Criminal History Fingerprint Instructions: Fill & Download for Free

David Gish already covered many bases in his answer. In my answer, I’m just going to focus on “as a foreign citizen” requirements, as these apply in addition to all the FAA requirements that apply to US citizens, and these requirements are already covered in plenty other answers.I’m also not going to cover immigration issues. I’m assuming that you have your immigration sorted out and that you have sources of funding to live on and pay for instruction.Even when all these issues are sorted out, obtaining flight instruction in the United States as a foreign citizen is, for lack of a better word, a shit show. My annoyance with the TSA alien flight student program is a prime reason for wanting to apply for US citizenship rather than remaining a mere legal permanent resident. I can tell you from personal experience, as I obtained my private pilot license last year as a foreigner, and I’m currently enrolled in IFR rating instruction as a foreigner.In short, before you start flight instruction, you must obtain approval from a TSA program called Alien Flight Student Program. This program is managed entirely online at www.flightschoolcandidates.gov. I encourage you to create an account within that system just to familiarize yourself with how it works.Also, refer to AOPA’s excellent page on the topic: Aliens and Non-U.S. Citizens Seeking Flight Training.Note that if you were planning to study ground instruction by yourself, or enroll into an online ground school, you can do it without AFSP authorization. If you are already enrolled in a flight school and you don’t have your AFSP authorization yet, you might be ok as long as you only receive ground instruction and no practical flight instruction.The AFSP online forms you must complete are divided in 8 steps:Part: 1--Candidate InformationStep: 1--Basic InformationStep: 2--Other NamesStep: 3--Citizenship InformationStep: 4--Document InformationStep: 5--Address InformationStep: 6--EmploymentPart: 2--Request For TrainingStep: 7--Training DetailsStep: 8--Request CategorySome steps are trivial (your name, other names you used); other steps require you to do some research, e.g., you need to provide all the addresses where you resided in the last 5 years. You need to submit a scanned copy of your ID documents, including passport green card, driving license, airman certificate if you have any.Step 7 requires you to select your flight instructor or school. An important point is that the school must be registered with the program as well. If they are not registered, talk to them as soon as you can. Many instructors may not be familiar with the additional requirements associated with foreign students. Some instructors may decide that they do not want to register with AFSP, especially if they have other businesses that are co-located with their place of CFI operations; registration might expose them to additional paperwork, burden and scrutiny by the Federal Government that might not be worth it for them. Ask them.Once you are done with the forms, you pay $130, because.(By the way, if you don’t finish your instruction within one year, you have to renew your authorization, and it’s $130 more, once a year, because. A certain song by Dire Straits comes to mind.)Once you paid your dues, the system will notify you that you need your fingerprints taken. The government could already use fingerprint in digital format that they already have, in digital format, of you (green card… hello?) but, because the TSA is involved, whenever there is a chance of doing something smart, you can rest assured that the opposite course of action will be taken.No, they need fingerprints on paper, taken the old school way, with greasy ink.Read all the requirements in the email below. One way to get your fingerprints taken is via NATA. The organization provides fingerprinting services, at least nominally. For me it did not work, as all their associates I contacted were not available or did not answer. It might be an issue with the people I contacted and you might be lucky.A second way to get your fingerprints taken is at a police station. Call a police station that close to where you live or where your instructor or a flight school representative lives, and ask them if they will offer fingerprinting services.Two caveats apply. First, you need to provide your own fingerprinting forms. The specific form you need is the FD-285. You can buy forms online (500 at a time), but if you just need one, you are much better off downloading it from the FBI: http://myfbireport.com/pdf/applicant_fd_258.pdf and printing it on appropriate heavy stock.Second issue is delivering the forms to the address they want. Because you are an untrustworthy foreigner (you, sneaky foreigner, you!), you can’t be trusted mailing your own fingerprints to the government… you could be tampering with them, or send them your grandma’s fingerprints instead. They can’t allow that. To guard against this, you must go in person to the police station with your CFI or a school representative, and a traceable envelope (a prepaid FedEx or UPS envelope). Your CFI will take the fingerprints from the police station and mail them to the TSA. Chain of custody.At the bottom of this answer I report a complete email from the TSA with the fingerprinting instructions.Once your fingerprints are received and your background information checks, TSA will send you an email