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 Convention require apostilles – all other countries require an authentication.

Speedy Fingerprinting 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 (it is a PDF file) you will forward the file to us and we’ll submit it to the US State Department for apostille or authentication. The State Department web site states that the process takes 10 to 11 weeks but recent customers have received their file within 6 weeks.

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 and then apostille by the state you reside in. 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 office.

If you need documents apostilled, no matter where you are located, give us a call at 256-797-2197 to discuss your needs and the steps we’ll need to take. If you have many documents, we can discuss a bulk rate.