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Fingerprinting for any international application or background check rarely includes a single fee. Depending on your application, the final amount may include the cost of fingerprint capture, an official fingerprint card, government processing, courier, submission services, or other document requirements. This guide explains the main costs associated with FBI, RCMP, FINRA, immigration, and other international fingerprinting services.
Ink fingerprinting captures your fingerprints by rolling inked fingers on a fingerprint card. On the other hand, digital fingerprinting or live scan captures your fingerprint impressions electronically using a scanner. The right fingerprinting method depends on the authority requesting your fingerprints, your application, location, and submission process. International applicants may need ink fingerprints on an authority-specific card, while digital fingerprinting is used where the receiving authority accepts electronic submissions. A professional international background check coordinator like Globeia can guide you through ink fingerprinting vs. digital fingerprinting requirements more clearly.
FINRA registration requires you to be fingerprinted through the FINRA Fingerprint Program within 30 days of filing Form U4, or your registration status changes to "Inactive Prints" until valid prints are processed.
Mobile fingerprinting is a service where a trained technician travels to your location to capture fingerprints using an ink fingerprint card or Live Scan, depending on the requirement. The appointment takes 15 to 20 minutes.
A fingerprint background check shows things like arrest records, criminal charges, case outcomes (such as convictions or acquittals), pending charges, active warrants, and sex offender registry status. It does not show things like credit scores, bank details, immigration status, civil court records, employment or education history, medical records, or social media activity. It's commonly required for jobs and licenses involving trust and safety, such as teaching, healthcare, childcare, government work, law enforcement, and international employment or immigration purposes.
You can get professional fingerprinting services in Hanoi through mobile providers like Globeia Hanoi or the IOM Viet Nam office for FBI, RCMP, and other international background checks.
To use an FBI background check in another country, you first need to get the report itself, then get it apostilled so other countries will accept it. Get your fingerprints taken on an FD-258 or FD-1164 card, apply to the FBI online or by mail, and send in your fingerprint card. Once you have your report, fill out Form DS-4194 and send it to the US Department of State, not your state office, since only the federal office can apostille FBI reports. Either mail your package in or drop it off in person in Washington, DC. You'll get your apostilled document back in about 5 to 6 weeks by mail, or 2 to 3 weeks if dropped off in person.
The FD-258 fingerprint card is the official fingerprint card created by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division. It is used for civil and applicant fingerprinting, not criminal arrests, and is required for employment background checks, professional licensing, immigration and citizenship applications, firearms and ATF applications, and adoption applications. It records all ten fingerprints along with personal details and can be filled out using ink or digital live-scan printing.
A properly expunged criminal record does not appear on a standard fingerprint-based background check. But, some records may still be visible under specific cases involving high-level government positions, law enforcement, or sensitive security contexts.
There is no official limit on how many times you can submit fingerprints to the FBI. If your fingerprints get rejected, you can keep resubmitting new sets until one is accepted, and most people succeed within one or two tries. If your prints genuinely can't be read after repeated attempts, the FBI can issue a letter confirming this, which many employers and agencies accept as valid proof.
NZ Police stations no longer provide civilian fingerprinting for overseas background checks, meaning applicants need to use an alternative fingerprinting provider. If you need fingerprinting in New Zealand for an international application, private services such as Globeia can help. Our mobile fingerprinting service brings the appointment to your preferred location, helping you meet overseas requirements without disrupting your routine.
If you previously lived in Canada and need an RCMP Criminal Record Check while in Thailand, your ink fingerprints must be taken locally at a Thai police station or a private/mobile provider like Globeia on a C-216C card, then couriered to an RCMP-accredited agency in Canada for digitization and submission.
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