[spooky06]

How long does it take to get your police clearance? Is it a document the police department gives you on the spot or does it take weeks to receive? Is it something we could gather now before our actual paperchase begins?

[teranga]

Our police clearance meant we walked into our local police station, signed a form, showed them our ID, and they ran a check on us. It was really a joke actually, because the check was only in the county in which we lived, so if we'd committed any crimes the next county over, it would not have shown up! Also, we'd only moved to that state 1 year before, so if we'd had any crimes in our old state it would also not have shown up!

Anyway, they signed something on the spot saying clear record and that was that!

Teranga

[Yash]

spooky06,

My experience was the same as teranga and I'm in CA. It was a quick, easy, painless process and I even met another adoptive mom while I was there she was going for number 2 in China.

I got my clearance early in the paperchase, but remember everything is time sensitive. So if you're going to start the rest of the paperchase soon then I say go for it. If not, I say wait.

FYI - in my city not every police station can do police clearance (which is crazy, but whatever) so I did have to call around and ended up having to go where I didn't want to go, which was the city's main police headquarters.

Best of luck,

Yash

[spooky06]

Thanks. Should I go through the FBI or just our local police station - I have no idea if they can do the check either. I don't want any paper problems down the road.

[teranga]

For police clearance, you go through your local police station. FBI clearance is separate.