How Immigration Uses Your Fingerprints: Biometrics, Background Checks & ICE’s NGI System
If you’ve gone through the U.S. immigration process, chances are you’ve been asked to provide fingerprints. It might feel routine, but behind the scenes, your fingerprints are being run through powerful databases that can shape the outcome of your application.
At Stone Notary, we know that understanding what happens after the ink dries (or the scanner clicks) can bring peace of mind. Here’s a look at how immigration actually uses your fingerprints.
If you’ve gone through the U.S. immigration process, chances are you’ve been asked to provide fingerprints. It might feel routine, but behind the scenes, your fingerprints are being run through powerful databases that can shape the outcome of your application.
At Stone Notary, we know that understanding what happens after the ink dries (or the scanner clicks) can bring peace of mind. Here’s a look at how immigration actually uses your fingerprints.
1. Why Fingerprints Are Collected
Fingerprints are collected to:
Confirm your identity
Check for criminal history
Screen for immigration violations
Connect your record to future applications
It’s one of the most reliable ways the government can be sure you are who you say you are.
2. The Biometrics Appointment
Most applicants will attend a biometrics appointment at a USCIS Application Support Center. Here, fingerprints, photos, and sometimes a signature are taken.
Your prints are then sent for analysis against federal and international databases.
3. The Databases Your Prints Touch
FBI Next Generation Identification (NGI) System: A massive database with millions of criminal and civil fingerprint records.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Shares data across immigration and border control systems.
International Databases: In some cases, prints are cross-referenced with Interpol or partner countries.
4. What Immigration is Looking For
When your prints are submitted, they’re checked for:
Prior criminal charges or arrests
Immigration violations or deportation orders
Matches to security watchlists
Duplicate applications or identity fraud
Even minor issues can slow down an application. That’s why accuracy and clear fingerprints matter.
5. Why Ink Fingerprinting Still Matters
While biometrics are digital, ink fingerprinting is still widely used for:
FBI Identity History Summary Checks (often needed for visas or immigration abroad)
Adoptions and travel clearances
Consular or embassy requests in non-digital countries
This is where Stone Notary supports clients: with mobile ink fingerprinting on FBI-approved FD-258 cards, clear prints, and the right prep for federal or international submission.
Closing Thought
Fingerprints aren’t just smudges of ink — they’re keys to your identity in the immigration system. Knowing how they’re used helps you prepare and avoid surprises.
At Stone Notary, we provide professional ink fingerprinting services that give you confidence your prints will be accepted the first time.
📞 Call/Text: 754-217-0444
📧 stone.notary@gmail.com
🌐 stone-notary.com