FBI Background Checks in Miami

CONTENTS

Jump to a Section

OVERVIEW

What Are FBI Background Checks?

An FBI background check, officially known as an FBI Identity History Summary (IdHS), is a federal record maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It reflects fingerprint-based information on file with the FBI, which may include arrests and, in some cases, information related to federal employment, naturalization, or military service.

This document is also referred to as an FBI Identity History Summary, IdHS, rap sheet, or federal criminal history record. It is commonly requested for immigration, employment abroad, residency applications, citizenship, adoption, professional licensing, and other purposes both in the United States and internationally. A personal Identity History Summary is not a substitute for an authorized employment or professional licensing background screening — applicants should follow the route required by their requesting agency or institution.

Every FBI background check starts the same way: with fingerprints. Miami Dade Apostille provides professional fingerprinting in Miami to help clients complete this first, essential step correctly.

THE PROCESS

How to Get FBI Background Checks in Miami Through Fingerprinting

An FBI Identity History Summary cannot be requested without fingerprints. Fingerprints confirm identity and allow the FBI to search its records accurately. Clear, legible fingerprints help avoid processing delays.

There are two main ways fingerprints reach the FBI: ink fingerprinting on a physical fingerprint card that gets mailed in (use a trackable shipping method and keep your tracking number), or electronic fingerprint submission. At our Biscayne Blvd location in Miami, Miami Dade Apostille assists clients with ink fingerprinting and mail-in fingerprint card preparation, helping ensure the card is filled out correctly and the prints are clear before it goes to the FBI.

MIAMI LOCATIONS

FBI Background Checks Fingerprinting Locations in Miami

Miami Dade Apostille offers FBI background check fingerprinting at our Biscayne Blvd location in Miami:

Walk-in fingerprinting for FBI Identity History Summary requests is available at our Biscayne Blvd location. Call 1-800-631-9171 to confirm availability or to arrange other options.

INK FINGERPRINTING

Ink Fingerprinting & the FD-258 Fingerprint Card

Ink fingerprinting is the traditional method of capturing fingerprints in black ink on a physical fingerprint card. Each finger is rolled individually onto the card to produce a complete, legible set of prints.

The FBI's standard form has historically been the FD-258 card. The FBI now also lists the FD-1164 as a standard form — confirm the accepted form with the FBI or your requesting authority for your specific route and provider before submitting.

Fingerprint quality matters. Smudged, incomplete, or poorly rolled prints are a common reason the FBI rejects a submission. Our Miami team takes fingerprints carefully to reduce the chance of rejection and help the process move as smoothly as possible.

Once your fingerprint card is completed, it is mailed directly to the FBI along with your signed Identity History Summary request. We can guide you through filling out the required information correctly before it is mailed.

MAIL-IN CARDS

Mail-In Fingerprint Cards for Clients Who Can't Visit Our Miami Offices

Not every client is able to visit us in Miami in person, and that is not a barrier to completing an FBI background check request. Miami Dade Apostille accepts mail-in fingerprint cards from clients located anywhere in the United States or abroad.

If you are outside of Miami, your fingerprints can be taken by a qualified local fingerprint technician, police department, or another eligible provider using the accepted fingerprint card form. Availability of U.S. embassy, consulate, or notary fingerprinting services abroad varies by location — confirm locally before relying on a specific provider. Once completed, you can mail the card to our Miami office and we will help review it and guide you through the remaining steps of the request.

This option is especially useful for clients living outside the United States, active-duty military and their families stationed abroad, and anyone who previously lived or worked in Miami or elsewhere in the U.S. but is no longer local.

WHO THIS IS FOR

Fingerprint Cards for Citizens and Non-Citizens

An FBI Identity History Summary is not limited to U.S. citizens. Anyone who has lived, worked, or studied in the United States can request one, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

Miami Dade Apostille assists both U.S. citizens and non-citizens with fingerprinting for FBI background checks in Miami, including non-permanent residents, visa holders, international students, former U.S. residents now living abroad, and foreign nationals who spent time in the United States for any reason.

For non-citizens who are no longer in the United States, mail-in fingerprint cards are typically the most practical path, since fingerprints can be taken locally wherever the applicant currently resides and mailed to our Miami office from there.

ELECTRONIC OPTION

The Electronic Departmental Order (EDO): An Alternative to Ink Cards

In addition to ink fingerprinting, the FBI also offers an online request system called the Electronic Departmental Order, or EDO, authorized under Departmental Order 556-73. EDO is the FBI online request system. Depending on the selected route, fingerprints may be submitted electronically at a participating USPS location or mailed on a completed card with the online confirmation.

EDO and ink fingerprinting both lead to the same result: an official FBI Identity History Summary. The right choice between them often comes down to convenience, location, and what the requesting country or institution will accept. Miami Dade Apostille can help you understand which option makes the most sense for your situation.

GETTING STARTED

What You Need to Get Fingerprinted in Miami

Getting started is straightforward. Bring a valid, unexpired form of identification — such as a passport, driver's license, or government-issued ID — to our Biscayne Blvd location (2915 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 300-1, Miami, FL 33137). If you already have a blank fingerprint card in the accepted form, you are welcome to bring it, or we can provide one. Call 1-800-631-9171 if you need to arrange a different location or time.

If you are mailing in your card from outside Miami, make sure it is filled out completely and that the prints are clear and unsmudged before sending it to us.

FINGERPRINT QUALITY

Common Fingerprinting Problems & How to Avoid Rejection

Illegible or incomplete prints are a common cause of delay in the FBI background check process. A rejected card means submitting again with a fresh card — follow the rejection notice and any FBI resubmission instructions for your specific route. Most rejections come down to a small number of fixable problems, and a little preparation goes a long way.

Print quality guidance is informed by FBI resources on recording legible fingerprints. FBI recording legible fingerprints

If your prints are rejected despite good preparation, follow the rejection notice and any resubmission instructions provided. Our Miami team can offer guidance on technique and timing to help improve your chances on a subsequent attempt.

NEXT STEPS

After Your FBI Background Checks Are Issued

Once the FBI issues your Identity History Summary, some clients need nothing further. Others — particularly those using the report outside the United States — will need a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State so the document is recognized abroad. The FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, so its apostille is issued at the federal level by the U.S. Department of State, not by a state Secretary of State. This applies when the destination country requires an apostille; non-Hague destinations follow a different authentication process.

If that applies to you, Miami Dade Apostille can assist once your report is in hand.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common Questions About FBI Background Checks, Fingerprinting & Fingerprint Rejections in Miami