To apply for a China work visa to teach, you must have a criminal background check no older than six months from every country you have lived in within the last five years. This is a mandatory part of the visa requirement.
If you are a US resident, both current or past, you should complete the background check process as soon as possible because it’s one of the most time-consuming processes you’ll need to tackle.
The criminal background check is a document that details any past illegal activities for which you have been charged. Although a government body issues the document, it must still be notarised or authenticated (or both). Then, you’ll need to have it authenticated by a Chinese Embassy.
Criminal background Check form USA, things you need to know
- The US issues criminal background checks on three levels: local (from the Sheriff’s Office), State (from the State Police Office) and Federal (from the FBI).
- Ask your new school which level they would require from you (if you are applying for a job and have not yet started getting your criminal background check). If you’re lucky, a local or State-level check will suffice – these are the easiest/fastest certificates to get.
- In most cases, schools and teaching institutions in China will accept an FBI criminal background check, while some will accept a local and State-level check.
- If you want to get the ball rolling early, start your FBI procedure asap, and you can be sure you’ll have the correct document by the time you find the right job.
- Once you have the certificate, you’ll need to have it authenticated and/or notarised – again, ask your employer if they require both procedures done. Sometimes, a school may only require a criminal background check from the USA to be notarised, and not authenticated, which saves you some time.
- The procedure for getting a criminal background check is consistent throughout the country, yet authentication requirements differ by State.
- All criminal background checks at the Federal level (i.e. issued by the FBI) MUST be authenticated by the US Department of State in Washington, DC. If you live in another State, you must do this by mail.
- If you have an FBI-issued document, it must be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC. The embassy does not accept mail, so if you don’t live nearby, you will have to use a dedicated agency that can do this for you (yes, they exist!)
- For local and State-level criminal checks, you can authenticate it at your nearest Chinese Consulate (i.e., it doesn’t have to be the embassy in Washington).
Getting a Criminal Background Check in the USA – Local/State
- Apply for your certificate
Your local and State Police offices have all the forms you need to apply for a State-level criminal background check – also known as a Certificate of Good Conduct or Lack of Criminal Record Certificate, depending on where you live. It’s important to tell them you need this certificate to apply for a China working visa, so they’ll know how to word it. Don’t forget to ask for the document to be notarised at the time of issue. It will save you a step!
- Wait just a few days for your certificate to be issued
2/3 days, at most.
- Some States require documents to be sent to the County Clerk for verification, at this point
Make sure you research your State’s precise requirements – AL, GA, KY, MD, TN and NY residents, take note!
- Visit your local Office of the Secretary of State
This will be the first level of certification and, hopefully, the only one you’ll need on the US side of things.
- Visit your nearest Chinese Embassy/Consulate
Here, you’ll get the document authenticated and accepted by the Chinese Government. You’ll need to show up in person to do this, and do note that if your nearest option is the central embassy in DC, you may need to have the document authenticated by the US Department of State first. Check ahead with your specific state regulations!
- Use your document to apply for your China Work Visa within 6 months
You’d better use this document within six months of the original issue, or you’ll have to do the whole thing again. Be careful not to run too close to the expiration date of your certificate! The Chinese visa process can be slow and may prevent you from getting a visa right when you are on the cusp of that fantastic job.
Getting a Criminal Background Check in the USA – FBI
Channel your inner zen-master and get ready for the ultimate mission pain-in-the-rear-end: getting your criminal background check issued by the FBI!
The FBI’s Identity History Summary Check (or Rap Sheet) is the highest-level criminal background check for US citizens. If you don’t want hassles, apply for this directly rather than waste time applying for a local certificate that may not be accepted.
Don’t forget that, at China by Teaching, we can secure your US criminal background check – ready to use in your China visa application – in about three weeks
Here’s how to apply for your FBI criminal background check:
- Get your fingerprints taken at a local police station
Call your local police station and make an appointment to get fingerprinted. They will tell you what documents you must bring and the forms you must fill in. Let them know it’s for a Federal-level criminal background check, and they’ll know what to do. If you get a live scan print, ask for two hard copies to be issued. You’ll need to pay with a money order here – which you can pick up at your nearest Post Office. The fee for fingerprinting services can vary but is roughly USD 90.
- Apply directly through the FBI
Fill in the form, including your fingerprints and payment slip, and off you go. That easy? Not really. You can apply for an Identity History Summary Check online, via mail or through an authorised agent. The official FBI. The website details how to request fingerprints and submit payment – the fee is just USD 18.
- Have the certificate authenticated by the US Department of State
Once your FBI document arrives, you must send it to the Office of Authentication in Washington, the only entity authorised to authenticate FBI-issued documents. This part alone can take about eight weeks.
- Have the certificate authenticated by the Chinese Embassy in Washington
Chinese Consulates in varying States don’t have the power to authenticate criminal background checks that have been certified by the US Department of State in Washington – only the Chinese Embassy in Washington can do this. You can use this form. This service costs around USD 25.
Getting your federal criminal background check in the US can take TWO MONTHS.
Pro-Tip: Use a channeler!
For all of the above considerable and numerous reasons, many prospective teachers employ the services of what’s known as a ‘channeler’ – an accredited agency that’ll channel all your overwhelming frustrations and get the job done, for you, for a nominal fee. Although you must personally need to apply for a local and State-level certificate (due to privacy laws), an agent can help you get the document authenticated and certified.
For FBI checks, an agent can take over after your fingerprints are taken. Yes, you will pay more, but in this particular case, a channeler may just be Worth it. Every. Cent.
Agencies like Accurate Biometrics and FBI Apostille Services
can take as much or as little of the bureaucratic burden off your hands as you wish. Moreover, this can save you valuable time if you’ve left this step to the last minute. Some channelers offer expedited services – however, note that authentication by the US Dep’t of State AND Secretary of State Offices cannot be expedited, so expect it to take three weeks, at the very least.
Usually, you can expect to pay an extra USD100 for a channeler, plus mailing costs to and fro.
What other documents will you need to apply for a teaching job? Learn about the China work visa before you start your teaching job search, and you’ll be a step ahead.
At China By Teaching, we can help you find the right job, in the right city. Submit your CV and we will be in touch with jobs from quality schools throughout China.