Anybody know how to get fingerprinted?

[kamome]

I need to get myself fingerprinted to obtain a professional certification back in the US. Unfortunately, the embassy does not offer such service. I'm going to try the Metropolitan Police Department, but there's no guarantee they'll do it. Usually, fingerprinting is done as part of a criminal background check here. But since I only want them to stand there and officially administer a fingerprinting on a special form I have, they will probably get confused (and when the Japanese get confused, they usually say no).

Has anybody had experience with this? Thanks for the advice.

[cstaylor]

Step 1 - Buy ink
Step 2 - Ask a friend to hold the paper as you self-administer said finger printing
Step 3 - Wash hands, submit documentation to America

[Ketou]

Back home you can go down to the local lock-up to get your fingerprints
done. For a small fee! Sometimes immigration require a criminal record check be done for a visa.

I had my thumbprint on my gaijin(alien)card many moons ago!!

[kamome]

Step 1 - Buy ink
Step 2 - Ask a friend to hold the paper as you self-administer said finger printing
Step 3 - Wash hands, submit documentation to America

CS, I thought about that very thing, but I think there needs to be some kind of signed verification by a law enforcement agent that it was performed in their presence. Anyway, I'll double-check that with the people in the States. What a pain to have to go through this.....

[cstaylor]

Hold on... you don't expect American authorities to take a paper signed by the keisatsu, do you?

Have you thought about contacting the American embassy? I'm sure other people have gone through the same situation...

[kamome]

Thanks for the advice everybody. I'm thinking of giving up on doing this in Japan and just working it into a planned visit to the States. Who wants to deal with getting a certified translation? Too many steps and expense at the moment....