Korean Job Discussion Forums

Busan_Mike · Guest

Hello,

I was curious if anyone had sent in fingerprints in to the FBI and were rejected because of the poor quality?

Also if you were rejected how long did it take for you to find that out? Did they email, call, or send a letter to your US residence? Can you call them directly and ask?

I know the whole process takes up to 12 weeks and would hate for it to take a few weeks for them to open my application and then reject the prints.

You can see how this would eat up all kinds of time if true.

I'm not that worried because I got multiple prints done but am curious if anyone has any experience on this.

Thanks.

Scamps · Joined: 01 Feb 2008

I had this awful experience!
Because the FBI only accepts ink fingerprints mine were rejected not once but 2 times! Both times took about 4 weeks each to get the results.
They told me that perhaps I had dry fingers and suggested to put them in vaseline with gloves while sleeping the night before getting fingerprinted again. I'm sure I don't have dry fingers so I thought their suggestion was ridiculous.
I got so fed up with them I found an alternative way to get mine done which was go to some company that did a bioscan fingerprint. I wish I had know about it earlier because although it was more expensive it saved me time. I got back the results the very next day. And when the woman lifted my hand up to do the fingerprints the first thing that came out of her mouth was something like, oh wow, you'd never pass with ink because your hands are so soft!
The reason the FBI rejected me was because I do have soft hands without deep ridges so my prints basically looked like ink blobs, no definition.
Although my contract doesn't finish until April, I'm worried about next time I have to get fingerprinted. Is our only option the FBI now? What if some people, like me can't pass??
I also had multiple copies done for the FBI...but Sad

Busan_Mike · Guest

@ Scamps

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

Did you do this in the states or were you in Korea already? It sounds like you did it in Korea. If so what city?

I don't know if mine were rejected or not but the bio-scan fingerprint sounds like a sure fire way to pass.

After scanning did they give you a print out of your fingerprints or send it directly to the FBI?

How much?

Cheers!

Scamps · Joined: 01 Feb 2008

Hi Mike,

It's okay, it was over a year ago but it was a very frustrating and long experience.

This happened during my break when I went back to the US. I'd only planned to stay a few weeks but I ended up staying 2 months longer because of this problem. It was such a drag.

I think you might be able to call the FBI about 10 days after they've received your documents and ask them the result if you can't wait. But normally they'll send them in the mail with a letter saying they were rejected and how they'll do it again for free but after the second time you have to pay and start all over again.

If you're worried and Korea will accept the bio-scan I'd definitely do that. It's so quick and a pretty sure bet.

After the bio-scan was taken they sent the results to their own company authorized by the state police. It was seperate from the FBI. Those guys were idiots as far as I'm concerned..with old, out-dated technology. I'm bitter...

How much? I can't remember exactly..I think about $40~50. But totally worth it for quick results without any b.s.

And after that I just came back to Seoul and got it apostilled at the US Embassy in less than an hour one day. I think that cost me about $30.

Busan_Mike · Guest

Thanks for sharing Scamps.

All good stuff to know.

Busan_Mike · Guest

I just got off the phone with the FBI.

They said that they don't even open your package/letter until they are ready to review it so in essence you could wait 10 weeks for them to get started on yours and then simply reject it.

They did say that the second time you send anything in it will be without the charge (as you mentioned scamp) but after that second time you'll pay again.

One other thing I asked was about a bio-metric scan. They said they will accept that as long as it can be printed out and sent in. Does anyone know of that service being offered in Korea(biometric scanning, I assume a private security company)?

So I guess the moral of the story is to send multiple copies of your prints in. Depending on when your contract ends you may only have a couple shots at it.

Cross your fingers.

classydame · Joined: 03 Aug 2009 Location: Korea

Please update if anyone knows about biometric printing being done in Seoul. I also have very shallow ridges and had to be fingerprinted 3 times for my FBI check for AmeriCorps so I am very worried about the new restrictions. I wonder if it is even possible to get this done in time to get into Gepik:(

grant gerstners · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: USA

Any info on biometric scanning of fingerprints and the associated cost?

