How to Get an FBI Background Check While Living in China

Quick Answer

You can obtain an FBI Background Check while living in China without returning to the United States. First confirm that the receiving organization specifically requires an FBI Identity History Summary. You can then choose between two routes.

Hive-assisted electronic processing: Have fingerprints taken locally, then securely send Hive a clear scan of at least 400 DPI. Hive reviews the fingerprint quality, digitizes the impressions and coordinates electronic processing through an FBI-approved channeler. Accepted submissions are typically completed within 24–48 hours, although timing cannot be guaranteed.

Direct FBI submission: Create an online request through the FBI's Identity History Summary Checks service (opens in a new tab), then mail the original fingerprint card to the FBI. The FBI currently estimates approximately 10 days after receiving a card connected to an online request, excluding international delivery.

Hive also provides digital fingerprint scanning in selected locations. Availability depends on the applicant's city and appointment capacity, so confirm the location before traveling. Whichever route you choose, ask the receiving authority whether the completed report also needs a U.S. Department of State apostille.

At a Glance

First, Confirm That You Need an FBI Report

Before paying a fee or getting fingerprinted, ask the organization requesting the document to confirm its requirements in writing. "Background check" can refer to several different records, and they are not interchangeable.

An employer, recruiter, school, licensing body or government office may request:

• an FBI Identity History Summary;
• a U.S. state criminal record check;
• a local police clearance;
• a record from every country where you have lived;
• an apostilled or authenticated version of one of those documents; or
• a translated copy that meets its own format rules.

For China-related employment or residence procedures, requirements can vary by city, employer, permit category and the office reviewing the application. An FBI report is a national U.S. record search, but that does not mean it is automatically the correct document for every case.

Ask these questions before you begin:

1. Do you require an FBI Identity History Summary, or will a state-level record be accepted?
2. In which country and jurisdiction will the final document be submitted?
3. Does the report need a U.S. Department of State apostille?
4. Is a Chinese translation required?
5. Is there a document age limit at the time of submission?
6. Must the name on the report match the passport exactly?
7. Are electronic FBI results accepted, or is a printed or mailed version required?

This verification is not a formality. The correct legalization path depends on both where a document originated and where it will be used.

What Is an FBI Identity History Summary?

An FBI Identity History Summary is a record of information associated with fingerprints submitted to the FBI. If the FBI's search finds no associated criminal history information, the response states that no prior arrest data was found in its records. If information is found, the summary may include data submitted by federal, state, local or certain foreign criminal justice agencies.

The FBI sometimes refers to this service as a "rap sheet." Applicants and receiving organizations often call it an FBI background check, FBI clearance, FBI report or FBI criminal background check. The official document name remains Identity History Summary.

The service is fingerprint-based. According to the FBI's current Identity History Summary FAQs (opens in a new tab), the agency does not provide a name-check alternative for an individual request.

An Identity History Summary obtained through this process is a personal record review. It is not the same as an employer ordering a U.S. background check under a domestic employment-screening law. It is, however, the document frequently requested by authorities abroad for work, residence, education, adoption and other international purposes. The receiving organization—not the FBI or Hive—decides whether it is acceptable for a particular application.

Two Application Routes From China

Applicants in China can choose between Hive-assisted electronic processing and a direct FBI submission. Both routes seek the same FBI Identity History Summary. The differences are how the fingerprints are submitted, who manages the workflow and how long the report typically takes.

These timeframes cover the FBI report stage only. Fingerprinting appointments, corrections, apostilles, translations and final delivery are separate. Government and channeler processing times can change, and no result time can be guaranteed.

Route 1: Hive-Assisted Electronic Processing

Hive works with an FBI-approved channeler to help eligible applicants obtain their FBI Identity History Summary from abroad. The applicant first has a complete set of fingerprints taken. Depending on location, this may be done with ink on a fingerprint card or through digital fingerprint scanning arranged by Hive.

