How To Request Your FBI Background Check

There are three methods to obtain your FBI background check (AKA FBI report/rap sheet/ Identity history summary check/criminal history identity check):

1. Expedited via an FBI channeler
   • Processing time: 24–48-hours
   • Eligibility: Must be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
   • Electronic fingerprint capture or card scan ink/hardcopy fingerprint cards
2. FBI direct with online pre-registration
   • Processing time: 15-20 days (est.)(does not include shipping time)
   • Eligibility: Everyone
   • Mail ink/hardcopy cards to the FBI OR go to a US Postal Service for digital fingerprints.
3. FBI direct via mail (without pre-registration)
   • Processing time: 4-6+ weeks (est.) (does not include shipping time)
   • Eligibility: Everyone
   • ink/hardcopy fingerprints only.

FBI-Approved Channeler

The fastest option is to work with an FBI channeler.  FBI channelers expedite your request and you receive a PDF copy of your background check in 24-48 hours, additional hard copies can also be ordered and shipped to you usually on tamper proof paper.

Processing Time: 24-48 hours and additional hard copies on tamperproof paper can be shipped to you.

Eligibility and Restrictions: Only available to US citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders).

An FBI channeler cannot process a request for employment and/or licensing purposes within the U.S. These requests should be coordinated with the appropriate State Identification Bureau (or state police) for the correct procedures.

What is an FBI channeler? An FBI channeler is a private business that has contracted with the FBI and is approved to submit your request on your behalf. An FBI channeler helps speed up the delivery of Identity History Summary Checks (rap sheets) on behalf of the FBI.

FBI channelers will receive your fingerprint submission and relevant data, collect the FBI processing fee(s), forward your fingerprint submission with the necessary information to the FBI for a national Identity History Summary check, receive the electronic summary check result and share it with you.

The channeler may accept digitally transmitted fingerprints and ink and roll or hardcopies of your fingerprints.  We will capture your fingerprints and submit all the necessary forms to our FBI channeler for processing.

Note: If you have pre-registered directly with the FBI, you must either send ink/hardcopy fingerprints to the FBI or go to a USPS for electronic fingerprints. If you initiate a request with an FBI channeler, you will be initiating a completely separate request. Requests initiated through an FBI channeler will not fulfill an order initiated directly with the FBI via the FBI’s pre-registration process. The FBI report is the same report it is simply expedited by the FBI channeler.

Preferred Channeler: National Credit Reporting/National Background Information – we can digitally transmit your fingerprints directly to National Credit Reporting/National Background Information.

For other FBI channelers, you can mail your ink & roll or hardcopy fingerprint cards for processing.

• List of FBI-Approved Channelers for Departmental Order Submissions

FBI Direct with Online Pre-Registration

Processing time: Est. 15-20 days (add 3-10 days for shipping time)

Eligibility: Open to everyone

If you prefer to send your fingerprints directly to the FBI, the fastest option is to pre-register online and mail your fingerprint card(s) and pre-registration confirmation to the FBI

This method is used for both Identity History Summary Checks and Identity History Summary Challenges.

1. Pre-register by submitting your request online
2. Get fingerprinted

Your fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-1164 or FD-258). The FBI will accept FD-1164 fingerprint cards on standard white printer paper or the FD-258 on cardstock available at all fingerprinting agencies.

Your name, date of birth, and signature must be on the fingerprint card.

Fingerprints can be taken with ink or via live scan (printed in hardcopy format). You will need to mail the fingerprint card(s) to the FBI with your pre-registration confirmation/order number.

You can go to a US Postal Service location for electronic fingerprints (ONLY USPS can transmit electronic fingerprints directly to the FBI).

If the last four digits of your Social Security number are needed on your response letter, then please ensure the full nine-digits or last four digits of your Social Security number are on the fingerprint card when submitting your request.

Mail Your Required Materials:

Option A (easiest):   Have Bellevue Fingerprinting Service submit everything to the FBI on your behalf.

or

Option B:   Submit everything yourself to the FBI. You will need to gather the following: – Fingerprint card (we recommend you obtain 2 cards and send both to the FBI in case you have difficult to read fingerprints) – Pre-registration confirmation e-mail (this is important to ensure the request you submitted online is completed with the fingerprint card you submit) Mail everything to: FBI CJIS Division ATTN: ELECTRONIC SUMMARY REQUEST 1000 Custer Hollow Road Clarksburg, WV 26306

Receive Your Response

• If you do not have an Identity History Summary (rap sheet) on file, you will receive a response by first-class mail via the U.S. Postal Service explaining you have no prior arrest data on file with the FBI.
• If you do have an Identity History Summary on file, you will receive your Identity History Summary or rap sheet by first-class mail via the U.S. Postal Service. Your results will be provided on standard white paper.

FBI Direct via Mail (without pre-registration)

Processing time: (est.) 4-6+ weeks (add 3-10 days for shipping time)

Eligibility: Open to everyone

1. Complete the Applicant Information Form

• If the request is for a couple, family, etc., each person must complete and sign a form.
• Include a complete mailing address.
• Provide your phone number and e-mail address, if available.
• You can use a mailing address and have your report mailed to someone other than yourself by using In Care Of (C/O) or ATTN: sections. The recipient is not authorized to open your results.
• If you are an attorney requesting that the results be released directly to you OR you are the applicant wishing to release the results directly to your attorney, you must submit a release signed by both the applicant and attorney on the attorney’s letterhead.

2. Get Your Fingerprints

• Your fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-1164 or FD-258). The FBI will accept FD-1164 fingerprint cards on standard white printer paper or the FD-258 on cardstock available at all fingerprinting agencies.
• Your name, date of birth, and signature must be on the fingerprint card.
• Fingerprints can be taken with ink or via live scan (printed in hardcopy format).
• If the last four digits of your Social Security number are needed on your response letter, then please ensure the full nine-digits or last four digits of your Social Security number are on the fingerprint card when submitting your request.

3. Mail Your Required Materials