Getting an Apostille for an FBI Background Check

 Getting an Apostille for an FBI background check isn't a difficult process. But, it is a process.

Once you've gotten your fingerprints rolled (you can read all about how I did that while in Qatar here), you need to to send them off to the FBI so they can complete the background check. In my other post, I explained how I used Accurate Biometrics. I went to their website and filled out the forms, and I had the option of choosing a digital copy, a physical copy, or both. I chose to just get the digital copy since it was cheaper and faster. Once I had the forms filled out, I sent them and my fingerprints to Accurate Biometrics via DHL from Qatar.

I mailed the documents at the end of the day on Thursday, and by Tuesday evening, I had the results of my background check. I definitely recommend getting the digital version.

Part of an email they sent.

Part of my completed FBI background check.

To get the Apostille, I used US Authentication Services. I filled out the form, and was able to email it and the digital copy of my background check to them. Not even 12 hours later, I received an email from them saying they'd received my order. 

Three minutes after I got my confirmation, they sent me the tracking number of my shipping label.

And that's it! Now I wait for 9 to 11+ weeks to get the Apostille for my FBI background check. I highly recommend Accurate Biometrics and US Authentication Services, since the process was so easy and straightforward.

Getting Fingerprints for FBI Background Check While in Qatar

 If you're living in Qatar, you've already gone through the process of getting your fingerprints taken in order to get your QID. So, you should be somewhat familiar with the process. But, I'll walk you step-by-step how I obtained my fingerprints for an FBI background check while living in Qatar.

I am a US citizen, living in Qatar, seeking employment in a country that requires me to have an apostilled FBI background check. I'll write more about the Apostille process in another post, but I'll share with you now how I obtained my fingerprints. I decided to use Accurate Biometrics (https://accuratebiometrics.com/), an FBI-approved Channeler. I've used them in the past, and I highly recommend them; however, there are other companies you can use. The first thing you will need to do is go to the website and follow the instructions (https://accuratebiometrics.com/international/services).

Follow the link: FBI Fingerprinting Processing By Mail

Then, you will need to click on Download FBI DO Fingerprint Forms Packet. Follow the instructions to fill out the forms.

Once you have them all filled out, it's time to get your prints taken. You will need to go to the Police Clearance Certificate (CEID) Office. When you get dropped off, make sure you go to the correct building. My Uber driver dropped me off at the wrong building, but it took less than five to walk to the correct place. It wasn't bad since it was December, but I would not recommend that walk on scorching, summer day.

Go to building #2, not building #1.

The office opens at 6 am Sunday-Thursday. I don't know what time they close, but if it's like any other government office, it will close early. I recommend getting there right when they open. After my mix-up, I got there around 6:15 am, and there was no line. The process is the same for both males and females, I assume, but I'm female, so I'll share my personal experience.

There is a female entrance that was locked, so I went in the main doors. After showing my Ehteraz app and getting my temperature taken, I was told to go to the female fingerprinting room. Once they realized I needed my prints physically rolled and not just done electronically, I was escorted into the hallway where a woman rolled my prints. With Accurate Biometrics, I needed to have two sets done. I was then told to go to the male waiting area to pay for my stamp and get the stamp. Don't forget your stamp. Also, since I had two pages, I needed to buy two stamps. Stamps are QAR 10 each, and I paid with my credit card. I don't know if they accept cash. Once the stamp was paid for, I took the receipt into another room to get my stamp. And, that's it!

The whole process took me about 75 minutes, and that's including me going to the wrong building and walking to the right one. I think the key is to go when you don't have anything else planned for several hours. You never know how long it will take.

The next step of the process is to send off your paperwork.

Apartment with a View in Doha, Qatar

This has become almost an annual event - posting a video of our new apartment. Last year was the first year in ten years that we didn't move. This year, the contract our school had with the apartment building expired. So, company housing moved - further away from school, but in a much better location. We love our apartment so much.

Model of our apartment building

Instead of me writing about it, I will just let you watch the video for yourself. Let us know what you think.

Here are pictures of the view from our apartment:

Taking a walk in our neighborhood:

COVID-19 in Qatar

I really had no intention to write about my experience with COVID-19. I mean, the whole world is going through this. Why would anyone care about my perspective? However, several people have made a comment about looking forward to reading my blog post about it. The more I thought about it, I figured I should go ahead and write about it. One, it will be fun (or not) to re-read what I wrote in one, five, ten years from now. Two, most people who are going to read this probably don't know (many) people living in other countries, and it might be beneficial to hear from someone they know about how this pandemic is affecting people all over the world. I will break this up into sections: personal and professional.

Personal
Thanks to social media, I am acutely aware of all the happenings of home. Just like at home (Jasper, Indiana), things in Doha are changing day-by-day. Within about a one week span, pretty much everything closed. As of the date I am writing this, March 22nd, just about the only things left open are banks, pharmacies, grocery stores, and restaurants for take-out or delivery. However, the one major difference I am seeing between Doha and home is the lack of mass-chaos and hoarding here. Grocery shopping is never a fun event for me. It's usually always busy, and I get cart rage very easily. However, people here are not being extra crazy at the stores. I went shopping on March 19th, and this is what the shelves looked like.

