Operational Bulletin 653 – July 4, 2018
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Federal Bureau of Investigation electronic Identity History Summary – Police certificates
Issue
Clients now have the option to request an electronic Identity History Summary (IHS) from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to be used as a police certificate across all lines of business.
Background
Previously, the United States (U.S.) offered the option to request an FBI police certificate only by mail.
Guidelines
Effective July 4, 2018, officers from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency should accept an electronically submitted IHS from the FBI as a tool to determine inadmissibility under section 36 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Officers should also still accept the previously available options to mail in a request to the FBI or to use an FBI approved channeler. Clients do not need to be in the U.S. to use an IHS, nor do they need to be permanent residents or citizens of the U.S. to do so. Any individual can use the IHS method, regardless of their place of residence or citizenship.