Imperial PI is a UK-based private intelligence firm. We operate lawfully for US clients — remotely, nationally, and without the requirement for a US private investigator licence. This page explains exactly how, and why, that works.
Imperial PI is incorporated and regulated in the United Kingdom. Our US operations are structured specifically to operate within the bounds of both US and UK law — without the requirement for any US private investigator licence. Here is the legal basis, explained plainly.
US private investigator licensing statutes govern in-state, in-person investigative activity — physical surveillance, fieldwork, and the use of local operatives. They do not apply to a foreign-based firm conducting entirely remote, open-source, and data-led research from outside the United States.
Imperial PI does not conduct physical surveillance in the US, does not employ US operatives, and does not enter US soil to investigate. Our work is research-based, intelligence-led, and conducted entirely from the United Kingdom using lawful, open-source methods.
Private investigator licensing in the United States is state-by-state and principally governs: in-person surveillance and covert operations within that state; the engagement of operatives physically present in that state; and the solicitation of PI services by a person representing themselves as a licensed PI.
As a UK-domiciled firm, Imperial PI does not fall within any of these categories. Our engagement with US clients is that of a foreign intelligence research firm — analogous to an international law firm, data analytics company, or research consultancy — not a domestic PI agency.
All Imperial PI engagements are governed by UK law and conducted under the full suite of UK professional regulatory standards. This gives US clients a level of regulatory accountability, professional indemnity insurance, and evidential rigour that many domestic US providers cannot match.
Our remote-only model is not a limitation — it is a deliberate legal and operational design choice that ensures every engagement is clean, unimpeachable, and reproducible. Everything we do is documentable, source-attributed, and conducted in the open.
The following table sets out investigative activity types, whether they require a US PI licence, and whether Imperial PI performs them for US clients. This analysis is provided for transparency and client clarity, not as legal advice.
| Activity Type | US PI Licence Typically Required? | Imperial PI Performs This for US Clients? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical surveillance in a US state | ✗ Yes — Required | ✗ No — Never | We conduct no in-person or field operations in the US under any circumstances |
| Engaging US-based field operatives | ✗ Yes — Required | ✗ No — Never | All work is conducted by UK-based personnel from UK offices |
| Open-source intelligence (OSINT) research from abroad | ✓ Not Required | ✓ Yes — Core Service | Remote research from a foreign jurisdiction is not subject to US PI licensing statutes |
| US public records research (courts, corporations, property) | ✓ Not Required | ✓ Yes — Core Service | Public records are accessible remotely and lawfully by any person or entity |
| Background research on individuals using lawful data | ▶ Varies by Use / State | ✓ Yes — Within FCRA & Lawful Purpose | Consumer reports governed by FCRA. We do not provide FCRA-regulated consumer reports. All background research is for lawful, stated purposes only |
| Skip tracing via data and public records | ✓ Not Required | ✓ Yes — Data-Led Only | Data-led locate research using lawful data sources. No physical fieldwork involved |
| Digital investigation of online harassment / defamation | ✓ Not Required | ✓ Yes — OSINT & Digital Forensics | Digital attribution and evidence preservation. No unlawful access or interception |
| Corporate due diligence and entity research | ✓ Not Required | ✓ Yes — Core Corporate Service | Research and intelligence function, equivalent to any international consulting firm |
| Asset tracing via public records and OSINT | ✓ Not Required | ✓ Yes — Public Records & OSINT Only | We trace assets via publicly accessible filings, registers, and databases. No private data access |
| Cryptocurrency / blockchain transaction tracing | ✓ Not Required | ✓ Yes | Public blockchain analysis. No access to private wallets or exchanges |
| Wiretapping / electronic interception | ✗ Prohibited — Federal & State Law | ✗ Never — Absolutely Prohibited | Imperial PI will never intercept any private communication. ECPA and applicable state wiretap laws are strictly observed |
| Accessing private computer systems without authorisation | ✗ Prohibited — CFAA | ✗ Never — Absolutely Prohibited | The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and UK Computer Misuse Act both prohibit unauthorised system access. We work only with lawfully accessible sources |
This table is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. US PI licensing requirements vary by state and are subject to ongoing legislative change. Clients with specific concerns about the use of our intelligence reports should consult a qualified US attorney. Imperial PI has designed its US service model specifically to remain outside the scope of US PI licensing obligations.
Our intelligence methodology is built on six pillars that ensure every engagement is lawful, reproducible, and of the highest evidential quality — regardless of whether legal proceedings are anticipated at the outset.
All primary research uses publicly accessible information — social media, web archives, news, company registrations, court records, and digital footprints. Every source is documented, timestamped, and reproducible.
We research US federal and state public records including PACER court filings, Secretary of State corporate databases, county property registers, UCC filings, and regulatory enforcement records — all lawfully and remotely accessible.
Where commercial data providers are used, we engage only with sources operating within applicable US and UK data laws, including FCRA, DPPA, and GLBA constraints. We never access private, protected, or restricted data without lawful authority.
Every piece of intelligence gathered is logged, timestamped, and preserved with full chain-of-custody documentation from point of capture to delivery. Reports are structured to meet the evidential standards required for civil and criminal proceedings in US courts.
