An FBI Identity History Summary may be requested for a visa, residency, employment, or another procedure abroad. Ask the recipient which background check it requires and how recently it must have been issued. An FBI report, a state criminal-history record, and a commercial screening report are different documents.
The FBI route is federal
The FBI issues the background-check result; the U.S. Department of State handles its apostille. A New York state apostille on a notarized photocopy is not a substitute for authentication of the FBI result.
Obtain your report through the FBI’s authorized process. I do not take fingerprints, obtain the report for you, or change its contents. Keep the official result complete, including its security features and official signature. If you received an official electronic result, preserve the original file and confirm the required submission format rather than adding a new notarization.
Allow for federal processing
My Manhattan same-day or next-business-day service does not apply. As of September 10, 2026, the federal office publishes a mail-processing time of five weeks after receipt, before allowing for the full mailing journey. Its published in-person drop-off service is also not a general same-day service.
I confirm a federal-route estimate before you proceed. The 2–4-week estimate for eligible standard apostille routes should not be used as a promise for FBI documents.
What about other federal documents?
The correct preparation depends on the issuing agency and authorized signature. A naturalization certificate, for example, should not be treated as an ordinary notarized photocopy. Share the document type first so the agency-specific official requirements can be checked. Do not mail irreplaceable originals before receiving instructions.
Request document review with the country of use and deadline, or contact me. See apostille service options and Free Community Notary for qualifying assistance.
Official references: FBI Identity History Summary FAQs and U.S. Department of State processing times. Reviewed September 10, 2026.