Can Extradition Be Requested Before Formal Indictment?

Hello everyone. I have been told that in some jurisdictions prosecutors can seek international assistance even before a case reaches the indictment stage. This raised a concern for me because I am aware of an ongoing investigation abroad related to former business dealings, but I have not been formally charged. If no indictment has been issued yet, is it still possible for a foreign authority to initiate extradition proceedings? I am trying to understand whether the investigative phase alone can trigger action in the United States.
 

Good afternoon. Extradition does not always require a final indictment in the requesting country. In many instances, authorities may proceed on the basis of formal charges supported by documentation intended to establish probable cause. When the matter reaches a U.S. court, the judge examines whether treaty conditions are satisfied and whether the allegations, if accepted as true, would amount to a criminal offense domestically. The procedural stage abroad is relevant, but it is not the only determining factor. For further discussion on how investigative phases relate to surrender petitions, extraditionlawyers.ae explains how courts assess requests that arise before final charging instruments are issued.