FBI Background Check Apostille Los Angeles
Apostille service for FBI Identity History Summary (background check). We help Los Angeles clients get FBI reports authenticated and apostilled for visas, work permits, immigration, adoption, and residency abroad. Serving all of California by mail.
Make your FBI background check valid in another country
Many foreign consulates, employers, and immigration authorities ask for an FBI Identity History Summary (FBI background check) with an apostille to confirm your criminal record status in the United States.
An apostille is a certificate added by the U.S. Department of State that confirms the authenticity of the FBI official's signature and seal on your background check. Countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention accept an FBI report with apostille as an official federal document for visa and residency purposes.
We help you confirm whether your FBI report is the right version (emailed PDF, printed version, or hard copy from a channeler), whether it needs original ink signatures, and how it must be submitted so the apostille is issued without delays.
This page covers FBI background checks specifically. For other federal records, visit our federal documents apostille hub, or see related pages for federal court documents, consular birth reports, and USCIS/naturalization documents.
Experience with FBI reports, visas, and consulates
- Regularly handle FBI background check apostilles for work visas, long‑term residency, teaching abroad, adoption, and international volunteer programs.
- Review your existing FBI report or order confirmation before you mail anything, so you know whether it is acceptable for apostille or if you should request a new version.
- Explain the difference between FBI reports obtained directly from the FBI and those obtained through approved channelers, and how each is processed for apostille.
- Provide clear timelines and cost estimates, plus updates while your FBI report is being authenticated and apostilled so you can plan around consulate appointments and travel dates.
Many clients reach out after a consulate, employer, or immigration attorney gives them a checklist that simply says "FBI background check with apostille." We help turn that short instruction into a specific, step‑by‑step plan so you get the correct report and avoid rejected paperwork.
How FBI background check apostille works
1. We review your destination requirements and FBI report status.
You can send us a copy of your FBI background check (with any sensitive details obscured if you prefer), your order confirmation, or the instructions from your consulate or employer. We confirm whether you already have the correct type of FBI report or need to request a new one and whether the apostille must come from the U.S. Department of State or another authority.
2. We help you obtain or print the correct FBI report.
If you still need to request the FBI background check, we explain how to submit fingerprints (via Live Scan or cards), whether to use the FBI or an approved channeler, and how to receive the report so it can be apostilled. If you already have a digital report, we confirm how it should be printed and certified for use in the apostille process.
3. We coordinate authentication and apostille and return your documents.
Once your FBI report is in the proper format, we submit it for federal authentication and apostille, track processing, and return the completed apostilled report to you by mail or courier. For non‑Hague countries, we can discuss any additional U.S. Department of State authentication and consular steps that may be required after the federal stage.
Processing times vary based on how quickly the FBI issues your report and current federal workloads. We outline realistic timelines and rush options where available so you can schedule consulate visits or travel with confidence.
When Los Angeles clients apostille an FBI background check
Long‑term visas and residency permits
Many countries require an apostilled FBI background check for work visas, student visas, residency permits, and retirement visas to confirm that applicants do not have disqualifying criminal records.
Teaching abroad and international employment
International schools, universities, and employers frequently require FBI background checks with apostille as part of their hiring and work‑permit process, especially for roles involving children or sensitive industries.
Adoption and immigration cases
Adoption authorities and immigration programs in some countries request an apostilled FBI background check for prospective parents or sponsors as part of their suitability review. For related court orders, see our adoption apostille page.
Volunteer and missionary work abroad
Humanitarian organizations and religious missions sometimes require apostilled FBI background checks to place volunteers in schools, hospitals, or community programs overseas.
Questions about apostilling an FBI report
Do I need the original FBI report for apostille?
In most cases, the U.S. Department of State requires an original FBI report with an official signature or certification, not just a photocopy. We review your report and let you know if it meets current federal requirements or if you should request a new copy before starting the apostille process.
Can I use a channeler-issued FBI report?
Many approved channelers can provide FBI background checks that are acceptable for apostille when they include the proper FBI seal and certification. We clarify whether your specific channeler report is eligible and how it should be submitted for apostille.
How long is my FBI background check valid?
The FBI does not set an expiration date, but most consulates and immigration programs only accept reports that are a few months old. We recommend checking your destination country's rules and planning your apostille timing so the report is still considered "recent" when you submit it.
Can I notarize my FBI background check locally instead?
Because an FBI report is a federal document, it typically must go through federal authentication and apostille, not state‑level notarization and apostille. We explain the correct federal path so you do not waste time or money on the wrong process.
What if my destination country is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention?
Non‑Hague countries usually require federal authentication followed by consular legalization instead of an apostille. We can outline the steps for your specific country so you understand whether an apostille, another federal certificate, or consular processing is needed.
Serving Los Angeles in person and clients nationwide by mail
Share a copy of your FBI report or order confirmation and your destination country so we can confirm what is required and outline a realistic federal apostille timeline before you book travel or consulate appointments.
We regularly help clients from Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, and across California prepare FBI background checks for use in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and beyond. Mail‑in apostille options are available even if you are currently outside California.
When you reach out, it helps to include:
- Whether you already have your FBI background check or still need to request it.
- How and when you received the report (PDF by email, printed copy, channeler, etc.).
- The country where the report will be used and any visa or appointment deadlines you are facing.
We will confirm fees, mailing or courier options, and the expected federal apostille timeline before finalizing your appointment.
For an overview of all document types and countries we handle, visit our apostille services page or return to mobile notary and apostille services in Los Angeles.