For a card-based submission:

1. Have a complete set of fingerprints taken on an accepted fingerprint card.
2. Scan the completed card at a minimum of 400 DPI without cropping, shadows or compression.
3. Send the scan to Hive using the secure transfer method agreed during intake.
4. Hive reviews the card for visible quality and completeness issues.
5. If acceptable, Hive digitizes the fingerprints and coordinates electronic submission through an FBI-approved channeler.
6. The electronic FBI result is typically available within 24–48 hours after acceptance.

The 24–48-hour timeframe reflects Hive's typical assisted workflow; it is not an FBI guarantee. Fingerprint quality, incomplete personal information, channeler acceptance, technical review or FBI processing conditions can affect timing.

Hive provides digital fingerprint scanning in selected locations. This can remove the need to create and scan an ink card, but availability varies by city and appointment capacity. Contact Hive before traveling so the team can confirm the current location, required identification and whether the digital capture option is appropriate for your case.

The FBI's current Departmental Order channeler list (opens in a new tab) explains that approved channelers electronically forward fingerprint submissions to the FBI and return the result to the individual. Hive is an independent document consulting company working with an approved channeler; Hive is not itself the FBI or an FBI-approved channeler.

Route 2: Apply Directly Through the FBI

Applicants who prefer to manage the process themselves can submit directly through the FBI's electronic Departmental Order system, commonly called eDO. The online system lets you create the application, pay the FBI's current fee and receive the result electronically. An applicant in China will ordinarily still need to mail the original physical fingerprint card.

The direct process is:

1. Start the request through the FBI's official online service.
2. Pay the current FBI fee and save the confirmation.
3. Have fingerprints taken in China on the card accepted for the request.
4. Mail the original card according to the confirmation instructions.
5. Monitor international delivery and the FBI request status.
6. Download the electronic result when processing is complete.

The FBI currently estimates approximately 10 days after it receives a mailed fingerprint card connected to an online request. International courier time is additional. Do not mail the card until you have read the confirmation email and verified the current address and instructions.

What You Need Before Starting

Prepare the following:

• your passport;
• your full current legal name exactly as it should appear on the request;
• any former names, aliases or other names used, where the form asks for them;
• a reliable email address;
• the submission route confirmed for your case;
• an FBI-accepted fingerprint card printed or supplied in the correct format;
• a fingerprinting provider in China;
• access to a scanner capable of producing a clear image of at least 400 DPI if using Hive's card-based assisted route;
• a payment card, protective envelope and trackable courier if applying directly to the FBI; and
• the written document requirements from the final receiving organization.

If you expect to need an apostille, also confirm the destination country and plan how the FBI result will reach the U.S. Department of State. The FBI does not forward a report to the Department of State for you.

Step-by-Step: How to Get an FBI Background Check in China

Step 1: Verify the Recipient's Exact Requirements

Get confirmation of the document type, destination country, apostille requirement, translation requirement, accepted format and validity window. If the report is for a Chinese employer or government process, ask which local office will review it.

Do not rely only on a general online checklist. A checklist for one city or permit category may not apply to another.

Step 2: Choose the Processing Route

Choose the route before completing application forms or shipping fingerprints.

For Hive-assisted electronic processing, contact Hive first. The team will confirm applicant eligibility, the fingerprint format, secure transfer method, available digital scanning locations and the information required by the channeler workflow. Do not create a separate direct FBI eDO request unless Hive tells you that one is needed.

For direct FBI submission, begin through the official Identity History Summary Checks page (opens in a new tab). Enter your information carefully, pay the FBI's current fee and save the confirmation and fingerprint-mailing instructions.

Step 3: Prepare the Correct Fingerprint Card

The correct card depends on the submission route. Current FBI instructions for a direct Identity History Summary request point applicants to the FD-1164 fingerprint form (opens in a new tab), which may be printed on standard white paper. The FD-258 is widely used for federal fingerprint collection and may be requested for Hive-assisted channeler processing.

Do not choose a card only because it says "FBI" or resembles an example online. Direct applicants should use the form identified in their current FBI instructions. Hive-assisted applicants should use the card and format confirmed during intake.

Print at full size without scaling or cropping. The card should be clean, flat and undamaged. Applicants using Hive digital fingerprint scanning in a selected location will receive location-specific preparation instructions and may not need to print a card in advance.

