Article July 22, 2024

Step by Step to Get the FBI Background Check from Colombia

At expatgroup.co, we understand the excitement and challenges of moving to Colombia as a foreigner. When we decided to sync our Visa Processes, according to Resolution 5477 of 2022 changes, we knew the government would likely adjust some things in the Colombia Visa application process over time. However, in some of our customers’ latest applications, the government has started requiring complementary documents, including Criminal Records. To fulfill their visa applications, American Citizens have had to request their FBI background check from Colombia, and that’s why we made an entire and reliable process to get this document totally online.

What is the FBI Background Check?

The FBI Background Check is a document issued by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) that reports a person’s criminal record if that person has committed a criminal offense in the United States.

In Colombia, the FBI background check is an additional document for the visa application process. It is mandatory for U.S. Citizens who want to get the Colombia Retirement Visa and has also been required for other visa categories. It’s a certificate that ensures applicants have no serious criminal history that could risk public safety, a fundamental requirement for gaining legal entry and residence in Colombia. Understanding and fulfilling this requirement in advance is essential to successfully processing your Colombian visa application.

“In Colombia, this document will only be valid for 3 months starting from the issue date. The FBI Background Check must also be translated into Spanish and apostilled for international use, with the same expiration date.”

Get your FBI Background Check from Colombia with us!

At expatgroup.co, we help you get your FBI background check from Colombia processed quickly and securely. Click the bottom and get the digital background certificate for American citizens that is valid before the Colombian government for visa applications, including fingerprinting, apostille and translation services

Is the FBI Background Check a mandatory requirement for Digital Nomads in Colombia and other visa applications?

Unlike the Retirement Visa, where the certificate of criminal records is mandatory, this document doesn’t appear in the resolution’s articles where the specific requirements for visas are detailed. However, some of the latest active application processes in expatgroup.co have been marked in «Requirement» status, and through an official statement, the FBI background check has been required as an additional document, relying on Articles 95 and 97

Article 97 - Resolution 5477 of 2022

The Visa and Immigration Authority may require the applicant, through the digital visa platform, on one or more occasions when the documents are incomplete or illegible when the photo does not comply with the technical requirements when the information is ambiguous, or to request additional information.

Likewise, it may require a face-to-face, virtual, or telephone interview with the applicant and/or persons supporting his/her application.

In some instances, during the visa application process, applicants have chosen to wait to submit some documents as criminal records. This has resulted in their application being placed into “Requitement” status, leading to significant delays.

Due to the complexity of the process to obtain it independently, especially for those who need to apply for the FBI Background Check from Colombia, the application process exceeds the general response time of 10 days provided by the government. This implies that you must make a new application from zero, with all the activities and costs that this implies.

We show you an official letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where they are asking for this requirement in one of our Visa processes.

When do I submit the FBI Background Check for my Colombia visa application?

If you are looking to apply for a Colombia visa, you must gather the necessary and specific documents for this category. We recommend adding the FBI background check and apostille as additional documents in the first document submission step.

The timeframe for obtaining an FBI background check from Colombia can vary. Typically, it takes 5-6 weeks to receive the report. However, delays can occur due to issues with fingerprint quality or high demand for services. Additionally, obtaining an apostille can add extra time, so we recommend starting this process before your planned visa application.

This blog we made some time ago provides step-by-step instructions on how to get the US FBI background check certificate, also known as a US criminal records certificate.

If you require advice, we offer our help since we have designed a special and reliable service in which we can process your FBI Background Check from overseas (Colombia). You can even add this service to complement your nomad visa process with expatgroup.co, and we will help you prepare all the necessary documentation for your application.

Step by Step to Get the FBI Background Check from Colombia with expatgroup.co

Step by step

Step 1: Fill out the form with your data

Fill out the form with your data

Book an appointment and do the payment

Step 3: Go to the expatgroup.co office for fingerprinting.

We will send the document to the USA and await the official response. So, when we receive the document digitally, we start to apostille and translate it

Torre Empresarial Davivienda. Office 508. Av. El Poblado N° 1 Sur -188. Medellín, Colombia.

Hours of operation (Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m and from 1:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m).

expatgroup.co office in El Poblado Medellin

Get the FBI Background Check with fingerprints in Medellin and other Colombian cities with expatgroup.co

The expatgroup.co’s FBI Background Check Service offers several benefits. These include the convenience of having your fingerprints taken in Medellín at the expatgroup.co office. Not only that, but you can accomplish this entire process from Colombia without the need to travel to the USA. You can avoid mistakes and rejections by ensuring that the correct fingerprints are submitted. Moreover, with just one payment, you’ll have access to all the features included in your package, making it an affordable option.

The digital fingerprinting service is exclusively available in Medellín at the expatgroup.co’s office in El Poblado. Schedule an appointment with our advisors and arrive at the selected day and time.

If you are not currently in Medellín, we recommend traveling to the city for this process to ensure that your fingerprinting is performed accurately. Our biometric software assesses the clarity and accuracy of each fingerprint, so it’s important to have this completed in person.