Why the FBI check is different
An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, so it must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. — not by your home state.
Step 1: Order the FBI check
You can order the report directly from the FBI or through an FBI-approved channeler. Channelers are usually faster.
Step 2: Do not open or alter the report
Keep the report exactly as delivered. Some countries require the report to be recent, so order it close to the time you'll submit.
Step 3: Submit for federal apostille
The U.S. Department of State apostilles the report. Standard mail-in processing has varied over the past year — expedited services are limited.
Step 4: Translate if needed
Countries like Portugal, Spain, and Brazil usually require a certified translation.
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