Complete Guide to Applying for a US Criminal Record Check from Pakistan

Legal procedures across borders leave no room for guesswork. The same applies to applicants in Pakistan applying for a US criminal record check. Many applicants get stuck because they don’t know how to get fingerprints done locally, which payment methods the FBI accepts, or why their document needs an apostille. This blog provides a clear, step-by-step path to obtaining your US criminal record check from Pakistan.

A US criminal record check is an official background verification that reviews an individual’s criminal history within the United States. The FBI issues this document as the Identity History Summary. It may include:

• Arrest records
• Pending court cases
• Convictions
• Dismissed charges
• Or certain non-criminal judicial records maintained by the FBI.

The FBI is the central authority for this check through its Criminal Justice Information Service (CJIS) division.

There are multiple reasons why Pakistan residents may be asked for a US criminal record check.

Fingerprinting may sound like something anyone with an inkpad can do, but for international requirements, you cannot do it casually. The FBI requires your fingerprints on a specific card.

The FBI-Compliant Card

You can download the FD-258 or FD-1164 form as a PDF from the FBI’s website. Print it on standard, white paper stock. Do not crop it or alter its dimensions.

Here are the FBI's standards for fingerprinting:

• The impressions must be rolled from nail to nail.
• They must be dark and clear, with no smudges.
• The core of each fingerprint pattern must be visible.
• All identification fields on the card must be completed accurately.

A professional fingerprinting provider in Pakistan will be familiar with these standards.

Applying by mail is the most direct method. You handle the entire process from Pakistan, but it requires careful management.

1. Complete the Application Form

Download the Applicant Information Form from the FBI’s website. Fill it out completely. If you have a Social Security Number (SSN), include it. If not, you can leave it blank.

2. Prepare Your Fingerprint Card

Attach the completed FD-258/FD-1164 fingerprint card. Double-check that the technician signed and dated it.

3. Complete the Payment

Here are the common payment options:

• Certified U.S. bank check
• Money order (from a U.S. bank)
• Credit card (you must include a signed credit card authorization form)

Don’t have a US bank account? You may need to use the services of a local bank in Pakistan that can issue an international demand draft in USD.

Personal checks and cash are not accepted. If the bank cannot process your payment, your application is rejected without a refund.

Note: Always verify the current fee on the official FBI website under the “Identity History Summary Checks” section before sending your package, as government fees are subject to change.

4. Package and Mail Your Application

Place the application form, the signed fingerprint card, and the payment in a single envelope. Mail it to the official FBI address via a secure, trackable courier service.

Mailing Address:

FBI CJIS Division

Attn: Record Request

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, WV 26306, USA

5. Processing Time and Result Delivery

Official FBI processing by mail takes a lot of time, which entirely depends on the FBI. Once processed:

• If you provided an email address, the FBI will send you a secure link and a PIN to download your official report as a PDF.
• If you provided a physical mailing address in Pakistan, a paper copy may be mailed, but this is relatively slow.

Suggested Read: Complete FAQ Guide to FBI Background Check Process

To make the process more accessible, the FBI created the Electronic Departmental Order (eDO) system.

1. Create Your Account and Make Payment: Visit the website www.edo.cjis.gov to create an account and complete your application. Enter your personal information exactly as it appears on your identity documents and pay the fee.
2. Receive Your Confirmation Email: Immediately after a successful payment, you will receive an email from the FBI eDO system. Print this email.
3. Mail Your Fingerprint Card: Place your completed, signed fingerprint cards and a printed copy of the FBI confirmation email into an envelope. Mail this package to the address specified in the email.

The result delivery is also electronic, typically via a secure download link, which is much faster for someone residing in Pakistan.

Important: Applicants in Pakistan can use the FBI's eDO portal to create a request, pay the FBI fee online, and receive results electronically. However, electronic fingerprint collection for FBI Identity History Summary requests is only available through participating providers in the United States. Applicants outside the U.S. must have their fingerprints collected on an official FD-258 or FD-1164 fingerprint card and mail the completed card to the FBI (or follow the submission instructions provided through eDO). The eDO portal can still be used for application initiation, payment, and electronic result delivery.

Sending documents overseas is expensive. Paying the FBI fee in US dollars is also complicated. On top of that, finding a fingerprinting provider who knows the FBI's standards is not easy.

Globeia bridges the gap between your location in Pakistan and the FBI’s CJIS in the USA. Here is how the process works when you apply from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, or anywhere else in the country:

1. Payment in Pakistani Rupees

The FBI charges an application fee. Paying this from Pakistan is difficult for many applicants as the FBI does not accept international money orders in Pakistani currency.

Globeia consolidates all costs into a single invoice. This includes:

• The FBI fee.
• Courier logistics.
• Globeia’s service fee.

You can pay easily in Pakistani Rupees through a local bank transfer or credit card. There is no need to arrange a USD demand draft or navigate foreign currency regulations for a small-dollar transaction.

2. Submission to the FBI

Once your fingerprint card is ready, you can mail it to Globeia Inc. in the USA, where it is processed and submitted to the FBI on your behalf. The FBI independently processes the submission and issues the Identity History Summary directly. 

This removes the anxiety of sending original documents via regular airmail with no confirmation of receipt.

3. Secure Digital Result Delivery

Waiting for a paper copy to arrive by post in Pakistan can take weeks. Documents occasionally go missing in transit.

Globeia receives your official FBI result electronically. We then deliver it to you through a secure portal. You can download the PDF directly, print it if needed, and move forward with your application without postal delays.

4. Real-Time Tracking from Any City in Pakistan

Through Globeia's SmartPortal, you can monitor your application at every stage. You will see when your fingerprint card has been received. You will know when it has been submitted to the FBI. You will be notified the moment your result is ready.

For someone applying from Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, or Peshawar, this visibility removes the uncertainty of mailing documents across continents.

If you are submitting your FBI Identity History Summary to a Pakistani authority, it will most likely require an apostille.

The Hague Convention of 1961

An apostille is a certificate that serves as a proof that the signature and seal of a public official are genuine. The United States and Pakistan are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention.

This treaty eliminates the need for the old, lengthy, multi-step process of legalization. A single apostille stamp from the relevant US authority makes your FBI report legally valid in Pakistan.

How to Get an Apostille on an FBI Report

The FBI report is a federal document. That means, it must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. You cannot get this done at the US Embassy in Islamabad. A Pakistani notary public also cannot apostille a US document.

The process involves:

1. Preparing a written request for authentication.
2. Paying a separate fee to the US Department of State.
3. Submitting the document by mail or courier.
4. Processing times for the US Department of State can take months if you try to do it yourself.

Globeia manages this as part of the same process. Your FBI report is submitted to the US Department of State in Washington, D.C. After apostilling, the fully certified document is couriered to your address in Pakistan.

You do not need to coordinate with a separate agency or navigate the State Department's process on your own.

To protect your time and money, go through this checklist. We have created this based on the most common errors Pakistan-based applicants make.

The need for a US Criminal Record Check from Pakistan usually marks a significant life event, like a job transfer, a family reunion, or a new chapter of study abroad. The distance from Lahore to the FBI’s office may seem vast, but the process is well-defined. If followed properly, you can navigate it easily.

Whether you choose the self-managed path of the FBI’s eDO portal or the guided, full-service route with Globeia, you now have a roadmap. Read the instructions twice before sealing any envelope.

Start your application for FBI criminal record check from Pakistan with Globeia. Let’s ensure that the document trail you build is sound, legally recognized, and delivers exactly what the reviewing officer in Pakistan or the United States needs to see.