We have stocked up on food and all other essentials, so I'm feeling pretty good about things. We are self-isolating as much as possible. It's a little hard to do, though, when all of your friends live in the same apartment building as you.

Professional
Just as a reminder, our work week runs Sunday to Thursday. On Monday the 9th, the government announced, at the end of 6th period (we have an 8-period day) that schools were closed indefinitely. We had been anticipating that something like that would happen, but not during the day. It was chaos for the last two periods of school. We had two days to prepare our lessons for online learning, and our first day of distance education started on Thursday the 12th. All last week, teachers had to go to school. We are doing a modified block schedule, and we are required to Zoom in with students for every class. Today was the first day that we were allowed to work from home. Full dress code for teachers is enforced.

Zooming with my students.

We, obviously, don't know if/when we are going to return to school. Our spring break was scheduled for April 3-18. Thank goodness Zach and I didn't plan on going anywhere for break! And, Ramadan is supposed to start on April 24th. We have a shorter school day during Ramadan. There is speculation that we probably won't go back until after Ramadan (middle of May), but it's purely speculation. For us, the school year ends on June 25th. Our plan has been to go home for summer, but we will have to see what happens before we make any definite plans.

Professional - Teaching
I have to say, I am definitely coming from a place of privilege. I have joined some teacher groups on Facebook, and I am shocked at some of the things teachers back home have to deal with. All of our students in grades 6-12 are required to have a device. We are a 1:1 school. I am very confident in saying that all of our students have internet at home. As a school, we already use Google Classroom on a daily basis. It's been shocking, to me, to see that teachers are struggling with the technology side of distance learning. Believe me, I realize that they are struggling because it is not something they deal with on a regular basis. Not to brag (but I'm pretty proud to say), but I am also a Google Certified Educator. So, I feel extremely fortunate to be where I am during this extremely weird time.

Anyway, that's my update. I know it's not much different than anyone else. But, that's the point. Even though I'm in a different country, I am experiencing similar things to people back home. We are all in this together. Stay safe, everyone!

Choices: You're Too Young

We all like having choices, even me, who has a lot of trouble making decisions. I am that "typical" woman who cannot decide where she wants to eat when her husband asks her, "What do you want for dinner?" Isn't that the worst question ever?! Trying to choose a movie to watch on Netflix or on an airplane is agonizing. I probably spend more time choosing a movie then I do actually watching the movie.

But, I have the choice, and having or not having a choice is the reason I'm writing this. With the recent developments in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi, I started thinking about the choices I have in my life. And while I've been very fortunate to have many choices in my life, one of the most important choices I tried to make for myself, as a woman, was denied time and time again.

I was older than 18 years old and married. As a husband and wife, we, together, made the decision to not have children. However, when I asked medical professionals in the United States to perform a tubal ligation, I was denied. DENIED?! I was an adult. I was married (which shouldn't matter one way or another). Yet, when I wanted to make an informed decision about my body, I was told that I was a little young and that I might change my mind, and therefore I could not have the procedure. But when my husband, who was the same age, asked to have a vasectomy, the only question he was asked was what date suited him to do the procedure.

I was very fortunate to finally find a doctor who listened to what I had to say, and agreed to perform the procedure. You can read all about it here. Five years later, and I - no, WE - have not changed our minds.

While I am very much pro-choice when it comes to abortions, I am also very much pro-choice when it comes to preventing an unwanted pregnancy to begin with. And for a doctor to say that a woman cannot choose to permanently prevent a pregnancy, and the law to say that the same woman cannot terminate an unwanted pregnancy, just blows my mind. So, I can't choose to have an abortion, but I also can't choose to prevent a pregnancy in the first place? You're damned if you do; you're damned if you don't. 

Trip to Sri Lanka

Zach and I were very adamant about not traveling this school year in order to save up for all the work we need/have to do on the cabin. However, staying in Qatar during winter break really depressed us. We needed to get out - not because we hate it here, but because we needed to experience something new. So, during our week-long break in February, we joined three other friends and rented an Airbnb in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa is a coastal city in the country's southwest side.

I can't tell you much about Hikkaduwa, because Zach and I only went into town twice: once to have dinner (it was dark) and the other was to go diving (we were in the water). Other than that, we stayed at the Airbnb, relaxing, drinking, sleeping, and more relaxing. I don't have much to write, because we literally did nothing. But, I can show you some pretty awesome pictures. Oh, one great thing about our Airbnb: we had a personal cleaner (did all of our dishes, etc.) and a personal chef. And, if we needed someone to go to the store for us (for say...beer), all we had to do was give them money, and they would get it for us! Win!

View from our porch

Joe hanging out in his hammock

 

Sign at the dive shop

 

Sam doing a lot of relaxing

Zach doing a lot of relaxing

Glamping: Beach on the Arabian Gulf

Way back in the beginning of October, a group of us went glamping (glamorous camping). Instead of writing much about it, I will just share photos and videos. It was a great time with great friends, and I definitely plan on going back!