My Fingerprints Were Rejected: What Should I Do?

Has this ever happened to you? You open your inbox expecting your completed background check, only to find an urgent message saying that your fingerprints have been rejected. Panic sets in immediately. Does this mean you failed? Will your job offer, licensing, or visa application be canceled?

Receiving a fingerprint rejection notice can trigger instant stress, but it shouldn't cause panic. Whether you submitted an application for an RCMP Criminal Record Check, an FBI Identity History Summary, or a FINRA compliance check, a fingerprint rejection is almost never a refusal of your application or a mark on your record. It is simply a routine technical snag.

Government agencies like the FBI CJIS Division and the RCMP CCRTIS maintain strict operational guidelines for background check processing. A fingerprint transaction can be rejected for several reasons, such as low-quality image capture and worn ridge patterns to administrative errors like missing signatures, mismatched demographics, or submitting the wrong card format.

This blog walks you through why your fingerprints were rejected, key resubmission steps and document requirements, skin prep tips, background check timelines, and how Globeia coordinates your resubmission without unnecessary delays.

When a background check processes fingerprint data, automated software measures minutely detailed features called minutiae (the intersections, ridge endings, and loops on your fingertips).

While a primary cause of rejection occurs when software cannot map enough clear points of identification, it is not the only reason a file gets turned away.

Submissions can also be rejected due to administrative discrepancies, such as misspelled names, missing signatures, or mismatched personal information, or physical issues like using the wrong fingerprint card format, applying improper rolling technique, or submitting incomplete data required by the specific agency.

What Details Appear on a Fingerprint-Based Background Check?

The specific information returned on a fingerprint background check is not identical for every agency or search type. The final official record depends heavily on the agency conducting the check, local privacy laws, and the authorized scope of the request (e.g., standard employment, or foreign travel).

Depending on these agency-specific scope rules, a result may include one or more of the following categories:

• Identity Markers: Primary legal name, known aliases, date of birth, and personal identifying details linked to your fingerprint profile.
• Arrest History & Active Charges: Formal arrest records submitted by law enforcement agencies, including pending charges currently navigating the court system.
• Court Dispositions: Final legal outcomes, such as convictions, acquittals, case dismissals, or deferred sentencing agreements.
• Active Warrants & Registry Profiles: Outstanding local, state, or federal arrest warrants, alongside active listings on sex offender registries.
• Federal & Military Records: Relevant federal agency employment details, military service history, or immigration and naturalization records (depending on the specific scope of the search requested).

Knowing the reasons why fingerprint applications are flagged can help you prevent technical errors during your fingerprint retake. Here are the primary factors that cause screening databases to reject fingerprint submissions:

• Poor Fingerprint Quality: Shallow, worn, or faint fingerprint ridges make it difficult for optical scanners or physical cards to display clear patterns. Common reasons include aging, genetics, frequent handwashing, or exposure to household chemicals.

• Inexperienced Associates: Capturing legibly rolled ink fingerprints requires proper technique. Improper rolling pressure, sliding on the surface, uneven ink distribution, or placing fingers on an unclean surface leads to distorted fingerprints.
• Incorrect Information: Administrative discrepancies, such as misspelled names, missing signatures, or mismatched demographic data, can lead to an immediate administrative rejection.
• Using the Wrong Method or Form: Submitting the incorrect card type or capture method for your specific agency will cause an automatic rejection.

For instance, certain processes accept electronic live scans directly within domestic borders, whereas international submissions require ink fingerprint collection on official cards (such as the official C-216C or equivalent form for RCMP Criminal Record Check, or FD-258/FD-1164 cards for FBI background check).

Receiving an unclassifiable notice pauses your application and leads to specific administrative actions across government processing channels.

Here is what you can expect if your fingerprint submission is turned away:

• You May Need to Redo the Fingerprint Collection: An unclassifiable fingerprint cannot be processed further by automated database systems. This requires a fresh set of fingerprints to be taken.
• Your Background Check Application Is Delayed: Processing timelines pause until new, legible fingerprint cards or files are received and verified by the issuing authority.
• You May Miss Critical Application Deadlines: A delay in receiving your RCMP Criminal Record Check or FBI Identity History Summary can affect job start dates, professional licensing windows, or visa submission schedules if not addressed promptly within the authority's resubmission window.
• Risk of Forfeiting Fee Waivers or Resubmission Credits: If your fingerprints are rejected, your original Transaction Control Number (TCN or TCR) serves as a reference code to link your retake to your initial file. While many government background check authorities offer a fee waiver or secondary processing credit for resubmissions, fee treatment is program-specific and not guaranteed by every agency.