Our work is conducted in accordance with the Association of British Investigators Code of Conduct — the UK standard formally recognised by the ICO as governing lawful data collection, processing, and use in investigative contexts. This standard is directly applicable to our US engagements.
Our intelligence reports are formatted to support attorney review, litigation strategy, and where required, court submission. We can provide sworn declarations, source annexes, and expert narrative summaries upon instruction.
Data protection and client privacy are not afterthoughts at Imperial PI — they are structural requirements of every engagement. Our UK regulatory framework provides a robust and enforceable privacy standard for all US client data.
Imperial PI is registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and operates under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. All client data — and all personal data processed during an investigation — is handled in strict accordance with these frameworks.
The UK GDPR provides rights and protections that in many respects exceed those of US state-level privacy laws. US clients benefit from a regulatory standard that is independently enforced, with real accountability mechanisms and enforceable rights of access, rectification, and erasure.
For US clients with specific concerns about state-level privacy compliance — including California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) considerations — please refer to our US Data Compliance page.
The FCRA governs the use of "consumer reports" for employment, credit, and tenancy decisions. Imperial PI does not produce FCRA-regulated consumer reports and does not position any of its services as FCRA-compliant consumer reporting products.
Our intelligence reports are research and intelligence documents — produced for lawful, stated purposes including legal proceedings, fraud investigation, risk management, personal due diligence, and attorney use. They are not consumer reports as defined by the FCRA.
Clients who intend to use any intelligence report in a context governed by the FCRA (e.g. employment background screening) must do so through a licensed Consumer Reporting Agency and should seek legal advice before proceeding.
Every engagement is conducted as if the intelligence will be required in legal proceedings — even when it will not. This discipline ensures that when matters escalate, our reports hold up.
Every piece of intelligence is fully source-attributed. No assertions are made without traceable, documented sources accessible to attorneys and courts.
All captured evidence is timestamped at point of collection, with metadata preserved where applicable. Screenshots, records, and archived pages are dated and logged.
A complete chain-of-custody record accompanies every report — documenting who collected what, when, by what method, and how it was preserved and delivered.
Where required by US attorneys or courts, we can provide sworn declarations attesting to the methods used, the sources consulted, and the integrity of the intelligence gathered.
Whether a specific intelligence report or piece of evidence is admissible in a particular US proceeding is ultimately a determination for the relevant court or tribunal, and for your attorney. Imperial PI structures all reports to support attorney review and to maximise evidential utility. We make no guarantee of admissibility in any specific proceeding. Clients are strongly encouraged to instruct US legal counsel before relying on any intelligence report in court or legal proceedings.
Every Imperial PI engagement is underpinned by formal accreditation, regulatory compliance, and independently verified professional standards. These are not claims — they are independently held and publicly verifiable.
Imperial PI operates in full compliance with the Association of British Investigators Code of Conduct — the UK's foremost professional standard governing lawful investigative methods, data handling, and ethical conduct. This code was formally approved by the Information Commissioner's Office in October 2024.
theabi.org.uk ↗Registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. All personal data processed during engagements is handled lawfully, securely, and in accordance with data minimisation and purpose limitation principles.
ico.org.uk ↗Full Professional Indemnity Insurance and Public Liability Insurance held and maintained on all active engagements. Our certificate of insurance is available on request and provides US clients with a formal basis for reliance on our professional output.
View Certificate ↗All reports and evidence are gathered, preserved, and documented to civil and criminal admissibility standards applicable in UK courts, and structured to support US attorney review and US civil proceedings. Full chain-of-custody documentation is provided on every instruction.
Our Methodology ↗All engagements are conducted in strict compliance with the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Case records are retained for six years in line with standard limitation periods, then securely destroyed. Your data is never sold or shared with third parties.
Privacy Policy ↗A published formal complaints policy governs all client grievances with clear escalation procedures. All complaints are acknowledged within two working days and resolved in writing. US clients have the same full complaints rights as UK clients.
Complaints Policy ↗Common questions about our legal position, how we operate for US clients, and what that means for you.
The information on this page is provided for transparency and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. US private investigator licensing laws vary by state and are subject to legislative change. The legal analysis provided here reflects Imperial PI's good-faith assessment of its operating model and is not a guarantee that any particular state will or will not seek to apply its licensing requirements to our activities.
US clients are strongly encouraged to seek independent US legal counsel regarding: (a) the admissibility of intelligence reports in US legal proceedings; (b) the use of background research in regulated contexts governed by the FCRA, DPPA, GLBA, or applicable state law; and (c) any state-specific privacy or data protection compliance requirements relevant to their use case.
Imperial PI operates as a UK-based intelligence and research firm. We are not a US-licensed private investigator and do not hold ourselves out as one. All engagements are subject to our standard Terms of Engagement, governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Version 1.0 — Effective March 2026 — Governed by the laws of England and Wales — Registered in England and Wales
All enquiries are treated with absolute confidentiality. There is no obligation. We will speak with you, assess your situation honestly, and advise on what is achievable — before any work is agreed or any payment is taken.