24/7 Online Booking · Same-Day Processing Available · 100% Secure & Compliant
24/7 Online Booking · Same-Day Processing Available · 100% Secure & Compliant
Vancouver, WA · Full Process Managed for You · All 50 States
Planning to live, work, study, or gain citizenship in another country? Most foreign governments require an FBI background check authenticated with an apostille. AI Fingerprinting handles every step fingerprinting, FBI background check submission, and U.S. Department of State apostille authentication so you don’t have to coordinate multiple agencies on your own.
201 NE Park Plaza Dr #221, Vancouver, WA 98684 · Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Remote Submissions Available
What Is It?
An FBI Apostille authenticates your official FBI Identity History Summary commonly called an FBI background check or FBI rap sheet for recognition and acceptance by foreign governments, institutions, and employers.
Unlike a Washington State Apostille, an FBI Apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington D.C. This is because the FBI is a federal agency, and federal documents cannot be authenticated at the state level.
An apostille does not verify the content of your FBI report it confirms that the document was legitimately issued by the FBI and that the official’s signature on it is valid. Foreign governments use this to verify international documents meet their legal standards for authenticity.
Issued By
U.S. Dept of State
Office of Authentications, Washington D.C. not the WA Secretary of State
DoS Authentication Fee
$20 per document
Included in AI Fingerprinting full-service package
Full Service Starts At
$295 all-inclusive
Includes fingerprinting, FBI channeler, and DoS apostille submission
Who Needs It?
You likely need an FBI Apostille if any of the following apply to you:
Spain, Germany, France, Italy, South Korea & others require FBI clearance
Seeking permanent residency or citizenship in another country
Many international school districts and education ministries require it
Foreign partner’s country requires proof of no criminal record
Many countries now require an FBI apostille as part of digital nomad visa applications
Adopting from a country that requires a clean FBI record on file
Relocating internationally as part of an employer or corporate transfer
Portugal, Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica commonly request FBI apostilles for retirement visas
Our 3-Step Process
An FBI Apostille requires three sequential steps. We manage all three so nothing falls through the cracks and your documents are processed correctly the first time.
Step One
You visit our office at 201 NE Park Plaza Dr #221, Vancouver, WA. We capture your prints on an FBI-approved FD-258 ink card or via LiveScan and submit them to an FBI-approved channeler.
Turnaround: 2–15 days
Step Two
Once your FBI background check arrives on official FBI letterhead, we review it with you. This original letter is what gets apostilled copies are not accepted by the U.S. Department of State. If you already have an FBI letter, we verify it meets recency requirements.
Original letter required — no copies
Step Three
We submit your original FBI letter to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications. Standard submissions go by USPS Certified Mail. For urgent timelines, we use authorized DC-area courier services for same-day or next-day apostille issuance.
DC Rush Courier available
Already have your FBI letter? We can skip Step 1 and go straight to Step 3. Call us to confirm.
Processing Times
Total FBI Apostille processing time varies based on the methods selected. If you have an urgent visa or application deadline, call us immediately so we can determine the fastest path for your situation.
Common Countries
Countries commonly requiring an FBI apostille for visa, residency, or citizenship applications. Since China joined the Hague Convention (Nov 2023) and Canada (Jan 2024), the list has expanded significantly. Always confirm with your destination country’s consulate.
With DC rush courier, we can compress the full FBI Apostille timeline to 15 Business days. The sooner you call, the more options we have to meet your deadline.
FAQ
An FBI apostille is an authentication certificate issued by the U.S. Department of State that certifies your FBI Identity History Summary (background check) is a legitimate federal document, valid for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. You need one when a foreign government, employer, school, or institution requires proof that you have a verified clean FBI record before granting a visa, residency permit, teaching certification, or other international credential.
No. They are completely different. A Washington State apostille is issued by the Washington Secretary of State and authenticates state-level documents such as birth and marriage certificates. An FBI apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State and authenticates federal documents specifically, FBI background checks. The Washington Secretary of State has no authority to apostille FBI documents. AI Fingerprinting offers both services.
AI Fingerprinting FBI Apostille service starts at $295 for the full three-step process, which includes fingerprinting at our Vancouver WA office, FBI channeler submission, and U.S. Department of State apostille submission. Government fees approximately $135 for FBI processing and $20 for the DoS apostille are included. Expedited service with DC courier is available for an additional fee. Call (360) 998-7302 for a current quote based on your timeline.
An FBI background check letter does not expire, but many foreign countries require it to have been issued within a specific time period most commonly within 6 months of your visa or residency application date. Always check with your destination country’s embassy or consulate for their specific recency requirement before starting the process.
No. Many clients manage this service remotely. You come in once for fingerprinting, and we handle the rest. If you have already obtained your FBI background check letter, you can mail us the original letter and we will submit it to the U.S. Department of State on your behalf. We return your apostilled documents via USPS Priority Mail with tracking. Call (360) 998-7302 to arrange.
Countries that commonly require an FBI apostille for visa, residency, or citizenship applications include Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, France, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and many others. Since China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023 and Canada in January 2024, the number of countries requiring apostilles has expanded. Contact your destination country’s consulate to confirm their exact FBI document requirements.
Yes. If you already hold an original FBI Identity History Summary letter, AI Fingerprinting can submit it to the U.S. Department of State for apostille without repeating the fingerprinting step. Bring or mail us your original letter and we will manage the DoS submission. Do not send copies — the original document is required.
Yes. For urgent cases, AI Fingerprinting uses authorized DC-area courier services to hand-deliver your FBI letter to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications for same-day or next-day apostille issuance. We also offer expedited fingerprinting and FBI channeler submission on our end to compress the entire timeline. Call (360) 998-7302 as early as possible if you have a tight deadline.
In-person fingerprinting available throughout Clark County and Portland metro. Remote mail-in apostille service accepted from anywhere in the U.S.
Ready to Get Started?
We handle fingerprinting, FBI channeler submission, and U.S. Department of State apostille authentication all under one roof. Standard service from $295, all-inclusive. Rush DC courier available for tight deadlines.
$295
Full-service starting price
3 Steps
All managed for you
15 Business days
Expedited timeline
201 NE Park Plaza Dr #221, Vancouver, WA 98684
(360) 998-7302 
info@aifingerprinting.com
Monday – Friday · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Remote Submissions Welcome
Scheduling your fingerprinting service has never been easier.