Step 4: Arrange Fingerprinting in China

FBI fingerprinting availability varies considerably across China. Depending on your location, possible providers may include:

• a Hive digital fingerprint scanning location, where currently available;
• a local Public Security Bureau office or police station willing to assist;
• a notarial or forensic service;
• an international medical, relocation or document service provider; or
• a private fingerprint technician.

Contact Hive before traveling if you want digital fingerprint scanning. Selected-location availability, appointment capacity and accepted identification can change.

For other providers, call ahead. Explain that you need a complete set of fingerprints on a U.S. FBI fingerprint card for an overseas criminal-record request. Ask whether the office provides ink fingerprints, whether you must bring the card, which identification is required and whether an appointment is necessary.

U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services, according to the U.S. Department of State's guidance for U.S. citizens seeking criminal records checks abroad (opens in a new tab).

Step 5: Complete the Biographical Fields Carefully

Follow the instructions for your selected route. At a minimum, the FBI's published guidance for a direct request requires the fingerprint card to include your name, date of birth and signature, along with a complete set of fingerprints. Hive-assisted applicants should complete every field identified during intake.

Use your passport name consistently. If the form provides a field for aliases or other names used, include relevant former names, maiden names or alternate spellings. Do not squeeze extra text into unrelated fields.

Before fingerprints are taken, check:

• spelling;
• month/day/year order;
• passport-name order;
• place of birth;
• sex and other identifying fields;
• your signature; and
• the email request details.

A fingerprint card and application with inconsistent names can create confusion even when the prints themselves are acceptable.

Step 6: Have All Required Fingerprints Captured

The FBI requires impressions of all 10 fingers. Its published instructions call for:

• individual rolled impressions for each finger; and
• plain or flat impressions used to verify the sequence.

Rolled impressions should capture the ridge detail from one side of the nail to the other. Plain impressions are normally taken in groups—four fingers from each hand and both thumbs—without rolling.

An experienced technician is preferable. Ink fingerprints can be reviewed and digitized for Hive's assisted workflow. Digital fingerprints captured through a selected Hive location are prepared for the confirmed processing route. Direct FBI applicants using a local live-scan provider should obtain a printed physical card unless the provider is specifically authorized to transmit the submission electronically.

Step 7: Inspect the Card Before Leaving

Take several minutes to review the completed card while the technician is still available. Check that:

• every fingerprint box has an impression;
• the impressions are not heavily smudged;
• the ridges are visible rather than solid black;
• no print is so light that the ridge pattern disappears;
• rolled impressions extend across the finger from nail edge to nail edge;
• the plain impressions are in the correct boxes;
• handwritten information is legible;
• required signatures and dates are present; and
• the card is not torn, folded or stained.

The FBI recommends multiple fingerprint sets when there is concern that one may be rejected. This is especially useful for applicants with worn ridges, scars, dry skin or previous rejection history. Hive can advise which set appears strongest for assisted processing; direct applicants should follow the current FBI instructions for sending multiple cards.

If using Hive's card-based route, scan the completed card at a minimum of 400 DPI. Keep the card flat, include the full edges, avoid shadows and glare, and do not apply filters or heavy image compression.

Step 8: Submit the Fingerprints Through Your Chosen Route

For Hive-assisted processing, use the secure transfer method provided during intake. Hive will review the scan for visible quality and completeness issues. If acceptable, the team digitizes the impressions and coordinates electronic submission through an FBI-approved channeler. If a clearer scan or a new fingerprint set is needed, Hive will explain the issue before processing.

For a direct FBI submission, follow the mailing directions in your eDO confirmation exactly. Do not rely on an address copied from an old article, video or forum post. Place the original card in a protective envelope, do not fold or laminate it, use tracking and monitor delivery until the package is shown as received.

A scan sent to Hive is part of Hive's assisted digitization and channeler workflow. A scan does not replace the original card when an applicant chooses the standard direct FBI mailed-card route.

