FBI Identity History Summary Checks: What It Is, How to Get It, and Why Notaries & Fingerprinting Matter

f you’re applying for immigration, adoption, travel visas, or certain jobs, you may be asked for an FBI Identity History Summary Check. Sometimes called an FBI Clearance or FBI Background Check, this report shows what the FBI has on file about you.

At Stone Notary, we help clients navigate the fingerprinting and notarization process that makes this step easier. Here’s what you need to know.

1. What Is an FBI Identity History Summary Check?

It’s a summary of your criminal history — or proof that you have none. The FBI compiles it using fingerprint submissions, which makes it more accurate than a name-based background check.

This document is often required for:

• Immigration applications

• International adoptions

• Work or study visas

• Certain state or federal jobs

• Residency or travel abroad

2. What the Report Shows

The FBI Summary Check may include:

• Arrest records

• Federal employment background information

• Naturalization details

• Court dispositions

• Or a statement that no criminal history exists

3. How to Request an FBI Check

There are three main ways to get your report:

1. Directly from the FBI: You can mail your request, fingerprint card, and payment.

2. Through an FBI-Approved Channeler: These private companies can process requests faster.

3. Through an Embassy or Consulate: If you’re overseas, you can submit via U.S. diplomatic offices.

4. The Role of Fingerprinting

Your fingerprints are the foundation of the FBI check. They must be submitted on an FD-258 fingerprint card (ink or Live Scan, depending on the method).

• Ink & Roll: Accepted everywhere and often required for apostilles and consular processes.

• Live Scan: Faster, but only accepted when submitted through approved channelers.

If your prints are unclear or smudged, your request may be delayed or rejected. That’s why having a professional capture them is key.

5. Why Notarization and Apostilles May Be Needed

If you’re using your FBI report abroad, you may need additional steps:

• Notarized affidavit if you’re attaching a statement or translation

• Apostille from the U.S. Department of State if your destination country is part of the Hague Convention

• Embassy legalization if your country is non-Hague

6. How Stone Notary Helps

• We provide mobile ink fingerprinting on FBI-approved FD-258 cards

• We ensure your prints are clear, legible, and compliant

• We guide you through the difference between apostille vs. embassy legalization

• We notarize affidavits or translations when needed

Closing Thought

Your FBI Identity History Summary Check may be just one step in your journey, but it’s a crucial one. Getting it right the first time saves you time, stress, and potential setbacks.

At Stone Notary, we bring clarity and convenience to the process with professional fingerprinting, notarization, and apostille support.

📞 Call/Text: 754-217-0444
📧 stone.notary@gmail.com
🌐 stone-notary.com

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.

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

When an Apostille Isn’t Enough: Embassy Legalization, Translation Certification & Beyond

Most people think getting an apostille is the final step for making a U.S. document valid abroad. And in many cases, it is. But here’s the catch: if your document is headed to a country outside the Hague Convention, an apostille alone won’t work. You’ll need additional steps like embassy legalization or certified translations to make your paperwork accepted overseas.

At Stone Notary, we guide clients through this maze every day. Let’s look at when an apostille is enough, when it’s not, and what to do if you need more.

1. Apostille vs. Legalization — What’s the Difference?

• Apostille: A certification that makes your U.S. document valid in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

• Legalization: The process of authenticating a document for countries that are not part of the Hague Convention. This usually involves multiple steps, including the U.S. Department of State and the destination country’s embassy or consulate.

👉 Quick tip: Always ask whether your destination country is part of the Hague Convention before you begin.

2. Common Non-Hague Countries That Require Embassy Legalization

Some of the biggest destinations where an apostille is not enough include:

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• Saudi Arabia

• Qatar

• China

• Kuwait

• Egypt

For these countries, embassy legalization is mandatory.

3. The Extra Steps After Apostille

Here’s what the legalization process typically looks like:

1. Notarization (if required for your document)

2. State Apostille or certification

3. U.S. Department of State Authentication (for federal-level validation)

4. Embassy or Consulate Legalization in Washington, D.C.

If your document is in English and the destination country requires another language, you’ll also need a certified translation.