authorizing you to begin instruction. That’s it.ATTENTION: THIS EMAIL DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO BEGIN FLIGHT TRAININGIMPORTANT: A copy of this email MUST be provided to the authorized electronic fingerprint collector OR be included in all hard card fingerprint submissions taken by a local law enforcement agency, or a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.The purpose of this email is to notify you that TSA has accepted the documentation for the following training request:Student: Daniele Paolo ScarpazzaUser ID: …Provider: …Training Request ID#: …An AFSP Candidate can have their fingerprints collected at a NATA-CS approved fingerprint collector, a U.S. federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, or a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Follow the steps below based on your choice of fingerprint collection options.NOTE: Your submitted fingerprints will be sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in order to complete the required criminal history records check. TSA is unable to correct any other state or federal criminal history records information system. Applicants seeking to challenge the accuracy or completeness of any information on a criminal record should contact the applicable state or federal agency originating the record. For FBI criminal history records, pursuant to Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), section 16.34, please direct your inquiry to: FBI; Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division; ATTN: SCU, Mod D-2; 1000 Custer Hollow Road; Clarksburg, WV 26306.******************************INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE - Fingerprints may be rejected if instructions are not followed.The Fingerprint Collector MUST REVIEW below "Instructions to Fingerprint Collector" before collecting your fingerprints.**To use a NATA-CS fingerprint collector**Step 1: To locate a NATA-CS fingerprint collector go online to https://NATACS.aero/AFSP and select the Fingerprint Locations tab. Select a location from available drop down menus.STEP 2: Select from the list of available fingerprint collectors, then select blue AFSP Enrollment button.STEP 3: Enter your personal and payment information as required. You will be given an option to print your Custody and Control form or have it emailed to you. **The NATA-CS fingerprint collector will not take your fingerprints without NATA-CS Custody and Control form.STEP 4: On the date of your appointment you MUST bring the following items to the fingerprint collection location.a) This Fingerprint Instructions emailb) Your Passportc) NATA-CS Custody and Control formSTEP 5: When TSA receives your fingerprints, AFSP will send an email notification to you and your Flight Training Provider. If either party has not received this email notification within seven (7) business days of submitting fingerprints, you may check the status via email or call to the AFSP Help Desk. Provide the following details when inquiring on fingerprint submission status: training request #, fingerprint collector, date printed, where prints were taken, tracking information, live-scan or ink-rolled, etc.**To use a Law Enforcement Agency or U.S. Embassy/Consulate**STEP 1: If you go to a law enforcement agency, U.S. Embassy, or Consulate for fingerprint collection, there is no online enrollment process. You should contact that entity to determine:a) Will they fingerprint you?b) Do they charge a fee, separate from the AFSP fee? If so, what is an acceptable payment method?c) Do you need to bring the fingerprint cards* or will the card be provided?STEP 2: On the date of your appointment, you MUST bring the following items to the fingerprint collection location.a) This Fingerprint Instructions emailb) Your Passportc) Two FD-258 Fingerprint Cards* (Both cards will need to be completed in their entirety, and must be signed in the presence of the officer)d) A prepaid and preaddressed traceable shipping envelope (traceable: FedEx, UPS Next Day, etc.)*Your Flight Training Provider should have fingerprint cards for your convenience. If cards are not available the Provider may request them from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), 1-800-788-3210, or at https://secure.natacs.aero/afsp/order_cards.asp.Any prints not on FD-258 card stock will not be processed by the Fingerprint Processing Center.STEP 3: A representative from your flight school will need to accompany you, if the fingerprint collector is unwilling or unable to mail the cards. Once the fingerprints have been collected, the officer must place the cards in the traceable mailing envelope and seal it. The LEO or Flight School Representative must submit the fingerprints to the Fingerprint Processing Center. A student may NOT take possession of fingerprint cards after fingerprinting is completed. If any unauthorized person is known to be in possession of completed fingerprint cards, the fingerprints will be rejected by TSA.STEP 4: When TSA receives your fingerprints, AFSP will send an email notification to you and your Flight Training Provider. If you have not received this email notification within seven (7) business days of submitting fingerprints, you may check the status via email or call to the AFSP Help Desk. Provide the following details when inquiring on fingerprint submission status: training request #, fingerprint collector, date printed, where prints were taken, tracking information, live-scan or ink-rolled, etc.