Step 9: Monitor the Request and Receive the Result

For Hive-assisted processing, an accepted electronic submission is typically completed within 24–48 hours. Hive will provide the result according to the agreed workflow. This timeframe is typical rather than guaranteed and begins only after fingerprint quality, applicant information and channeler acceptance are confirmed.

For direct processing, the FBI begins its published processing period after receiving the original card. Online applicants receive access to an electronic result and can select the available mailing option during the application process.

Download the result promptly and store it securely. Confirm that:

• your name appears as expected;
• the report is complete;
• the result is readable;
• the FBI watermark and official signature are present; and
• the receiving organization accepts the format you selected.

The FBI states that Identity History Summary results are authenticated at issuance with a watermark and the signature of an FBI division official. This built-in authentication is different from a U.S. Department of State apostille.

Step 10: Address Errors or Missing Information

If the report contains information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, do not alter the PDF or annotate the original report. Follow the FBI's challenge procedure and, where relevant, contact the agency that originally submitted the disputed information.

If your fingerprints are rejected, obtain a new set and follow the resubmission instructions for your selected route. A rejection is not the same as a criminal-record result; it means the fingerprint images could not be processed reliably.

Step 11: Determine Whether an Apostille Is Required

An FBI report is a U.S. federal document. When a receiving authority requires an apostille for use in a country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention, the competent U.S. authority is the U.S. Department of State, not a state Secretary of State.

Mainland China's Apostille Convention membership took effect on November 7, 2023, as recorded by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (opens in a new tab). This does not mean every FBI report used in China automatically needs an apostille. It means an apostille is the Convention method available when the Chinese receiving authority requires formal certification of the U.S. federal document.

If the report will be used in another country, follow that destination's rules. If it will be submitted in a jurisdiction with special requirements, obtain instructions from the actual recipient before ordering legalization.

Do not have the original FBI report notarized. The Department of State warns that notarizing a federal document can make it ineligible for federal apostille processing. Its current apostille requirements (opens in a new tab) should be checked immediately before submission.

Step 12: Complete Translation and Final Delivery

Ask the receiving organization whether it needs:

• the original FBI result;
• a printed electronic result;
• an apostilled original;
• a separate apostille certificate;
• a Chinese translation;
• a certified or notarized translation; or
• copies in a particular order.

Do not translate or bind the documents until you know the recipient's format rules. If an apostille is required, translation is often arranged afterward so the translator can address the complete set, but the recipient's instructions control.

Realistic Processing Timeline

Processing time has several separate parts. A published turnaround normally begins only after a complete, acceptable submission is received. It does not include arranging fingerprints, correcting quality problems, obtaining an apostille or delivering the final document.

The fastest appropriate route depends on fingerprint quality, applicant eligibility, destination requirements and whether the report needs an apostille. Hive's 24–48-hour timeframe is a typical assisted-processing estimate, not a guarantee. Direct FBI and U.S. Department of State estimates can change without notice.

Before sending anything, review the FBI's current processing estimate and the Department of State's current authentication service information (opens in a new tab). Government workloads, holidays, severe weather, courier disruptions and incomplete submissions can change the timeline.

Do You Need an FBI Apostille?

An apostille confirms the public official's signature and authority so that a document can be presented in another Apostille Convention country. It does not verify the report's contents, approve your application or replace the recipient's review.

Use this decision sequence:

1. Identify the document origin. An FBI Identity History Summary is a U.S. federal document.
2. Identify the destination. Where will the document actually be used?
3. Ask the recipient whether certification is required. Do not assume.
4. Use the correct authority. A federal FBI report goes to the U.S. Department of State if a federal apostille is required.
5. Confirm translation rules. The country, local authority and recipient may have separate requirements.

The Department of State currently requires form DS-4194, the eligible document, the applicable fee and return-delivery arrangements. Requirements, carrier rules, addresses and processing estimates can change, so use the current government page.

Common Mistakes

Ordering the Wrong Type of Background Check

An FBI report, a state report and a local police clearance are different documents. Confirm which one is required before applying.

Assuming Every China Case Requires an Apostille

Some recipients accept the FBI result itself; others require an apostille and translation. Ordering unnecessary steps wastes time and money.

