Permanent Residence Applicants

If you are applying for permanent residence in Canada you may be required to provide a police clearance with fingerprints. You may also be required to provide police clearances from every country you have lived in for six months or longer. In most cases we can provide the forms and the information you need from various countries to assist you in this process;

• International Adoptions Applicants

If you wish to adopt a child from a foreign country you will be required to provide a police clearance with fingerprints prior to completing the adoption proceedings;

• Applicants for Foreign Travel, Passports, Work Permits, Visas and US Waivers

Those wishing to visit or work in other countries may be required to provide a police clearance. While some countries accept police clearance done with only your name and birth date, others require that the process be done through fingerprinting. Obtaining a 192 waiver to travel to the United States will require fingerprints;

• Pardon Applicants

If you are seeking a pardon for a past criminal offence or if you simply wish to verify whether or not you have a record, you will be required to submit fingerprints as part of your application;

• Security Licence Applicants

According to the BC Security Services Act, individuals in some security related positions are now responsible for directly obtaining and holding a security licence. Fingerprints are required for the application process;

• Employment with Corporations and Agencies

With the need for greater security, many corporations and agencies are now requiring both employees and volunteers to be fingerprinted.

Do you conduct fingerprinting for submission to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation?

Yes we do.

How long will it take for digital fingerprints to be processed by the RCMP?

If you do not have a criminal record and have never been fingerprinted for a criminal offence in Canada, the RCMP will make every effort possible to process your request within 72 hours of receiving the electronic submission. (This means that the RCMP will put the results “in the mail” for mailing back to you within 72 hours.) In view of this, please ensure you allow sufficient time for receipt of the mail before you commence inquiries about the status of your fingerprints. If a criminal record is encountered during the verification process, processing will be increased to 120 days.

How long will it take for traditional ink and roll fingerprints to be processed by the RCMP?

Paper-based fingerprint submissions for a criminal record verification take an average of 120 days to complete for individuals that do not have a criminal record and have never been fingerprinted for a criminal offence in Canada. If a criminal record is encountered during the verification process, the turnaround time may exceed 120 days.

How can I find out about the status of my submission once it has been sent to the RCMP?

Commissionaires provides the best in service to all our clients. Clients are advised that once the RCMP informs Commissionaires that the electronic submission has been received and is successfully processing, the RCMP will not release any further transaction status information to Commissionaires. Clients (e.g., applicant or authorized third party) may inquire about the status of their electronic and/or paper-based ink and roll submission by contacting the RCMP Civil Fingerprint Screening Services at 613 998 6362 or civilnps@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Do I need an appointment?

No appointments are necessary.

How long will it take to get my fingerprints taken?

Our digital process is fast, efficient and clean and normally takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Our traditional ink and roll methods take approximately ten minutes to complete.

How do I get my results?

Your criminal record verification results can be sent directly to you or to a designated third party, such as a family member, immigration or pardons agency, an employer etc. If you are under the age of 18 your results must be returned directly to your home address. Please ensure you have all address information including postal codes, apartment numbers and office suite numbers for both your home address and for the third party (if required).

Do I get a copy?

All applicants can receive a true copy of the digital submission to the RCMP for $5 + GST in addition to the transaction fee.

Ink & roll copies are $25 + GST in addition to the transaction fee.