Moving to India or applying for a visa? Your FBI background check needs an apostille for many visa, residency, and OCI processes. We personally walk your documents into the U.S. Department of State for the fastest turnaround in the country: 7 to 10 business days.
"From the beginning to delivering of my documents, Fingerprints & Apostilles took control and kept me informed every step of the way. I will without a doubt be a repeat customer for all my federal apostilles."
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You can absolutely do that. Here is what the experience looks like compared to using our service.
| Mail It Yourself | Fingerprints & Apostilles | |
|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | 5 to 12+ weeks | 7 to 10 business days |
| Paperwork | You fill out every form | We handle everything |
| Cost | $20 apostille fee + your shipping | $120 all-in (shipping included) |
| Tracking | None | Status updates throughout |
| Risk of Rejection | High (incorrect forms, missing items) | We catch issues before submission |
| Return Shipping | Extra cost, you arrange | 2-day shipping included |
India commonly requires an apostilled FBI background check for employment, business, residency, and OCI-related processes. Here are the most common reasons people need this service.
Foreign nationals taking up employment in India are often asked for an apostilled FBI background check as part of the employment visa and registration process.
Entrepreneurs and investors establishing or operating a business in India may need an apostilled FBI background check for their business visa application.
Some Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) related processes call for an apostilled FBI background check. Confirm the exact requirement with the authority handling your application.
Applicants seeking long-term residency or registration in India frequently submit an apostilled FBI background check as part of the process.
Some education programs and student processes in India request an apostilled FBI background check to confirm an applicant's background.
Certain professional licensing and registration bodies in India ask for an apostilled FBI background check before granting registration.
India joined the Hague Apostille Convention, effective 2005. That means documents for use in India are apostilled, not embassy-legalized. For a US-issued FBI background check, the apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State, which is exactly what we handle.
If you mail your document to the Department of State, the standard timeline is 5 to 12 weeks. Many Indian processes prefer a recent background check, so a slow apostille can push you past the recency window the office expects.
Our 7 to 10 business day turnaround keeps your FBI background check fresh. You get your apostilled document back with time to spare before you file.
FBI background checks are federal documents. Only the U.S. Department of State can apostille them. Your state's Secretary of State cannot do this. India's own competent authority is its Ministry of External Affairs, but a US-issued FBI check is apostilled on the US side by the Department of State.
English is widely used in official processes in India, and your FBI background check is already in English, so typically no translation is needed for India. Always confirm with the specific authority or consulate handling your application, since requirements can vary.
The Department of State attaches the apostille to your document with a staple and grommet. Indian authorities will reject your documents if the staple shows signs of tampering. Do not remove, rebind, or laminate it.
In Virginia? Get fingerprinted at one of our three locations (results in as low as 30 minutes). Anywhere else in the U.S.? Get ink fingerprints on an FD-258 card locally and mail the card to us. Already have your FBI background check? Skip straight to step 2.
Upload your completed FBI background check through our website, email the PDF to us, or drop it off in person at our Alexandria office. Americans living abroad can email it from anywhere in the world.
We personally walk your documents into the U.S. Department of State. Your apostilled FBI background check is returned with 2-day shipping included. International return shipping is available when you provide your own label.
After you order, you receive tracking texts, emails, and a personal tracking page so you always know exactly where your documents are. You know the ready date as soon as we drop your documents off at the Department of State. No waiting in the dark, no chasing updates. And if anything comes up, you have a dedicated point of contact who can help.
Need an apostille for a different country? We handle FBI background check apostilles for all Hague Convention member countries.
Yes. India joined the Hague Apostille Convention, effective 2005, so documents for use in India are apostilled, not embassy-legalized. For a US-issued FBI background check, the apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State, which authenticates it for use with Indian authorities.
7 to 10 business days. We personally walk documents into the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. instead of mailing them. The standard timeline by mail is 5 to 12 weeks.
Most Indian processes prefer a recent FBI background check, often issued within the last 6 months. Requirements vary by visa category and the office handling your application, so confirm the exact recency window. Our 7 to 10 business day turnaround gives you the maximum usable window.
Typically no translation is needed for India. English is widely used in official processes there, and the FBI background check is already in English. Always confirm with the specific Indian authority or consulate handling your application, since requirements can vary.
If you are in the Washington, D.C. metro area, yes. Get fingerprinted at one of our three Virginia locations, receive your FBI background check (results in as low as 30 minutes), and we begin the apostille process immediately.
Yes. If you already have your FBI background check, you can send it to us from anywhere in the world. We handle the apostille and ship it back to you. International shipping is available when the customer provides their own shipping label.
Yes. If you already have your FBI background check, email the PDF to us and we handle the apostille. For return shipping outside the United States, you provide your own shipping label.
You do not need to be in Virginia. If you already have your FBI background check, email it to us from anywhere. If you need fingerprints, you can get ink fingerprints done on an FD-258 card at any fingerprinting location near you and mail the card to us. We will process your FBI background check and start the apostille. Visit our mail-in fingerprinting page for details.
No. Requirements depend on the process. Employment visas, business visas, long-term residency, OCI-related processes, and some education or professional registration commonly call for an apostilled FBI background check. Confirm with your immigration attorney or the Indian authority handling your application.
No. The Department of State attaches the apostille to your document with a staple and grommet. If the staple shows signs of tampering, Indian authorities will reject your documents. Do not remove, rebind, or laminate it.
Don't Have Your FBI Background Check Yet?
You do not need to arrive with your FBI background check in hand. We handle the entire process from fingerprints to apostille under one roof. Get fingerprinted at one of our three Virginia locations, receive your results in as low as 30 minutes, and we take it straight to the Department of State.
Book an appointment, get fingerprinted, and walk out. We handle everything from there. Your apostilled FBI background check arrives at your door.
Visa consultants, relocation companies, immigration attorneys, and fingerprinting businesses: add FBI background check apostilles to your services without building the process yourself.
India usually accepts English documents, so an FBI background check typically needs no translation. If another part of your application calls for a certified translation, we recommend Rush Translate for fast, affordable certified translations in 65+ languages.
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7 to 10 business days. 2-day return shipping included. We walk your documents into the Department of State personally so you do not have to wait months.
We also apostille US state vital records for use in India, including birth certificates and marriage certificates, since Indian processes sometimes require those too. We apostille vital records from all 50 states, with the same expedited handling and return shipping included. Applying for an OCI card? Since December 30, 2024, US birth certificates must be apostilled for OCI, and hospital certificates get rejected. See our OCI apostille guide.