It’s the question everyone asks the moment FBI background check is done: “When will I get my results?” The honest answer is that it depends almost entirely on how the prints were submitted and who receives them. Here’s a realistic breakdown so you can plan around your start date.
Turnaround by submission method
| Submission method | Typical FBI turnaround | Notes |
| Live Scan (electronic) | Often 24–72 hours | Skips mail; quality-checked at capture |
| FD-258 card, mailed | About 2 weeks or more | Add mail time; restarts if rejected |
| Plus agency review | Varies | Board/employer adds its own review after the FBI portion |
According to the FBI, results on electronically submitted prints are typically returned to the requesting state within 24 to 72 hours. A mailed FD-258 ink card has to travel, be entered, and then processed — which is why it commonly takes two weeks or more.
An honest note on “expedited” results
No fingerprinting provider — us included — can speed up the FBI itself. What we control is getting you captured and submitted quickly and cleanly so nothing stalls on our end. Anyone promising guaranteed same-day FBI results isn’t being straight with you; electronic submission is simply the fastest legitimate route.
What actually controls your timeline
- Submission method — electronic vs. mail is the single biggest factor.
- Print quality — a rejection and reprint adds days or weeks, which is exactly why prints get rejected is worth reading first.
- The receiving agency — many results route to a licensing board or employer’s regulator, whose own review adds time after the FBI portion.
- Volume and backlogs — peak hiring seasons slow agency-side processing.
Are you getting your record, or is an agency getting it?
This changes expectations. If you’re requesting your own FBI Identity History Summary, an approved channeler can often return it quickly. If an employer or board is the recipient — under their ORI — you’ll usually hear from them, not us, once their review is done. (New to that code? Here’s what an ORI number is.)
How to get results as fast as possible
- Choose Live Scan if your agency accepts it.
- Come prepared so your prints pass the first time.
- Have your correct ORI and reason-fingerprinted code ready so nothing stalls at submission.
Working against a job or license start date? Book a Live Scan appointment and tell us your deadline — we’ll get you captured and submitted the same day.
FAQ
Q: Can I get same-day FBI background check results?
A: Sometimes the FBI portion returns within 24–72 hours on electronic submissions, but no provider can guarantee same-day results — we can’t expedite the FBI. We can submit same-day so you’re first in the queue.
Q: Why are my results taking so long?
A: Most often it’s a mailed card instead of electronic submission, a rejected print that had to be redone, or the receiving agency’s own review after the FBI portion is finished.
Q: How long does an ink card take versus Live Scan?
A: Live Scan results often return in 24–72 hours; a mailed FD-258 ink card commonly takes two weeks or more, plus extra time if it’s rejected and has to be redone.