Yes, you can get fingerprinting at the post office, but only at participating locations and only for four specific FBI programs. The service costs $50 per person and requires online registration before you walk in. If you need prints for a job, a licensing board, an adoption, or almost anything a state or private employer requested, the Post Office is not set up to help you.
Which Purposes USPS Fingerprinting Covers
USPS fingerprinting supports four FBI programs: the Identity History Summary Check, the Firearm Challenge, the Voluntary Appeal File, and the Federal Firearm Rights Restoration program.1USPS.com. USPS Fingerprinting Services Registration – Location Search That is a narrower scope than most people expect when they hear the Post Office offers fingerprinting.
The most common reason people use the service is the Identity History Summary Check, an FBI report of any criminal history on file under your name and fingerprints. People request it for immigration applications, overseas employment, visa processing, and personal record review. The Voluntary Appeal File is less familiar. It exists for people who have been wrongly denied or delayed during a firearm background check and want their fingerprints on file to prevent it from happening again.2Federal Bureau of Investigation. Voluntary Appeal File
If your fingerprint request came from an employer, a professional licensing board, a school district, or an adoption agency, none of those fall inside the four FBI programs. You will need a different provider.
How To Register and What It Costs
You cannot walk into a Post Office and ask for fingerprinting. The service requires online registration in a specific order.
Start with the FBI. Register directly with the Identity History Summary Check program, or whichever of the four programs applies to you, and pay the FBI’s $18 processing fee.3Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions The FBI emails you an Order Confirmation Number once your registration is complete.
Next, go to the USPS fingerprinting registration page and enter your name, email address, and that FBI Order Confirmation Number.4USPS.com. Register for Fingerprinting at the United States Postal Service This step links your FBI request to the USPS system so the Post Office knows how to route your prints.
Then find a participating location. Not every Post Office offers the service. Use the USPS location search at ips.usps.com to look up availability by ZIP code, and confirm before making the trip.1USPS.com. USPS Fingerprinting Services Registration – Location Search
Your total out-of-pocket cost is $68: the $18 FBI fee paid during registration and the $50 USPS fee paid at the Post Office.
What To Bring to Your Appointment
Come with three things: a copy of the FBI confirmation email from your registration, a valid photo ID, and $50 for the USPS fee. Accepted IDs include a state-issued driver’s license, a U.S. passport or passport card, or a uniformed services ID card.4USPS.com. Register for Fingerprinting at the United States Postal Service
Skin condition matters more than most people expect. Dry, cracked skin is the leading cause of unreadable prints. Moisturize your hands several times a day in the 24 hours before your appointment, and stop about two hours before you arrive so your fingers are not greasy at the scanner. Stay hydrated. Skip alcohol-based hand sanitizer that day, since it pulls moisture out of your skin fast. If your hands are severely dry, a heavy moisturizer or petroleum jelly overnight under cotton gloves can help. Coming back for a second appointment because your prints were rejected costs you time and, in some cases, another fee.
How and When You Get Your Results
USPS captures prints digitally and submits them to the FBI electronically. Electronic submissions are typically processed within three to five business days. The FBI returns results electronically, with the option to also receive a physical copy by first-class mail.3Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions
Where To Go if USPS Cannot Help You
Most fingerprinting requests fall outside the four FBI programs the Post Office supports. If yours does, you have a few options.
Local Law Enforcement
Police departments and sheriff’s offices are the traditional source for ink-card fingerprinting. Many offer walk-in service to the public, though hours vary. Fees typically run from free to about $35 per card, averaging around $10 nationally. Call ahead to confirm the agency fingerprints the public, and bring your own cards, since most agencies don’t supply them. The organization that asked for your prints should provide the cards or tell you where to buy them.
Private Fingerprinting Providers
Companies like IdentoGO, Fieldprint, and PrintScan handle most Live Scan electronic fingerprinting in the U.S. They operate inside UPS Stores, shipping centers, and their own offices. Total cost usually runs $40 to $120, which covers both the rolling fee and the processing fee charged by the receiving agency. The price varies with the destination agency and the type of background check.
FBI-Approved Channelers
If you specifically need an FBI Identity History Summary Check and can’t reach a participating Post Office, an FBI-approved channeler can collect and submit your prints instead. Current approved channelers include Accurate Biometrics, Fieldprint, and Idemia, among others.5Federal Bureau of Investigation. List of FBI-Approved Channelers for Departmental Order Submissions Processing times range from two business days to about three weeks depending on the company. Channelers add their own service fees on top of the FBI’s $18 fee.
Mobile Fingerprinting
Mobile providers travel to your location with portable Live Scan equipment. This works for employers processing a whole team at once or for individuals who can’t easily travel. Expect to pay more than at a fixed location, and expect some providers to set a minimum number of prints per visit.
Before Any Appointment: Get the ORI Number
Whichever provider you use, ask the organization that requested your prints for the Originating Agency Identifier, or ORI number. It’s a nine-character code that tells the fingerprinting provider where to send your results. Without it, the provider often can’t route the submission correctly. Ask for it before your appointment rather than at the counter.
Bring payment you know the provider accepts. Most take credit cards, many take money orders, and acceptance of debit cards, checks, or cash varies. A quick call before you go beats rescheduling.