Certificate of Good Conduct (no criminal record) from the USA

Hello everyone!

I know this topic is not related to Poland in general but maybe there is somebody here who had similar experience...

Recently, I was asked for providing that kind of certificate (from all countries where I lived) to my employer. I'm a Polish citizen and studied in the USA for couple years. So since I have no problem to get this certificate from Poland, my question is how can I get this from US?? I found some information that US citizens may get this from FBI or their local police department. But what about NON-US citizens?? Is it possible to ask for this certificate through the US Embassy in Poland?

I'll be grateful for any help from you!

Which state(s) have you been living in?

Just go to the local police station the address what you have on your driving license and they will give it to you.I use to get it for some paperwork in Poland.

I'm living in Poland right now this is why it's more complicated...

I had to do something like that when they changed the visa laws (nb over 15 years ago).

At that time the American consulate produced a signed and stamped letter that the US federal government does not provide such information and that was enough.

Perhaps the closest consulate (or the embassy could provide you with something similar).

(the reason the federal government didn't do that was that it was the province of the individual states, technically you'd have to get separate documents from all 50 states and DC to be covered).

This would mean there is no common database of criminal records which is hard to believe since everything is so computerised these days

All it really means is that there's no centralized US authority for issuing such certificates which makes sense since there's no such thing (as the document they're asking for) in the US that I've heard of.

There is a 'National criminal database' which includes state and federal crimes (not county). When an employer does a background check - this is usually where they search.

I would recommend starting with the FBI.

Cant you send a power of attorney duly notarised by the embassy to someone who can get it from the local police station on your behalf(if you have a valid driving license as I gave it to my wife who picked it up for me and mailed me)This was all over 10 years back though.In any case you can call your local police station and ask.You can also call the embassy citizen services consular and ask for solution as well.


That is a long process(around 4 weeks) with fingerprinting etc and the fee I remember was around 50$,I know thats what one has to go through for state lottery,liq license and firearm licenses.Again that is a criminal background check and not a character of good standing certificate.

Ah okay. Just wondering, why did you have to go through it if you don't mind me asking (PM if you don't want to share publicly).

I've never heard of a 'character of good standing certificate' but the Kazakh government did ask me to get a FBI criminal background check sent over to them if I wanted to work there.

Some counties have searches available online as well. It's a big mess because like if you go to the DMV, you can get a printout of your driving record, some counties while have an electronic search or you'll have to go to the courthouse, whereas others only allow certain people access to these types of records.

I do know that there is a national criminal database that contains state and national records.

You can also consider a background check company - might be cheaper.. don't if they'll accept it though.

Because of business,where I needed a lottery and liq license.(I have nothing to hide or to be ashamed of)criminal background checks are required also to get a firearm permit.

I honestly dont remember why i needed character certificate...but was for some Polish documents maybe my karta pobuta then.

Oh for $1.99 you can get criminal records etc from lots of sites like white pages.com etc but I wonder if they are admissable,beware of the fine print they make you click on as then they charge you every month if you dont call to cancel there subscription.