The next step in the Peace Corp process is to get through legal and medical clearance. I expect legal clearance to be no problem – frankly, if they come up with something, I’ll be very curious to know what it is!

Still, it is a process and, like most things, a bit more work that it sounds like.

Fingerprints

The extensive background check kicks off with submitting fingerprints. I still had the fingerprint cards the Peace Corps had sent me two years ago, but was advised that I should wait for updated ones to arrive.

Sheriff’s Office

I found online that I could get fingerprints at the local Sheriff’s office, made the appointment, and paid the fee. A few days later, I showed up at their office and waited my turn. The Peace Corps instructions clearly and repeatedly say that the fingerprints must be on the form they send, SF-87.

At the Sherriff’s office, the clerk said that she couldn’t use the SF-87 and offered some other form, assuring me that it was still an FBI form and “everyone uses it.” It seems the Sherriff’s office only does digital prints and their printing system is set up to print onto this other form, where the boxes are in slightly different spots.

After some back and forth, reiterating that the Peace Corps needs them on the SF-87, the clerk gave me the phone number to the State Patrol and said that they do “wet” prints and could do the form I needed.

State Patrol

So, I made an appointment for a few days later to go to the State Patrol office. They were able to take my prints “wet” and on the SF-87, no problem. After the prints were taken, the clerk put them in an envelope, sealed it, stamped it three times across the flap, then taped over the stamped flap. I was a little surprised by that, but he noted that what I did with the envelope once I left the building was up to me. I never did open the envelop… I’d already seen what was inside.

Passport

While on Peace Corps travel, I will carry a government passport that identifies me as a Peace Corps volunteer. I will also have my personal passport with me for any personal travel I do. I checked, my personal passport is still good for a number of years. But, I did need to apply for the “no fee” passport. The Peace Corps provided very detailed instructions on how to fill out the application form. After filling out the form, I was to print it out, sign it, and submit it with a color copy of the inside of my personal passport. Ok, that’s easy, right?

I decided it would be easiest to go to a photocopy shop to get the copy made (I’m still figuring out my scanner). Turns out copy shops won’t make color copies of passports – makes sense, they could be used to forge documents I suppose. I did sort that out, but was quickly learning that everything would take longer than I expected and a lot more running around. Probably a useful frame of mine to take with me when I depart. But first, the post office…

Post Office

With my two sets of documents in hand, I stopped at the post office and mailed them – as priority mail. Regular mail to any federal office goes through offsite inspection, adding several weeks to the process. Sending the documents as priority mail with a tracking number means they can go directly to the office, cutting out the need for offsite screening. And right now, time is of the essence…

Photo

I do think that each post needs a top photo, but a pile of paperwork doesn’t seem worthy of posting, so I’m down to random pretty pictures I’ve taken in the past. This photo shows quinoa growing in my garden last summer as it was turning – very pretty! I still haven’t figured out how to get it clean enough to eat though.