However, these resubmission windows vary significantly depending on the background check authority. For example, FINRA mandates a strict 30-day window, the RCMP grants 90 days, and the FBI CJIS Division allows up to 180 days from your initial rejection notice.

If you fail to resubmit within your specific program's designated window, your file will close, requiring you to restart the process and pay all processing fees again.

When you receive a fingerprint rejection notice, follow these specific steps to resolve the issue efficiently.

Step 1: Examine Your Rejection Letter

Your notification letter contains critical details:

• Reason for Rejection: Identifies whether it was a technical error (unreadable fingerprints) or an administrative issue (missing signature or incorrect form).
• Transaction Control Number (TCN) or Reference Code: Retain this number. It serves as proof that you already paid your initial government fees.
• Resubmission Window: Most agencies mandate that you resubmit fingerprints within 30 to 180 days to avoid paying full government processing fees a second time.

Step 2: Prepare Your Hands 48 Hours Before Your Appointment

Taking care of your skin prior to your retake dramatically increases your success rate:

• Moisturize Regularly: Apply an oil-free hand lotion multiple times a day leading up to your appointment.
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Wear protective gloves when doing dishes, cleaning, or working with solvents.
• Hydrate: Drink plenty of water to naturally improve skin elasticity and ridge depth.
• Skip Alcohol Sanitizers: Excessive hand sanitizer strips skin of essential moisture immediately prior to fingerprint collection.

Step 3: Schedule an Appointment with a Private Fingerprinting Service

If your initial prints were taken on outdated equipment or by an inexperienced provider, book your retake with Globeia. Our trained associates know how to adjust pressure, apply specialized ridge-enhancing lotions, and capture clear fingerprints even from worn skin.

Step 4: Consult Your Background Check Agency for Exemption Protocols (If Applicable)

If your prints are rejected multiple times due to severe ridge degradation or medical conditions (common among elderly individuals or manual laborers), do not request a basic Name-Based Check on your own.

Instead, consult with your accredited fingerprinting agency. They will help prepare and submit a specialized medical exception or manual review package directly to the RCMP CCRTIS or FBI CJIS Division according to official agency guidelines.

Submitting a complete and fully compliant resubmission package is important in order to prevent additional processing holds or unexpected rejections. By organizing your required identification, consent forms, and official agency notifications in advance, you can ensure your retake moves through official verification queues without unnecessary delays.

Required Documentation Checklist

• Fresh Physical Fingerprint Card: A newly completed card using professional ink fingerprinting (such as an official C-216C or equivalent form for Canadian Criminal Record Check, or an FD-258/FD-1164 card for FBI background check).
• Original Rejection Letter or Notice: The formal letter issued by the processing background check authorities (such as the FBI CJIS Division or RCMP CCRTIS) containing your original Transaction Control Number (TCN), Transaction Control Reference (TCR), Case Reference Number, or Submission ID.
• Valid Government-Issued Photo Identification: Unexpired primary identification, such as a Passport, Driver's License, or National Identity Card, strictly matching the legal name on your application file.
• Signed Agency Consent Forms: Official release forms required by the government body authorizing the processing agency and designated channels to perform the criminal record search.
• Proof of Fee Waiver or Payment Authorization: Documentation of your initial submission containing the TCR/TCN reference code, which serves as an authorization voucher to request a secondary processing fee waiver within the agency's designated grace period.

Estimated Processing Timelines by Background Check Authorities

Processing times are determined entirely by the respective government authority based on application volume and individual circumstances. Courier and mailing transit time is additional.

*FINRA Submissions: Processing times depend entirely on FINRA and FBI workloads. Status updates are monitored directly through FINRA's Central Registration Depository (CRD) system.

Globeia coordinates each stage of the resubmission process for individuals and corporate clients facing fingerprint rejections.

