A good rule of thumb is to apply for the necessary police clearances at the time you lodge your EOI. After receiving an Invitation to Apply, you will need to submit an FBI Identification Record to NZIS for each family member over the age of 16 included in your application. You will also need clearances from authorities in any other country in which you or your family members have lived for 12 months or more over the past 10 years.
An FBI Identification Record can be obtained by making an application to the FBI (see ‘How do I…?’ at www.fbi.gov). The processing of your request by the FBI can take a few months, hence the need to start early. An FBI Identification Record is valid for use for six months from the date it is issued.