4. Real-World Examples

• A teacher moving to the UAE may need her degree and transcripts notarized, apostilled, and then legalized at the UAE Embassy.

• A parent sending a child to school in China may need a notarized consent letter, apostille, and consulate legalization.

• A business opening in Saudi Arabia may need corporate records, notarized, apostilled, translated, and legalized before they are recognized.

5. How Stone Notary Helps

The process sounds overwhelming, but that’s where we come in:

• We confirm whether your country requires an apostille or embassy legalization

• We notarize and prep documents correctly from the start

• We coordinate state, federal, and embassy steps so you don’t waste time mailing things back and forth

• We arrange for certified translations when required, ensuring they meet embassy standards

Closing Thought

An apostille is powerful, but it’s not always the finish line. For non-Hague countries, embassy legalization and certified translations are the key to getting your documents accepted abroad.

At Stone Notary, we handle every step with precision and care so you can focus on your move, your business, or your family’s needs.

📞 Call/Text: 754-217-0444
📧 stone.notary@gmail.com
🌐 stone-notary.com

Live Scan vs Ink & Roll Fingerprinting: Which Works Best for Immigration and Federal Background Checks?

Fingerprinting is one of those steps everyone dreads. It feels technical, time-sensitive, and a little intimidating. But whether you’re applying for a visa, completing a federal background check, or getting licensed for a new career, fingerprints are often required.

The big question clients ask us at Stone Notary is: Should I choose Live Scan or traditional ink fingerprinting? Let’s break it down in plain English.

1. What is Live Scan?

Live Scan is a digital method where your fingerprints are captured on an electronic scanner. No ink, no cards. The image gets sent directly to the requesting agency, often speeding up the process.

✅ Pros:

• Faster results

• No messy ink

• Immediate electronic submission

❌ Cons:

• Not accepted everywhere, especially for federal or out-of-state purposes

• Limited to agencies connected to the system

• Requires specialized equipment (not always mobile)

2. What is Ink & Roll?

Ink fingerprinting is the traditional method: your fingers are rolled in ink and then pressed onto a physical FD-258 card.

✅ Pros:

• Accepted everywhere (state, federal, international)

• Standard for FBI background checks, visa applications, and consular processes

• Portable — mobile notaries like us can bring the materials to you

❌ Cons:

• Takes longer for results if mailed

• Can be smudged if done incorrectly

3. Immigration Needs: Which Works Best?

For most immigration cases or overseas document submissions, ink fingerprints are the gold standard. Consulates, embassies, and international organizations often require physical FD-258 cards with inked prints.

Live Scan may work for certain immigration steps if the destination country or agency accepts digital files, but it’s not the safest choice if you’re working on a deadline.

4. Federal Background Checks: Which Method is Required?

The FBI Identity History Summary Check (often called an FBI background check) accepts both:

• Live Scan: Faster if submitted electronically through an approved channeler

• Ink & Roll: Still required if you need a hard copy, certified version, or an apostille for international use

If your FBI background check is for immigration, travel, or adoption abroad, ink is the way to go.

5. Why Stone Notary Clients Choose Ink & Roll

At Stone Notary, we focus on mobile ink fingerprinting because:

• It’s the most universally accepted method

• It pairs seamlessly with federal background checks and apostille services

• We can complete it on-site at your home, office, or other convenient location

• We provide FD-258 cards and ensure the prints are clear, legible, and compliant

Fingerprinting doesn’t have to be stressful. The key is knowing whether your situation calls for Live Scan or ink. For immigration and federal background checks, ink still reigns supreme.

At Stone Notary, we bring professional ink fingerprinting directly to you — helping you check this requirement off your list with confidence.

📞 Call/Text: 754-217-0444
📧 stone.notary@gmail.com
🌐 stone-notary.com