Will You Need to Be Fingerprinted to Apply for a California EB-5 Visa?

As you and your family prepare to come to the U.S. under a California EB-5 visa, there are many last-minute details to consider. One of these is to determine whether or not your family members must submit their fingerprints to USCIS for FBI criminal background checks. In some cases, applicants may be denied a visa or will be unable to receive benefits without authorized fingerprints on file.

Here are a few dos and don’ts of submitting fingerprints to USCIS:

• Do not send a fingerprint card with your EB-5 application. Your application must be accepted before you can have your fingerprints taken.
• Do submit the fingerprinting fee with your application. This fee is payable to USCIS and will cover the cost of fingerprinting by USCIS after acceptance.
• Do wait for an appointment letter from USCIS acknowledging receipt of your application. In this letter, USCIS will direct you to the nearest USCIS authorized fingerprint site.
• Do not attempt to get your fingerprints taken anywhere other than an authorized fingerprint site. Authorized sites such as USCIS offices and U.S. consular offices will provide Form FD-258 (fingerprint card) for completion.

It is important to note that applicants who are not currently living in the U.S. who have been fingerprinted at a United States consulate or military installation abroad may not need to be fingerprinted by USCIS.

If you are unsure of which documents you need to file to obtain your California EB-5 visa, the experienced EB-5 attorneys at Jatoi & de Kirby, APC can help. Call us today at 415-221-2345 or click the link on this page to download your FREE copy of our guide, Investor's Path to a Green Card: How Investing in America Can Put You and Your Family on the Path to Greater Wealth and U.S. Permanent Residency.