CA Bar Fingerprinting for Out of State Applicants Forum

[Charger]

Apparently live scan fingerprints are required and only CA has live scanning, so out of state applicants must file for exemption and submit 2 copies of paper prints. Additionally, the paper prints must be taken by a law enforcement agency. Does anyone have any experience with this? I can't imagine just walking into my local PD and asking for a favor? How do I deal with this?

[LSATNightmares]

Apparently live scan fingerprints are required and only CA has live scanning, so out of state applicants must file for exemption and submit 2 copies of paper prints. Additionally, the paper prints must be taken by a law enforcement agency. Does anyone have any experience with this? I can't imagine just walking into my local PD and asking for a favor? How do I deal with this?

It's very common to do this. People need fingerprints for all sorts of reasons, like gun permits. I would call your local police station and inquire. They may only do it at certain locations and certain hours. I did it in Cambridge, MA for the Cal Bar, and nobody looked at me weirdly.

[Charger]

Ah, good to know. Thanks!

[yips]

They might charge a small fee as well ($10-25 probably).

Additionally, the paper prints must be taken by a law enforcement agency.

Are you sure about this part? I think when I was researching this, I looked into a private fingerprinting company as well as my university's security department (both of which would have provided acceptable prints, by the way).

[Charger]

They might charge a small fee as well ($10-25 probably).

Additionally, the paper prints must be taken by a law enforcement agency.

Are you sure about this part? I think when I was researching this, I looked into a private fingerprinting company as well as my university's security department (both of which would have provided acceptable prints, by the way).

Instructions say "by a law enforcement agency (i.e. police department, sheriff's station, etc.) or by an agency that requires you to provide appropriate identification" and on FD-258 fingerprint cards. It didn't even occur to me what "agency" could mean, aside from law enforcement agency. I'll try a private fingerprinting company or my school's security department. Thanks.

[duskfall]

My friend and I went to this company that specializes in passport photos and they did it for us. Fee was $50. She submitted her app a long time ago and was approved. I submitted mine about 2 months ago.

[yips]

FD-258 fingerprint cards

One more thing: these cards are very common, but not everywhere will provide them for you. I suggest that you ask in advance whether your place will have them available. If not, you can print cards from a PDF online and use that.

[Charger]

FD-258 fingerprint cards

One more thing: these cards are very common, but not everywhere will provide them for you. I suggest that you ask in advance whether your place will have them available. If not, you can print cards from a PDF online and use that.

Thanks for the heads up. Will they accept it if it's printed on regular paper and not on the typical heavy card stock?