How to Apostille an FBI Background Check

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Introduction

Hi there! If you’ve applied for an FBI background check and now need it accepted by a foreign country, you’ve probably been told it needs to be apostilled first.

Every week here at Virtual Same Day Marriage, we help clients across the country with this exact process — and it’s especially popular for those requesting:

👉 Apostille Phoenix
👉 Apostille Atlanta
👉 Apostille Las Vegas

If you’re new to the process, don’t worry — I’m going to walk you through exactly how to apostille an FBI background check, and I’ll show you how we can make the process faster and easier for you.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official government-issued certificate that makes U.S. documents legally recognized in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.

👉 Without an apostille, most foreign governments, immigration offices, schools, and employers will not accept your FBI background check.

👉 An apostille FBI background check is especially important if you’re applying for:
✅ Foreign visas
✅ Work permits
✅ Residency abroad
✅ Dual citizenship
✅ Foreign adoptions

Why You Might Need to Apostille an FBI Background Check

Here are some of the most common reasons our clients request an apostille FBI background check:

✅ Moving abroad for work or retirement
✅ Applying for a spousal or residency visa
✅ Completing a marriage-based immigration process
✅ Seeking employment in another country
✅ Adopting a child internationally

👉 If your destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you will absolutely need to apostille your FBI background check — or your application could be rejected.

How to Apostille an FBI Background Check — Step by Step

1️⃣ Request Your FBI Background Check

First, you’ll need to request your FBI background check — also called an Identity History Summary.

👉 You can do this directly through the FBI or through an FBI-approved channeler.
👉 You can request it electronically (faster) or by mail.

👉 In Phoenix, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, many clients use local fingerprinting services that submit the request electronically for faster turnaround.

2️⃣ Receive the FBI Background Check

You’ll receive your FBI background check as a digital PDF or hard copy.

👉 If you receive it digitally, print a copy on high-quality paper before submitting it for apostille.
👉 The FBI background check must be an official document — no altered copies are accepted.

3️⃣ Submit to the U.S. Department of State

Here’s the key difference from other apostille processes:

👉 FBI background checks are federal documents — they do NOT go to your state’s Secretary of State.
👉 They must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

👉 If you’re located in Phoenix, Atlanta, or Las Vegas, you’ll still need to send the document to D.C. — or use a trusted service like ours to handle it faster and correctly.

Why Use a Professional Apostille Service?

I’ll be honest — while you can try to handle this yourself, here’s what clients tell us happens when they do:

❌ Missing or incomplete submissions
❌ Wrong mailing addresses
❌ Rejected documents
❌ Long delays (4–8 weeks is common without help)

✅ When you use Virtual Same Day Marriage, here’s what you get:
✅ We verify that your FBI background check is ready for apostille.
✅ We handle all paperwork and submission.
✅ We process apostille Phoenix, apostille Atlanta, and apostille Las Vegas requests daily.
✅ We offer fast turnaround, including expedited services.
✅ We provide real-time updates and tracking.

How Long Does It Take?

👉 Standard processing through U.S. Department of State: 4–8 weeks (if done on your own)
👉 Expedited processing with our service: 3–5 business days (after receipt of your background check)

👉 We can often complete apostille Phoenix, apostille Atlanta, and apostille Las Vegas requests in as little as 1–3 business days once your document is ready.

How Much Does It Cost?

👉 U.S. Department of State fee: $20 per document
👉 Professional service fee: $100–$300 depending on processing speed and complexity

👉 See our full guide: How Much Does an Apostille Cost?

Internal Link Suggestions

👉 How to Apostille a Passport Copy
👉 How to Apostille School Transcripts
👉 How to Apostille Corporate Documents
👉 How Much Does an Apostille Cost?

External Link Suggestions

👉 FBI — Identity History Summary Checks
👉 U.S. Department of State — Apostille Requirements
👉 Hague Apostille Convention — Official Country List

FAQ Section

1. How do I apostille an FBI background check?

Request your FBI background check, then submit it to the U.S. Department of State — or use a professional apostille Phoenix, apostille Atlanta, or apostille Las Vegas service to handle it faster.

2. How long does it take to apostille an FBI background check?

On your own, it can take 4–8 weeks. We offer expedited service that can process your apostille FBI background check in 3–5 business days or faster.

3. Where do I submit my FBI background check for apostille?

All FBI background checks must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not by your state Secretary of State.

4. Can I apostille an FBI background check in Phoenix, Atlanta, or Las Vegas?

Yes — but the document still goes to D.C. We offer apostille Phoenix, apostille Atlanta, and apostille Las Vegas services to handle this process for you locally and conveniently.

5. Can Virtual Same Day Marriage help with my FBI background check apostille?

Absolutely! We handle apostille FBI background check requests for clients nationwide — with fast turnaround and expert handling — including apostille Phoenix, apostille Atlanta, and apostille Las Vegas.

Conclusion

If you need to apostille an FBI background check, don’t risk delays or mistakes. Whether it’s for immigration, work abroad, adoption, or residency — getting it right matters.

👉 We provide trusted apostille services for FBI background checks and other federal documents.
👉 We offer apostille Phoenix, apostille Atlanta, and apostille Las Vegas services for fast, convenient processing.
👉 We guide you through the entire process — and handle the paperwork so you don’t have to.

👉 Ready to get started? Contact Virtual Same Day Marriage today — we’ll help you get your FBI background check apostilled quickly and correctly.

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