******************************INSTRUCTIONS TO FINGERPRINT COLLECTORWITHOUT THIS EMAIL YOU SHOULD NOT COLLECT ANY FLIGHT TRAINING CANDIDATE'S FINGERPRINTS. ONCE THE CANDIDATE IS PRINTED, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS THE CANDIDATE TO RETAIN CUSTODY OF THE FINGERPRINTS. If anyone other than yourself or a representative from the candidate's flight school is ever in possession of the fingerprints, the fingerprints will be rejected by TSA. Refer to the instructions below appropriate to you.******************************INSTRUCTIONS TO NATA-CS FINGERPRINT COLLECTOR****************STEP 1: The candidate must present their Passport for identification. If they are an asylee or refugee, they may present their Permanent Resident Card or Driver's License.-- This identification should EXACTLY match the candidate's name = (…) and the passport number(s) = (…).STEP 2: Enter the necessary identification information. […]STEP 3: Each candidate must be printed twice. Do not just transmit the same fingerprints twice.INSTRUCTIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FINGERPRINT COLLECTORPrior to printing, the candidate should provide to you a prepaid traceable envelope for mailing prints to the Fingerprint Processing Center addressed to:ATTN: AFSP (…)MorphoTrust USA, 3051 Hollis Drive, Ste 310, Springfield, IL 62704A representative from the candidate's flight school should accompany the candidate and take possession of the fingerprints, then mail prints to the FPC.STEP 1: The candidate must present their Passport for identification. If they are an asylee or refugee, they may present their Permanent Resident Card or Driver's License. This identification should EXACTLY match the candidate's name = (…) and the passport number(s) = (…).STEP 2: Fill out two FD-258 fingerprint cards for the candidate as indicated below. All information must be legible.- Signature of Person Fingerprinted: Candidate's signature (missing will result in rejection)- Residence of Person Fingerprinted: Candidate's address- Date: Date the candidate was printed- Signature of Official Taking Fingerprints: Your signature (missing will result in rejection)- Employer and Address: Candidate's employer and business address[…]STEP 3: Each candidate must be printed twice. Two (2) complete and separate sets of fingerprint images must be submitted. The prints must be taken on two FD-258 fingerprint cards.******************************If you require help with the AFSP process, please visit the Candidate Frequently Asked Questions page at www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/afsp_faq.htmIf you need further assistance, please contact [email protected] or call (571) 227-1004Sincerely,AFSPThis is an automated response. If you have received this email in error, please forward it to [email protected]: A copy of this email MUST be provided to the authorized electronic fingerprint collector OR be included in all hard card fingerprint submissions taken by a local law enforcement agency, or a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

"Data stored in the NCIC is documented criminal justice agency information and access to that data is restricted to duly authorized criminal justice agencies. The following security measures are the minimum to be adopted by all criminal justice agencies having access to the NCIC.Interstate Identification Index (III) File. These measures are designed to prevent unauthorized access to the system data and/or unauthorized use of data obtained from the computerized file.1. Computer Center. a. The criminal justice agency computer site must have adequate physical security to protect against any unauthorized personnel gaining access to the computer equipment or to any of the stored data. b. Since personnel at these computer centers can have access to data stored in the system, they must be screened thoroughly under the authority and supervision of an NCIC control terminal agency. (This authority and supervision may be delegated to responsible criminal justice agency personnel in the case of a satellite computer center being serviced through a state control terminal agency.) This screening will also apply to non-criminal justice maintenance or technical personnel. c. All visitors to these computer centers must be accompanied by staff personnel at all times. d. Computers having access to the NCIC must have the proper computer instructions written and other built-in controls to prevent criminal history data from being accessible to any terminals other than authorized terminals. e. Computers having access to the NCIC must maintain a record of all transactions against the criminal history file in the same manner the NCIC computer logs all transactions. The NCIC identifies each specific agency entering or receiving information and maintains a record of those transactions. This transaction record must be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis to detect any possible misuse of criminal history data. f. Each State Control terminal shall build its data system around a central computer, through which each inquiry must pass for screening and verification. The configuration and operation of the center shall provide for the integrity of the data base.2. Communications: a. Lines/channels being used to transmit criminal history information must be dedicated solely to criminal justice, i.e., there must be no terminals