Using an Outdated or Unsuitable Fingerprint Card

Follow the current FBI request instructions. A card downloaded from an unofficial website may be scaled incorrectly or may not match the current application route.

Mixing the Two Submission Routes

Hive-assisted applicants should follow the intake and secure-transfer instructions provided by Hive. Direct applicants should create the eDO request before mailing the original card. Creating duplicate requests or combining instructions from both routes can cause confusion.

Sending a Scan to the Wrong Recipient

A scan of at least 400 DPI can be used for Hive's assisted digitization and channeler workflow. It is not submitted by email to the FBI and does not replace the original card for the standard direct FBI route.

Accepting Poor Prints Because the Card Is Complete

Every box can contain a print and the card can still fail. Smudging, low contrast, missing ridge detail and incomplete rolling are common quality problems.

Using Inconsistent Names

Enter your name carefully and disclose other names where requested. Differences among a passport, FBI request, degree and employment documents can cause questions later.

Treating the Report Estimate as the Total Timeline

Hive's typical 24–48-hour timeframe begins after an acceptable electronic submission is confirmed. The FBI's direct estimate begins after card receipt. Fingerprinting, corrections, apostilles, translation and final delivery are separate stages.

Notarizing the FBI Report

A federal document should not be notarized before federal apostille processing. Use the U.S. Department of State procedure when an apostille is required.

Failing to Keep Secure Records

Keep the relevant confirmation, secure reference copy, tracking receipt and final report for your selected route. Store them securely because they contain sensitive personal information.

Pro Tips From Practical Document Preparation

Arrange Fingerprinting Before Starting a Tight Deadline

Availability varies more than the FBI application itself. Call several providers and explain the card format in advance.

Ask Whether Hive Digital Scanning Is Available Nearby

Hive provides digital fingerprint scanning in selected locations. Confirm availability, identification requirements and appointment capacity before traveling.

Bring More Than One Clean Card

A second card allows the technician to repeat the set immediately if the first is smudged or incomplete.

Prepare Your Hands

Clean, dry hands usually produce better impressions. The FBI advises using a very small amount of lotion for severely dry or flaky skin and wiping away residue. For overly moist hands, the technician may use rubbing alcohol and allow the fingers to dry.

Let the Technician Control the Roll

Tension and self-directed movement often create smears. Relax the hand while the technician guides each finger from nail edge to nail edge.

Review the Card in Good Light

You should be able to see distinct ridge patterns rather than dark blobs or faint gray patches.

Use Exact Passport-Name Spelling From the Beginning

Correcting a mismatch after the report is issued is much harder than preventing it.

Work Backward From the True Submission Date

Include fingerprint scheduling, two international shipments if an apostille is needed, agency processing, translation and a contingency for rejection.

Ask for a Quality Review Before Processing or Mailing

This is a Hive recommendation, not an FBI requirement. An experienced review cannot guarantee acceptance, but it can identify visible omissions or poor impressions before the card is digitized or the original is shipped.

Privacy and Safe Document Handling

Fingerprint cards, passport details and FBI reports contain sensitive personal information. Use a reputable provider and ask how your data will be stored and deleted.

Practical safeguards include:

• use a secure, agreed transfer method for any quality review;
• keep tracking numbers and application references private;
• store downloaded reports in an encrypted or access-controlled location; and
• delete unnecessary copies after the process is complete.

Hive does not recommend uploading fingerprints or identity documents through a general website form unless the service is specifically designed and secured for sensitive document transfer.

Official Sources

• FBI Identity History Summary Checks (opens in a new tab)
• FBI Identity History Summary FAQs (opens in a new tab)
• FBI-Approved Channelers for Departmental Order Submissions (opens in a new tab)
• U.S. Department of State Criminal Records Checks Guidance (opens in a new tab)
• U.S. Department of State Apostille Requirements (opens in a new tab)
• Hague Apostille Convention Status Table (opens in a new tab)

Government fees, forms, addresses, processing estimates and submission rules can change. Confirm the current procedure on the official FBI and U.S. Department of State websites before submitting documents.