How Long Does an FBI Background Check Take: Processing Times Explained

Is there a fixed processing time for Identity History Summary requests? How can you get your FBI Background Check faster?

The answer to these questions depends on several factors, including the way you submit your request, how your fingerprints are captured, and whether there are any issues with your application. The complete process, from fingerprinting, submission, delivery, and any additional document requirements, affect the complete timeline. Factors such as your location, submission method, and whether you manage the process yourself can significantly affect the overall timeline.

This guide explains how long an FBI Identity History Summary can take, what commonly causes delays, and what you can do to avoid any unnecessary setbacks. We will also discuss how an experienced FBI Background Check coordinator, such as Globeia, can assist you throughout the process, managing the application on your behalf.

The submission route can affect how long it takes to complete an FBI Background Check. Each option involves different steps, costs, and delivery requirements. Therefore, the complete timeline may vary based on how and where you submit your request:

If you are applying for an FBI background check from outside the United States, you may need to complete additional steps compared with a U.S. based applicant. Here are the key factors to consider when planning an FBI Background Check submission from abroad:

• Fingerprint Card Rejections

Fingerprint card rejection is one of the biggest potential causes of delay for international applicants. If your local police department or fingerprinting associate applies the ink too lightly, too heavily, or produces smudged impressions  on your FD-258 card, the FBI may reject the card. You will not find out until weeks later when the FBI reviews your submission. You will have to restart the fingerprinting and international shipping process.

• Local Fingerprint Appointment Waiting Times

Depending on the country where you are located, booking an appointment with a local law enforcement agency or a professional ink fingerprinting associate who knows how to properly fill out a U.S. standard FD-258 card may take days or weeks.

• International Courier Transit

A physical fingerprint card and supporting documents may need to be mailed to the United States. International courier transit becomes part of the complete application processing time.

• Time taken in FBI processing

The time spent arranging and delivering the fingerprint submission comes before the FBI's processing stage. Therefore, avoid treating the published or expected FBI processing period as the entire turnaround time.

• Apostille and Authentication Requirements

If you are submitting an FBI Identity History Summary for a visa, residency, or other official purpose in a country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the receiving authority may require the document to be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.

A common point of confusion for international applicants is tracking the timeline of an apostille. It adds a completely separate federal authentication phase after the FBI issues the final report.

The FBI is a federal agency. Therefore, its documents cannot be authenticated by local state offices (such as a state Secretary of State). The authenticated report must be routed through the centralized U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.

The Stages of the FBI Apostille Timeline:

1. Fingerprinting and FBI Submission
2. FBI Processing and Issuance
3. U.S. Department of State Apostille Processing
4. Delivery of the Apostilled Document: 2 to 5 days for domestic U.S. shipping; 1 to 3 weeks if using international couriers to mail the final document abroad.

As discussed earlier, fingerprinting is one of the most crucial stages of an FBI Background Check process. It needs to be completed without any errors to ensure there are no unnecessary delays. Then come the other stages, like document and fee submission, courier, apostille or translation. Due to a lack of information and professional guidance, many applicants submit the application without following the FBI guidelines.

Globeia, on the other hand, is an experienced and professional FBI Background Check coordinator that offers a complete, step-by-step assistance, from fingerprinting to certified translation.

Here’s why international applicants choose Globeia FBI Background Check coordination services to help reduce avoidable delays:

• The correct fingerprint card - confirmed before every appointment

Globeia confirms the correct card for your specific FBI application before the appointment to avoid capturing your impressions on a wrong card.

• On-site fingerprint quality review - before the card is mailed

A trained associate captures your fingerprints using the rolled and flat impression techniques required for the FBI fingerprint card. Every impression is reviewed before your card is finalized. If the associate finds any unclear impressions, prints are retaken immediately. This helps avoid rejections and protect your timeline.

Globeia also offers Mobile Fingerprinting Services across Dubai and the UAE, Kuala Lumpur, Australia, Spain, Portugal, the UK, and other international locations. You can get your impressions captured at your preferred location.

• Application details verified against your passport

Your personal details, like name, date of birth, and passport number on the fingerprint card should match the information on your identity document exactly. A mismatch creates an identity discrepancy and you will be required to resubmit the fingerprints.

Globeia cross-checks your application details against your passport before the card is submitted, to help identify documentation errors before submission.

• A coordinated US submission route for international applicants

For applicants outside the United States, getting a completed fingerprint card to the correct FBI processing point involves international courier logistics, the correct mailing address, payment, and form preparation. You have to manage all independently when submitting without any professional support.

Globeia coordinates the US submission through Globeia Inc. in the United States, providing a single coordinated US-based submission route without requiring you to manage each step individually.

• Apostille and certified translation - coordinated after the FBI result

Need to use your FBI Identity History Summary in a Hague Convention country? You may require a US Department of State apostille. Globeia can also coordinate the apostille submission after the FBI result is issued, using an in-person submission route in Washington, D.C., where available, to keep the timeline as short as possible by removing the need to mail the document to be apostilled.

• Application tracking through SmartPortal

You can monitor the application’s progress through Globeia's SmartPortal. You can view your application status and see what comes next.

Important: The FBI makes all decisions regarding Identity History Summary processing and the information included in the final report. Globeia coordinates the fingerprinting, submission, and related document services but cannot guarantee FBI acceptance, processing times, or the outcome of the request.

The time required for an FBI Background Check depends on more than FBI processing alone. For international applicants, fingerprinting, document delivery, apostille, and translation can all add to the overall timeline.

If you have a fixed deadline, you should plan for the complete process, not only the FBI processing period. Globeia can coordinate the required stages from fingerprinting and FBI submission through apostille and certified translation, helping you keep the application organized from start to finish.