My husband and I are foster parents in NY. We are adopting a little boy right now from NY. We are also adopting a baby from NJ. We have STATE fingerprints done when we were certified as foster parents in 1996. However, we've never had FEDERAL fingerprints done. We can't get permission to get our baby from NJ without FEDERAL fingerprints. (its a special needs adoption and he's out of the hospital)

Is there any way around that? Is there any way to expedite the process? WE were (we figure misinformed) that we didn't have to have federal prints but now with the interstate adoption we are having problems. IS there any waiver we can sign etc. The agency we are using has offices in NJ and NY. NJ will accept finger prints that are "in process" with a statement denying criminal records etc.. NY will not.

Thanks

Have you tried the electronic fingerprinting now available? Call your local sherrif's department and talk to them about this service. You can go to a private service but it will cost you twice of what the local sherrif's dept charges for federal fingerprints. Have the name and address of where the electronic fingerprints are to be sent when you go to have them done. They will probably only accept a money order (no cash or checks). This should speed up things for you. Contact that agency and see if they will accept the sherrif's dept electronic fingerprinting for federal reasons. Can't imagine why they need federal unless you did not live at your present address 5 years or more.

I have never heard of anything such as "state" fingerprinting, all fingerprints done by any police or government agency are always sent into the FBI and/or Homeland security system for fliing, since when you are fingerprinted for anything anywhere it is always compared to the Federal Data base.

I am sure you are just mis-informed, or gave them a wrong answer, If they require a new set of finger prints, for that agency, they supply you a set of cards, and you can be fingerprinted at any local police station.
They all get sent to the FBI.

The other set you did, for any agency, city, county or state is always sent to the FBI.

I have never heard of anything such as "state" fingerprinting, all fingerprints done by any police or government agency are always sent into the FBI and/or Homeland security system for fliing, since when you are fingerprinted for anything anywhere it is always compared to the Federal Data base.

I am sure you are just mis-informed, or gave them a wrong answer, If they require a new set of finger prints, for that agency, they supply you a set of cards, and you can be fingerprinted at any local police station.
They all get sent to the FBI.

The other set you did, for any agency, city, county or state is always sent to the FBI.
I called today to the county and they said that our fingerprints were only good for our STATE clearances. Federal/criminal prints were different and would need to be done before interstate. How would you find out if you had them submitted federally/FBI wise?