The standard FBI fingerprint card
FD-258 Fingerprint Card and Why Submissions Get Rejected
The FD-258 fingerprint card is the form the FBI uses to match you against its records. Consequently, one bad impression is enough to send the whole request back. We capture the prints, review the card and file it, so the submission clears the first time.
Every card is checked against the five most common rejection causes before it leaves our office.
Likewise, a compliant kit reaches your address with printed instructions for the technician who takes the prints.
175 SW 7th ST, Suite 1905. A real address, a direct line and one person assigned to your file.
The document
What an FD-258 fingerprint card is
The FD-258 fingerprint card is the standard applicant card used by the FBI. It carries rolled impressions of all ten fingers, plus flat impressions taken at the end, and the personal details the Bureau needs to attach those prints to a name.
Above all, it exists because the FBI matches records by fingerprint, not by name. Therefore a name-only search sold by a private website is not the federal record, and consulates reject it.
The card travels to the Criminal Justice Information Services division in Clarksburg, West Virginia. There, a technician compares your ridge detail against the fingerprint submissions already on file. Then the Bureau issues the Identity History Summary — the document most people call an FBI background check.
The blank card
Blank FD-258 fingerprint cards: stock, dimensions and origin
A blank card is not a form you can improvise. The FBI specifies the card stock, the dimensions and the layout of every box on it, because the scanner that reads your prints was built for those exact measurements.
For that reason, three things fail almost every time:
- Photocopies. The grey wash of a copier fills the valleys between ridges, and the scanner reads a smear instead of a pattern.
- Ordinary paper. Thin stock absorbs ink and spreads it. Similarly, glossy stock lets the ink sit on the surface and smudge.
- Resized prints. A card printed at 95 % looks identical to the eye. However, the boxes no longer land where the reader expects them.
In practice, the card should reach you already printed to specification. We ship a compliant kit anywhere in the world, with the instructions the person taking your prints will need.
The problem
Why the FBI rejects an FD-258 fingerprint card
Rejection is the expensive part. The card comes back, the clock restarts and the applicant pays again — usually weeks after they assumed the file was closed. Five causes account for most of it.
- Pressure. Ridges flatten when the finger is pressed too hard, and they break up when it is pressed too lightly. The window between the two is narrower than people expect.
- Double rolling. A finger rolled twice leaves two overlapping images. As a result, the reader cannot tell which ridge belongs to which pass.
- Worn ridge detail. Manual work, certain medications and age all flatten the pattern. Meanwhile, the technique that recovers a worn print is not something a general notary has practised.
- Incomplete demographic fields. A missing date of birth, or a name that does not match the passport, voids the submission before anyone looks at the prints.
- No signature or no date. Similarly, a blank signature box invalidates the card on arrival. It is the cheapest rejection of all, and the most common.
Every card we send is reviewed against these five points first. That is why our submissions come back cleared.
The method
FD-258 fingerprint card or LiveScan: which one applies to you
Two capture methods feed the same federal record. Which one you use depends on where you are, not on which is better.
| Method | Where it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| LiveScan | Our Miami office and our LATAM offices | Applicants who can reach one of our offices |
| FD-258 card | Anywhere, printed to specification | Applicants with no office nearby |
If you searched for fingerprinting near you and found nothing, note this: the location that matters is where your prints are taken, not where the file is processed. Filing happens electronically. Consequently, a card rolled correctly in your own city reaches the FBI on the same footing as one rolled in Miami.
What is included
- Compliant kit shipped to your address, with printed instructions
- Fingerprint capture at our Miami office, or through a supervised local technician
- Five-point review of the card before it is filed
- Filing to the FBI through the route your case allows, electronic wherever it is available
- Identity History Summary in official format, delivered digitally and on paper
- Apostille from the US Department of State when your destination requires it
How we work
How it works
- Assessment. Tell us where you are and what the report is for. We confirm the capture method and whether you also need an apostille.
- Capture. You come to our office, or the kit reaches your address and a technician takes the prints with the instructions included.
- Review. Every card passes the five-point check before it is filed. Moreover, if something is off, we say so before it costs you a cycle.
- Filing. We submit through the route your case allows. Not every applicant qualifies for the faster electronic channel, so we confirm which one applies to you first.
- Delivery. The Identity History Summary arrives digitally and on paper. Finally, we file the apostille when your destination asks for one.
Rates
Pricing
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprints + FBI check (Miami) | $110 USD | LiveScan capture and federal filing |
| Fingerprints + FD-258 card (LATAM office) | $188 USD | Capture and a card ready to file |
| Full remote package | $390 USD | Kit, capture, filing and document management |
Trust
Why Compliance Officers
- We review before we file. Every card passes a five-point check, which is why our submissions come back cleared.
- We have handled rejections before. Worn ridge detail responds to a specific technique. We read the previous rejection notice first, then choose the method most likely to clear.
- One file, one person. You are not routed to a queue. A named case handler answers you.
- A company with a real address. Physical office in Miami, a direct phone line and an assigned file.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I print my own FD-258 card at home?
You can print one, but most home-printed cards fail. Scaling, paper weight and finish all have to match what the reader expects, and a desktop printer rarely holds all three at once. We ship a compliant kit instead, which removes the variable entirely.
Does the FBI accept a photocopied or scanned card?
No. A copy loses the contrast between ridge and valley, and the submission is refused on arrival.
How many fingerprint cards should I submit?
One correct card is enough. However, we usually take a second capture in the same session, so a single flawed impression does not cost you the whole cycle.
What happens if my card is rejected — do I pay again?
The FBI fee applies to each submission. Therefore the review before filing is where the money is saved, not after.
Do I have to complete every field on the card?
Yes. A missing date of birth, an unsigned box or a name that does not match your passport voids the card before the prints are read.
My fingerprints are worn. Can they still be captured?
Usually, yes. Hydration protocols, adjusted pressure and a slower roll recover most worn patterns. We assess the case first and tell you honestly if a different route is needed.
Next step
Get the card right the first time
Tell us where you are and what the report is for. Then we confirm the capture method, the exact cost and a realistic timeline.
Compliance Officers LLC · 175 SW 7th ST, Suite 1905, Miami, FL 33130 · +1.305.647.3000 · info@complianceofficers.org