For Americans needing an FBI criminal background check while residing in Turkey, the process can seem challenging. At Bayraktar Attorneys, our team of English-speaking lawyers, many of whom have lived in the United States and studied in Canada, regularly assists American clients in Turkey. As Istanbul Bar-registered attorneys, we understand the nuances of the application process, helping clients obtain their FBI criminal records without having to leave Turkey.
How to Apply for an FBI Background Check While Abroad
U.S. citizens can apply for an FBI background check from abroad by following these steps:
- Fingerprint Submission: The key component of an FBI background check application is the submission of fingerprints.
- Locating a Police Station in Turkey for Fingerprinting: Based on our experience, certain Turkish police stations allow fingerprinting for international purposes. However, it’s not uncommon for police officers to initially say they cannot assist with fingerprinting for FBI checks. Our attorneys have successfully accompanied clients to various police stations in Istanbul, where we’ve found that our knowledge of the local system, translation skills, and legal expertise help clear up any miscommunication or hesitation from police officers. Turkish police are sometimes cautious when dealing with requests from foreigners, and our experience allows us to streamline this process for our clients.
Challenges with Local Police Stations and How We Help
Unfortunately, many police officers may initially be hesitant or uncertain about processing fingerprint requests for the FBI background check. This can be due to unfamiliarity with the procedure or language barriers that make communication challenging. Here’s where our expertise comes in:
- Translation and Persuasion: Our team bridges the language gap, explaining the process and purpose of the fingerprinting request to local authorities in Turkish, ensuring they understand its importance for official U.S. government documentation.
- Legal Advocacy: By attending with our clients, we advocate on their behalf, helping police officers see the validity and need for their assistance. This is often the key to overcoming initial resistance.
This same combination of language skills and legal advocacy benefits Americans who need to handle related matters in Turkey, such as the security background check required of foreigners or petitioning for criminal record expungement. We also assist Turkish-American couples with registering a marriage in Turkey after a U.S. wedding and dual citizens with changing a name or surname in Türkiye.
At Bayraktar Attorneys, our American clients can feel confident they have knowledgeable, experienced support to navigate the bureaucratic hurdles of securing an FBI background check while abroad. We are dedicated to making this seemingly daunting process as smooth as possible for Americans in Turkey.