DonMegawatt · Joined: 01 Nov 2010

Hi there,

I called the FBI last week on Wednesday, Jan. 12th. I had been calling once a week since they charged my credit card on Dec. 1st (we sent them on Nov. 4th, they received them on Nov. 8th). They finally told me last Wednesday that on Tuesday Jan. 11th they mailed me a letter telling me that they rejected my fingerprints. I got the letter on Saturday, Jan. 15th.

However, on the phone she told me I didn't have to wait on the letter so on Thursday, Jan. 13th, I was refingerprinted and overnighted them to the FBI.

This is an awful situation. I've had my job for a month and a half. It starts March 1st. I have all my other documents in order. I had to wait 9 1/2 weeks to find out that they were not accepting my fingerprints and will likely wait another couple weeks on them to come back.

If I were you I'd call periodically to find out...especially since it took almost a full business week for me to even receive the letter telling me they were rejecting my prints. If you call periodically, at least you'll know. Good luck!

Scamps · Joined: 01 Feb 2008

I know how frustrating this is. And now that they changed the rules I'm even more worried. My current contract ends in April but I'm already thinking about the next time. I went to the FBI site recently and it seems like they are accepting the Live Scan (biometric) fingerprints that some of us desperately need. Last time I wasted 4 months with the FBI until I found a way around it with the Live Scan process. You just have to find a Live Scan center who will forward your reading to the FBI and then I think you should be set. And it should be much quicker than the 12 week or so wait. The Live Scan results came back by mail to me the next day! (I was in the US at the time). Also, Live Scan is only done in the US so you'll have to go there. No hope in Korea.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/fingerprints_biometrics/recording-legible-fingerprints

nathanrutledge · Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh

I printed myself and had no trouble. Did it on the form that I printed out from the FBI website on standard A4 copy paper.

I've been printed before for a federal job, and I knew the fingerprint technician personally (take a short course, a few hours, and you're a tech!) so I know exactly what to do.

Even with soft/dry/whatever hands, it's not too difficult to get the ridges to show up, if done properly. Wash the hands, use lotion, wipe off the excess, ink and print. No pressure, let it roll and your done. I watched a whole class of new federal employees get printed, and there was only one person who had difficulty - another wash, lotion, ink, and roll and it was done - no troubles.

As far as electric printing goes, I know that the Korean police have electronic fingerprinting; I don't know if they'd do it for you, but I know that they do scan people that way when they print people.

Scamps · Joined: 01 Feb 2008

cyui · Joined: 10 Jan 2011

Why are they so slow?

You guys could just go to Japan, as they don't have all these stupid visa regs.

Pays' alot more, too.

Reggie · Joined: 21 Sep 2009

Since the FBI can't figure out who you are even after you provide them your name and address with your fingerprints, you can probably have a lucrative career in boosting loads of freight off yards, bank robberies, and other crimes without even needing to wear gloves. They'll never figure out who done it. They're the FBI.

emmahearst · Joined: 10 Jan 2011

My friend got rejected once. She was Asian and tiny, like a little "Snooki", but not Italian. 5'3 or so. She had tiny fingers.

The fingerprint roller guy said, Asians and females tend to have small fingers. She happens to be both, Asian and female. Reason the print would not show:

1. Asian and female tend to have small fingers
2. When you have small fingers the prints/lines are bunch together (your thumb is the biggest finger, it will have the best results as the prints are spread out because it is fatter. The pinky will have the worst print because it is the smallest.)
3. You're sweating or nervous during the procedure.
4. You're pregnant
5. Too dry - indication you're not drinking a lot of water.

She got it rejected. But she came back and everything was fine. I don't think she had to repay, just shipping. But if you do live scan, you don't have to pay for anything, they just punch in your confirmation #.

I think it is faster to do it electronic, only some states have this.