Globeia structures recovery from fingerprint rejections through:

Step 1: Book Your Appointment

Schedule your fingerprinting appointment through the Globeia SmartForm platform. Choose a convenient time and your preferred location (such as your home, office, co-working space, or corporate site). Before confirmation, a digital Face ID verification is completed on the SmartPortal to authenticate your identity.

Step 2: Doorstep Fingerprint Service

A trained associate arrives with the correct professional ink equipment and official paper fingerprint card formats required for your specific check, including official C-216C or equivalent forms for RCMP Criminal Record Check, FD-258 or FD-1164 cards for FBI Identity History Summary check, or country-specific cards for other international authorities.

Step 3: Quality Check & Verification

Rolled ink fingerprints are captured carefully following strict agency quality standards. Every impression is visually inspected on-site immediately after capture to check for ink clarity, roll completeness, and accuracy.

If any fingerprint is faint or unclear, it is retaken on the spot to ensure maximum first-time acceptance. At the end of your appointment, Globeia issues a QR-authenticated Letter of Identity Verification to confirm your identity was verified to professional standards.

Disclaimer: The Letter of Identity Verification is issued by Globeia and is not issued by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the RCMP, the FBI, or any government authority.

Step 4: Secure Submission & Handling

Your completed file is routed according to your specific background check requirements:

• FINRA Compliance Checks: Completed FINRA-compliant fingerprint cards are verified for quality and handed directly to you or your firm's designated compliance contact for submission through your firm's approved workflow.

(Note: Globeia does not submit fingerprints directly to FINRA or manage regulatory filings.)

• Fingerprinting Only: Completed ink cards are handed over with the Letter of Identity Verification for your own submission arrangements.
• Full Coordination (RCMP & FBI): For RCMP Criminal Record Checks, physical inks cards are securely couriered to Globeia Incorporated in Toronto, Canada for electronic digitization and submission to RCMP CCRTIS. For FBI background check, fingerprint cards are processed through Globeia Inc. in the USA for FBI CJIS coordination.

Step 5: Results and Processing

All final results are issued solely by the relevant official authority (such as the RCMP or the FBI). Globeia cannot influence or expedite government processing timelines once submission is complete:

• RCMP Criminal Record Check: Official processing times range from 3 to 120 business days and are determined entirely by the RCMP based on application volume and individual circumstances. Courier/mailing time is additional.
• FBI Identity History Summary: Official processing times are determined entirely by the FBI. Timelines may vary based on application volume and individual circumstances. Typically, processing for U.S. citizens and Green Card holders takes 1 to 3 days, while international non-U.S. citizen applicants can expect around 2 to 3 weeks. Courier/mailing time is additional.
• FINRA Submissions: Processing times depend entirely on FINRA and FBI workloads. Your sponsoring firm's compliance team monitors progress directly through FINRA's Central Registration Depository (CRD) system.

Following a few simple precautions before your appointment ensures your fingerprints pass an automated background check on the first try.

• Start Skin Care Early: Hydrate and moisturize your hands consistently for at least 48 to 72 hours before your fingerprinting appointment.
• Verify Form Requirements: Ensure you are using the precise fingerprint card layout mandated by the requesting authority (e.g., official C-216C or equivalent form for Canadian requirements, or FD-258 for US/FBI requirements).
• Maintain Your Reference Code: Keep your original Transaction Control Number (TCN or TCR) from your initial rejection notice so it can be referenced to waive secondary government processing fees.
• Wash Hands with Warm Water: Immediately before your session, wash your hands with plain warm water and mild soap to clear surface oils. Avoid applying heavy lotion or sanitizer right before rolling.
• Allow the Trained Associate to Guide You: Relax your hands completely during the process. Tension in your fingers causes slipping or uneven pressure, leading to smudged ink lines.

Hitting a temporary delay on your security clearing doesn't mean your background check is compromised. A rejection notice simply signals that the automated scanner couldn't read your ridge patterns clearly, which is easily fixable with proper skin preparation and professional equipment.

By following the 48-hour care protocol and resubmitting your file within your agency's grace window, you can avoid repaying government processing fees and keep your application moving forward.

Book your appointment with Globeia to get your fingerprints right the first time. Our associates coordinate each stage of the process to ensure your resubmission meets official quality expectations.