belonging to agencies outside the criminal justice system sharing these lines/channels. b. Physical security of the lines/channels must be protected to guard against clandestine devices being utilized to intercept or inject system traffic.3. Terminal Devices Having Access to NCIC: a. All agencies having terminals on this system must be required to physically place these terminals in secure locations within the authorized agency. b. The agencies having terminals with access to criminal history must screen terminal operators and restrict access to the terminal to a minimum number of authorized employees. c. Copies of criminal history data obtained from terminal devices must be afforded security to prevent any unauthorized access to or use of the data. d. All remote terminals on NCIC III will maintain a manual or automated log of computerized criminal history inquiries with notations of individuals making requests for records for a minimum of one year. ...SOURCES OF DATA: Data contained in NCIC is provided by the FBI, federal, state, local and foreign criminal justice agencies, and authorized courts. ...Record access procedures: It is noted the Attorney General has exempted this system from the access and contest procedures of the Privacy Act. However, the following alternative procedures are available to requester. The procedures by which computerized criminal history record information about an individual may be obtained by that individual are as follows:If an individual has a criminal record supported by fingerprints and that record has been entered in the NCIC III file, criminal history record information, it is available to that individual for review, upon presentation of appropriate identification and in accordance with applicable State and Federal administrative and statutory regulations. Appropriate identification includes being fingerprinted for the purpose of insuring that the individual is who the individual purports to be. The record on file will then be verified through comparison of fingerprints.Procedure: 1. All requests for review must be made by the subject of the record through a law enforcement agency which has access to the NCIC III File. That agency within statutory or regulatory limits can require additional identification to assist in securing a positive identification.2. If the cooperative law enforcement agency can make an identification with fingerprints previously taken which are on file locally and if the FBI identification number of the individual's record is available to that agency, it can make an on-line inquiry of NCIC to obtain the record on-line or, if it does not have suitable equipment to obtain an on-line response, obtain the record from Washington, DC by mail. The individual will then be afforded the opportunity to see that record.3. Should the cooperating law enforcement agency not have the individual's fingerprints on file locally, it is necessary for that agency to relate the prints to an existing record by having the identification prints compared with those already on file in the FBI or possibly in the State's central identification agency.Contesting record procedures: The Attorney General has exempted this system from the contest procedures of the Privacy Act. Under this alternative procedure described above under "Record Access Procedures," the subject of the requested record shall request the appropriate arresting agency, court, or correctional agency to initiate action necessary to correct any stated inaccuracy in subject's record or provide the information needed to make the record complete. "National Crime Information Center (NCIC)

Assuming that you yourself are a US citizen, you can simply apply for a fiancé visa so that your boyfriend can travel here to marry you. Once you have a marriage certificate, you file for adjustment of status so that he can become a permanent resident.Nonimmigrant Visa for a Fiancé(e) (K-1)The processing time for the first step will depend on the current wait at the relevant processing center, but you should probably expect it to take six months at least. It could be less, but it could also be more. The application for adjustment of status is filed after he is already here and married to you, and he will be allowed to stay until it is either approved or denied. That could also take six months (mine took over a year since my local office was backed up), but at least you'll be together.You will have to show that you can support your boyfriend financially, either by earning a certain amount, having savings, or possessing certain other assets. Your boyfriend will have to undergo a medical examination and certain communicable diseases could be a problem. The other things to look out for is any criminal history (there will be an extensive background check based on both his name and fingerprints) on his part, in any country, or a history or improper entry, visa fraud, overstaying, or generally violating immigration rules.The forms come with detailed instructions and assuming that your boyfriend doesn't have any of the problems I mentioned, you should be able to file on your own. If there is an issue in his past, I would recommend hiring an immigration attorney.You will also want to begin to document your relationship now, as you will be required to show evidence that the marriage is genuine. Letters, pictures, and affidavits from people who know you are helpful, and so are any shared bills, bank accounts, or leases.