FBI background checks are required by some countries for immigration and visa applications. Usually, the background check must be apostilled or authenticated. Countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention require apostilles; all other countries require authentication.
Alabama Fingerprint Solutions can take your fingerprints and transmit the file to the FBI for your background check. You will typically receive the results of your background check within 24-48 hours. Once you have received the results (as a PDF), forward them to us, and we’ll submit them to the US State Department for an apostille or authentication. The State Department website states that the process takes 5 to 6 weeks, but in our experience they usually takes less.
Sometimes other documents are needed in the process that must also be apostilled/authenticated. Examples are birth certificates and marriage certificates. These are processed at the state level by the state where the document originated.
Documents that are not certified by the state may require notarization first, followed by an apostille from the state where you reside. For example, some countries require evidence of income before they let you stay so that they know the person won’t become a ward of the state. We can notarize such documents and then have them apostilled by the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.
If you need documents apostilled, no matter where you are located, give us a call at 833-PRINT10 to discuss your needs and the steps we’ll need to take.
