Where Do I Get Fingerprinting for FBI Background Check in India?

Getting your fingerprints taken for an international document like an FBI background check is not a standard process you may have seen in Indian movies. It involves more than just an ink pad and paper, and the process is far more technical. There is no issuing agency in India; the fingerprints must be mailed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the USA for the generation of your report. The involvement of an international government agency is enough to show how crucial fingerprinting is in getting the FBI background check from India.

Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through everything here. Keep reading to understand what an FBI background check is, how to get fingerprints done comfortably in India, and how to submit the entire application smoothly!

An FBI Background Check is a national, fingerprint-based report that lists an individual’s criminal history in the United States. Officially known as an Identity History Summary Check, it is maintained by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. Even if you have never been arrested, the document serves as official confirmation of your criminal record status in the United States .

What Does the Report Include? 

• Any arrests made by federal or local law enforcement that were reported to the FBI.
• Any charges related to those arrests.
• The final outcome of the case, such as dismissed, convicted, or acquitted.

Keep in mind that the details mentioned above only apply if you have a criminal record in the USA. If you do not have any criminal history, the FBI background check will come back as “No Record,” which is actually the best possible outcome. It means that the fingerprints you submitted were successfully searched against the FBI’s national database and no matching criminal history was found. You can then proceed to use this document to complete your application. 

The FBI Criminal Record Check is required only if you have lived, worked, or studied in the USA for more than six months. You will need this document when applying for immigration, permanent residency, relocation, study visas, work visas, professional licensing, or certain employment opportunities in another country. The foreign governments basically request this document to make sure you do not have a criminal history in places where you have previously lived and that you do not pose a security risk to their country. 

So, if you have never lived in the USA and are applying for something abroad from India, you will not need an FBI background check. 

For an FBI background check, fingerprints have to be captured on FBI-compliant cards (FD-258/FD-1164). You have two main options in India to get your fingerprints done:

Local Police Stations (Limited Availability)

Some local or district police stations in India will roll ink fingerprints onto an FD-258/FD-1164 card for you. But not all stations are equipped for compliant fingerprint cards. Sometimes, police officers are also not trained in FBI requirements and might roll your prints in the wrong way, leading to smudges or blurred prints. Another limitation is that most police stations are not set up to send fingerprints electronically or directly to international agencies like the FBI

In such cases, you will have to bring your own fingerprint card, carefully check while they’re capturing your fingerprints, and also mail them on your own to the FBI. These police stations are recommended only for fingerprinting for local police checks but are not standardized for international checks. 

Professional Fingerprinting Agencies (Most Convenient Option)

There are many private fingerprint service providers in India, like Globeia India, that offer mobile fingerprinting for FBI background checks. Not only do they provide the correct FD-258/FD-1164 cards and take high-quality ink prints, but also assist with the submission to the FBI. Such mobile fingerprint providers and agencies are highly preferred, as they:

• Send trained associates to your home or office.
• Collect rolled ink fingerprints on FBI-standard cards.
• Ensure quality checks to avoid rejection.
• Help prepare fingerprint forms correctly.
• Provide secure submission coordination to the FBI through their USA office.
• Process additional documentation support requests, like apostille, translations, etc, through the adequate government authority.

While we’re still on this topic, it’s important to point out a very common misconception among Indians. They think that the US Embassy or Consulates in India also provide fingerprinting for FBI background checks. The truth is that they don’t. US Consulates only take fingerprints as part of a visa application, also called biometric enrollment, and those prints are not forwarded to the FBI for a background check report.

Do not contact the embassy for this purpose. You will need to use one of the other options listed above.

Download your FD-258/FD-1164 fingerprint card

You can easily find this online on the official FBI website and print it out on high-quality, white paper, free of charge. Some people prefer using cardstock to make sure it doesn't crinkle easily.  

Fill in your personal information

Fill out the header section on the card. This includes your name, date and place of birth, citizenship, sex, place of residence, signature, and physical characteristics like height and eye color. Use black ink ballpoint pen and make sure everything is legible. 

