To get a police clearance letter, decide first whether you need a local or federal check, then apply through the right agency: local and state letters come from the police department where you live or last lived, while a federal letter is the FBI’s Identity History Summary Check, which costs $18 and can be requested online with fingerprints scanned at a participating U.S. Post Office or by mailing a fingerprint card to the FBI.
Which Level of Clearance You Need
The requesting authority controls this choice. An embassy, employer, adoption agency, or foreign government will tell you whether they want a local, state, or federal letter, and sending the wrong one wastes weeks. A local or state clearance covers criminal records inside that jurisdiction. The FBI’s Identity History Summary Check draws on a nationwide database built from fingerprint submissions tied to arrests, federal employment, naturalization, and military service.1Federal Bureau of Investigation. Requesting FBI Records
A note on U.S. immigration: for adjustment of status, USCIS asks for certified police and court records of your criminal history rather than an FBI summary of yourself.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Form I-485 U.S. citizens abroad who need a “certificate of good conduct” for a foreign authority may be asked for either a local police check or an FBI check depending on what the foreign government accepts.3U.S. Department of State. Criminal Records Checks Call the requester and confirm before you spend money.
What to Gather Before You Apply
Whichever level you’re pursuing, have your full legal name, any previous names, date and place of birth, current and past addresses, and a valid government photo ID such as a passport or driver’s license.
For the FBI check, fingerprints are the core of the process. If you plan to mail your request, you’ll need a completed fingerprint card. The FBI accepts FD-1164 cards printed on standard white paper, available on its website, and it also accepts the card stock that police departments and private fingerprinting companies use.4Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions If you’re submitting electronically, you can have your fingerprints captured digitally at a participating U.S. Post Office instead of dealing with a physical card.
How to Request an FBI Identity History Summary Check
You have three routes: submit electronically through the FBI, mail your request directly, or use an FBI-approved channeler.
Electronic Submission
The fastest option is the FBI’s electronic Departmental Order (eDO) system. You complete the request online, pay the $18 fee, and then visit a participating U.S. Post Office to have your fingerprints scanned. The USPS lists participating locations on its fingerprinting services page, and additional post office fees may apply.4Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions You can opt into email status notifications, and your response arrives electronically with an option to also receive a mailed copy. You can print as many copies as you need.
Mail Submission
If electronic submission isn’t practical, mail your completed fingerprint card, the $18 fee by certified check or money order payable to the Treasury of the United States, and your name and mailing address to the FBI’s CJIS Division in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Local police departments, sheriff’s offices, and private fingerprinting companies will take your fingerprints for a small fee before you mail the card.4Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions
FBI-Approved Channelers
An FBI-approved channeler is a private contractor authorized to collect your fingerprints and submit them to the FBI on your behalf.5Federal Bureau of Investigation. Channeler FAQs There are 19 approved channelers, and the FBI publishes the full list on its website.6Federal Bureau of Investigation. List of Approved Channelers Channelers charge their own service fee on top of the $18, and processing times vary. They aren’t always faster than going directly to the FBI. Electronic requests submitted straight to the FBI typically process in three to five business days, while channelers range from two days to three weeks. They’re most useful if you want in-person fingerprinting help and don’t have a participating post office nearby.
Fees and Processing Times
The FBI’s fee is $18 for every method.4Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions Add-ons depend on how you get printed: the USPS may charge for the scanning service, and local police departments and private fingerprinting companies set their own prices.
Expected turnaround by submission route:
- Electronic direct to the FBI: three to five business days.
- Mail direct to the FBI: two to four weeks.
- FBI-approved channeler: two days to three weeks, depending on the channeler.
Processing can run longer if the FBI needs extra time to confirm identity, particularly when your name is common. If your request hasn’t arrived within the expected window, email identity@fbi.gov or call 304-625-5590.
Getting a Local or State Clearance Letter
When the requester wants a local or state letter, work with the police department where you live or last lived. Contact them and ask for a criminal records search and a letter confirming the results.3U.S. Department of State. Criminal Records Checks Some departments handle it at the front desk while you wait. Others require an appointment or a mailed request.
Fees, turnaround, and the exact steps vary widely. Some departments charge only a few dollars, others considerably more. Call ahead to confirm the fee, the ID they require, and whether an appointment is needed. If you’ve lived in multiple jurisdictions, you may need a separate letter from each, so build that into your timeline.
How Long the Letter Is Valid
Police clearance letters expire. For U.S. immigrant visa processing, the State Department treats police certificates as valid for two years from the date of issue. The exception: a certificate from a country you previously lived in but haven’t returned to since it was issued does not expire.7U.S. Department of State. Step 7 – Collect Civil Documents
Other requesters set shorter windows. Some foreign governments and employers require certificates issued within the past six or even three months. Confirm the validity period with whoever asked for the letter before you apply, especially on a long process. A letter that expires before your interview is a common and avoidable setback.
Authenticating the Letter for Use Abroad
If you need your FBI clearance in another country, the letter usually isn’t enough on its own. Most foreign governments require authentication by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications. Which type depends on the destination:
- An apostille certificate, for countries in the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.
- An authentication certificate, for countries outside the Hague Convention.
Either type costs $20 per document.8U.S. Department of State. Requesting Authentication Services Processing times depend on submission method:
- By mail: up to five weeks from the date the office receives your request.
- Walk-in drop-off and pick-up: seven business days.
- Emergency appointment, for life-or-death situations only: same day.
Plan around this step. A mailed apostille request can add five weeks on top of the FBI’s own processing time, and visa interviews scheduled on tight deadlines routinely get missed because applicants didn’t build authentication into the calendar.9U.S. Department of State. Office of Authentications
Fixing Errors on Your FBI Record
If your Identity History Summary contains wrong or incomplete information, you can challenge it at no cost. Your request needs to identify the inaccurate information and include supporting documentation, such as court records showing a case was dismissed or charges dropped. The FBI processes challenges in the order received, with an average response within 45 days.4Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions
The FBI removes federal arrest data only at the request of the original submitting agency or on receipt of a federal court order that specifically directs expungement. You can’t ask the FBI to delete an accurate record because you’d prefer a clean letter. If you believe a record should have been expunged, start with the agency that submitted the data or the court that handled your case. For questions about the challenge process, contact the FBI at identity@fbi.gov or 304-625-5590.