A guide to help individuals to obtain their documents that issued by government, we provide information and resources in order to do it yourself. follow the upcoming guides and be informed.

2. FBI Background Check
The Ultimate Guide

3. FBI

4. Follow the 5 Steps…
4
2
3
Complete the Applicant Information Form.
Obtain a set of your fingerprints.
Submit payment.
Review.
Mail the required items.5
1

5. Complete the Applicant
Information Form
STEP ONE

6. o If the request is for a couple, family, etc., all
persons must sign the form.
o Include your complete mailing address. Please
provide your telephone number and/or e-mail
address, if available.

7. Due to automation of the mail process, tentatively scheduled for January 12, 2015, the FBI
will no longer provide Identity History Summary results on blue security paper. All
responses will be processed on standard white paper. Additionally, the FBI will no longer
accept return self-addressed envelopes with Departmental Order requests. This includes
pre-paid Priority Mail, FedEx account numbers, United Parcel Service, etc., foreign postage
coupons, and requests to forward correspondence to the Department of State for
the apostille process. Envelopes received will be destroyed. The FBI will return all results,
both foreign and domestic, by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service. Thank you for
your patience as we try to streamline our processes to improve our service to you.
SIDE NOTE

8. Obtain a set of your
fingerprints.
STEP TWO

9. o Provide the original fingerprint card. Previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted.
o Your name and date of birth must be provided on the fingerprint card. Fingerprints should be
placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-258) commonly used for applicant or law
enforcement purposes. The FBI will accept FD-258 fingerprint cards on standard white paper
stock.
o Include rolled impressions of all 10 fingerprints and impressions of all 10 fingerprints taken
simultaneously (these are sometimes referred to as plain or flat impressions).
o If possible, have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician. This service may be
available at a law enforcement agency.
o Fingerprints taken with ink or via live scan are acceptable.
o To ensure the most legible prints possible, refer to the Recording Legible Fingerprints
brochure. If fingerprints are not legible, the fingerprint card will be rejected. This could cause
delays in processing and could also result in additional fees.

10. The name on your response letter will match the name
indicated on the fingerprint card. Also, if the last four digits of
your social security number is needed on your response letter,
then please ensure your full nine-digit social security number is
on the fingerprint card when submitting your request.
SIDE NOTE

11. Submit payment.
STEP Three

12. o Option 1: Pay by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form. Don’t forget to
include the expiration date of the credit card that you are using.
o Option 2: Obtain a money order or certified check for $18 U.S. dollars made
payable to the Treasury of the United States. Please be sure to sign where required.
o Important note: Cash, personal checks, or business checks WILL NOT be accepted
and sending any of these will delay processing of your request.
o Payment must be for the exact amount.
o If the request is for a couple, family, etc., include $18 for each person.
o If the request is for multiple copies per person, include $18 for each copy
requested.
o The FBI will not accept additional payment to expedite your request.

13. Review
STEP FOUR

14. Review the Identity History Summary
Request Checklist to ensure that you
have included everything needed to
process your request.

15. Mail the required
items
STEP FIVE

16. Mail the required items listed above—signed
applicant information form, fingerprint card, and
payment of $18 U.S. dollars for each person or
copy requested—to the following address:
FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

17. Identity History Summary Checks:
• On September 7, 2014, CJIS installed a new IT system. As a result of this
installation, we are experiencing delays in processing. Please be assured that each
issue is being identified and resolved as quickly as possible, but at this
time anticipated processing time for an Identity History Summary is approximately
11-13 weeks. Allow additional time for mail delivery.
• An Identity History Summary—often referred to as a criminal history record or a “rap
sheet”—is a listing of certain information taken from fingerprint submissions retained by
the FBI in connection with arrests and, in some instances, federal employment,
naturalization, or military service.
• If the fingerprints are related to an arrest, the Identity History Summary includes name of
the agency that submitted the fingerprints to the FBI, the date of the arrest, the arrest
charge, and the disposition of the arrest, if known to the FBI. All arrest data included in an
Identity History Summary is obtained from fingerprint submissions, disposition reports,
and other information submitted by agencies having criminal justice responsibilities.
• The U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73 establishes rules and regulations for the
subject of an Identity History Summary to obtain a copy of his or her own record for
review. The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division processes these
requests.

18. Identity History Summary Checks:
• Who May Request a Copy of an Identity History Summary (or Proof That an Identity
History Summary Does Not Exist)
• Only you can request a copy of your own Identity History Summary.
• Individuals typically make this request for personal review, to challenge the information on
record, to satisfy a requirement for adopting a child in the United States or internationally,
or to satisfy a requirement to live, work, or travel in a foreign country (i.e., police
certificate, letter of good conduct, Identity History Summary check, etc.).
• Background Checks for Employment or Licensing
• If you are requesting a background check for employment or licensing within the U.S.,
you may be required by state statute or federal law to submit your request through your
state identification bureau, the requesting federal agency, or another authorized
channeling agency. You should contact the agency requiring the background check or the
appropriate state identification bureau (or state police) for the correct procedures to follow
for obtaining an FBI fingerprint background check for employment or licensing
purposes.

19. Identity History Summary Checks:
• How to Request a Copy of Your Identity History Summary
• The FBI offers two methods for requesting your Identity History Summary or proof that
one does not exist.
• Option 1: Submit your request directly to the FBI.
• Option 2: Submit to an FBI-approved Channeler, which is a private business that has
contracted with the FBI to receive the fingerprint submission and relevant data, collect the
associated fee(s), electronically forward the fingerprint submission with the necessary
information to the FBI CJIS Division for a national Identity History Summary check, and
receive the electronic summary check result for dissemination to the individual. Contact
each Channeler for processing times.
• For additional help in requesting a copy, challenging, or just checking on the status of an
Identity History Summary Check, please contact the CJIS Division, Clarksburg, West
Virginia at at 304-625-5590.
• Note: If an authentication (apostille) is needed, please contact the Channeler to
determine if this service is provided.

20. Identity History Summary Checks:
• What Happens Next
• If we find no Identity History Summary on file, you will receive a response indicating that
you have no prior arrest data on file at the FBI. If you do have an Identity History
Summary on file, you will receive your Identity History Summary or “rap sheet.”
• Note: If the last four digits of your social security number is needed on your response
letter, then please ensure your full nine-digit social security number is on the fingerprint
card when submitting your request.
• For More Information
• See the responses to some frequently asked questions.

21. Keep in touch and follow the upcoming FBI Background
Check Slides

22. THANK YOU!