Get Fingerprinting Done

Go to a local police station, a registered fingerprint associate, or or a professional fingerprinting service provider. Ask them to roll each finger in the appropriate box using black ink. You can also do this process yourself. Just make sure the quality is good and the prints are clear and complete.

Given the risk of rejection for smudged or faint prints, using a professional service with experience in FBI-standard collection is highly advisable. 

Complete the FBI Identity History Summary Request Form

You have to officially request the background check by completing the FBI Identity History Summary Request form. You can do this completely online from the FBI portal! After completion and payment of the $18 fee, you will receive an application order and a confirmation page. 

Mail everything to the FBI CJIS Division

Once your documents are prepared, you must mail the physical fingerprint cards and your application confirmation to the FBI CJIS Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia. This is the address:

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Wait for your result

The FBI will mail the Identity History Summary to the address you provided. Processing time is 1-3 days for US citizens and 2-3 weeks for Non-US citizens, plus some additional time for international mailing.  

Apostille or Translation (if required)

If your requesting authority requires the FBI result to be apostilled or translated to their national language, you have to get it done through the relevant government agencies. Since this step requires further processing and back-and-forth with multiple authorities, many Indians choose to work with specialized document support services.

Rejection of fingerprints by the FBI is very common. And this can easily cause panic if you’re already preparing for your move and your flights are in order. Preparing the application again and reapplying can easily take 3-4 more weeks of your time. That’s a lot!

We’ve come across very common reasons due to which applications from India are being rejected by the FBI. Related tips are listed below, so you don’t repeat those again:

• Always get two sets of fingerprints taken. If one card has a smudge, the FBI will reject it, and you'll have to start the process all over again.
• Do not apply lotion immediately before your appointment, as oily residue can cause smudging. Simply wash your hands with plain soap and water.
• Give your hands a rest for at least 48 hours before your appointment. Activities like rock climbing, heavy weightlifting, gardening, or even excessive typing can temporarily wear down the fine ridges of your prints.
• If your fingerprints are naturally very fine or faint, gently rub your finger from the palm toward the fingertip just before printing. This brings blood flow and oil to the surface, making the ridges more visible.
• Double-check that the agency is using black, non-smear permanent ink.
• If you are printing the FD-258/FD-1164 cards yourself, use heavy white paper or cardstock. A printer paper can sometimes crinkle or absorb ink unevenly, leading to a cloudy image.
• If you are using the FBI background check for a third country part of the Hague Convention, they might need an Apostille from the US Department of State, which is a separate step after getting the report.

Globeia India is rapidly becoming a preferred fingerprinting service provider in the country. This is because they don’t just stop after capturing your fingerprints. Your prints undergo a strict quality review process to ensure they’re not smudged or blurry, and meet international standards. Then, in coordination with Globeia’s office in the USA, these prints are couriered from India to Globeia Inc. in the USA, which processes and submits them to the FBI.

You simply need to fill out their SmartForm and specify the services required, and everything is coordinated under a single managed workflow. You don’t have to worry about anything.

With over 10 years of global experience, Globeia is an expert in international fingerprinting and documentation support, providing reliable services to everyone. This is why many people trust them, and you should too:

Check Out: 10 Ways Globeia Beats Traditional Fingerprinting Services in India

We hope that you have understood the entire process of getting fingerprinted for the FBI background check in India. By now, you may also choose to do it yourself, as the fingerprint card is downloadable and the FBI accepts mail-in ink cards directly from individuals. However, doing everything on your own requires ensuring that everything is done perfectly.

Even if you manage to take your own fingerprints without smudging or using too much ink, which is not easy in itself, there is still a risk of missed documentation or other manual errors.

You can also rely on Globeia India to coordinate everything for you without you even leaving your house. Everything will be handled on your behalf by their global network of offices and coordination teams. Either way, the goal is that your fingerprints should be clear, accurate, and properly submitted so your FBI background check process goes through smoothly.