Fingerprinting Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a fingerprint appointment?

BCCU does not schedule fingerprint appointments, you will need to contact the fingerprint vendor, IdentoGO/IDEMIA.

To schedule an appointment through IdentoGO/IDEMIA, we recommend you schedule online at https://WA.state.Identogo.com or you can also call their customer service at 1-888-771-5097. You will need the following to schedule an appointment:

  1. Applicant's Date of Birth.
  2. Applicant Inquiry ID/OCA number. The Inquiry ID/OCA number can be found on the Interim Fingerprint Check Notification or the fingerprint appointment form. The fingerprint appointment form and fingerprint notice is generated in BCS for the hiring entity and should then be provided to the applicant.

Effective Oct. 26, 2023, applicants who currently reside outside of Washington State may schedule an appointment with IdentoGO/IDEMIA locations in other states where available. Applicants may schedule online using the “Out-of-State Digital Fingerprinting Services” option or via the customer service number 1-888-771-5097.

IdentoGO/IDEMIA has printing sites in the following states:

  • California (CA)
  • Colorado (CO)
  • Delaware (DE)
  • Florida (FL)
  • Georgia (GA)
  • Illinois (IL)
  • Kentucky (KY)
  • Louisiana (LA)
  • Massachusetts (MA)
  • Maryland (MD)
  • Michigan (MI)
  • Minnesota (MN)
  • Missouri (MO)
  • North Dakota (ND)
  • New Jersey (NJ)
  • New York (NY)
  • Oklahoma (OK)
  • Pennsylvania (PA)
  • South Carolina (SC)
  • Tennessee (TN)
  • Texas (TX)
  • Virginia (VA)
  • Wisconsin (WI)
  • West Virginia (WV)

Applicants should not be charged for printing when using IdentoGO/IDEMIA. The Department will be billed and pays for applicant printing fees.

If an applicant is unable to go to an IdentoGO/IDEMIA site for fingerprinting, applicants may also choose to go to local law enforcement for printing. Please refer to the “Instructions on Submitting Fingerprint Hard Cards to the Background check Central Unit” document for instructions related to this process.

 

Can I schedule my fingerprint appointment for the same day that I call to schedule my appointment?

Yes, same day appointments may be available. Your personal information must first be sent to IdentoGO/IDEMIA for validation before you can schedule an appointment. This occurs after the hiring entity selects to continue with the fingerprint check in the Background Check System (BCS). The hiring entity should provide the applicant with a fingerprint packet that is generated in BCS after the continue decision has been made.

 

I cannot schedule an applicant’s fingerprint appointment using the Inquiry ID/OCA number I received from BCCU. What can I do?

There are a few reasons that may result in an applicant not being able to schedule a fingerprint appointment:

  • The applicant received an Additional Information Needed notification. Applicants cannot schedule a fingerprint appointment until they have provided the requested additional information.
  • The hiring entity has not elected to “continue” with the fingerprint background check in BCS. Entities must choose to continue with fingerprinting once an Interim FP result is issued to the hiring entity in BCS. Once this has been done, and the applicant has been provided with the fingerprint packet, the applicant can schedule with the vendor, IdentoGO/IDEMIA.
  • The background check Inquiry ID/OCA number that is being used may be a Name and Date of Birth (NDOB) background check, not a fingerprint check. If a fingerprint check was not submitted, the hiring entity will need to submit one for processing.

If you are still unable to schedule an appointment, please contact BCCU.

How can I get my OCA or Inquiry ID number, so I can schedule a fingerprint appointment?

An OCA or Inquiry ID Number is a unique number assigned to the background check inquiry. BCCU is unable to give out this number to applicants. This number is found on the fingerprint appointment form and can be requested from the person or entity that requested the fingerprint background check.

 

What are the acceptable forms of identification for my fingerprint appointment?

You must bring a NON-EXPIRED Government issued PICTURE ID with you to your fingerprint appointment. Expired ID WILL NOT be accepted unless you can prove you are in the process of renewing it. Expired ID with a photo MUST accompany any temporary ID and the names MUST match otherwise you may be required to reschedule your appointment.

Common forms of acceptable government issued PICTURE ID:

  • US Driver’s License, or any Federal, State, or Local Government issued ID (Including a Washington State Learner’s Permit)
  • Any US Armed Services ID (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, etc.)
  • US Passport
  • Foreign Passport (with photo and signature)
  • Federally Recognized Tribal ID

Additional information about ID and a list of all acceptable forms of government issued PICTURE ID can be found on the IdentoGO/IDEMIA website https://www.identogo.com/uploads/general/Acceptable-Identification_Washington.pdf

 

How long will my fingerprint appointment take?

Appointments take about 15 minutes and must be scheduled in advance. Online appointment scheduling is available at https://wa.state.Identogo.com . You must be on time for your appointment. If you show up late to your appointment, you may not be printed. Some of the fingerprinting sites do not allow children to be in the printing facility. Please call IdentoGO/IDEMIA for more information: 1.888.771.5097.

 

How do I get “fingerprinted” if I am missing fingers, limbs, or both?

Applicants may use IdentoGO/IDEMIA for fingerprinting if they have missing fingers and still have some digits to print. If the applicant is a double amputee and has no prints to capture, there is a special process in place for “printing”. Please contact BCCU for more information.

 

Why do my fingerprints keep getting rejected?

Unfortunately, some applicants have fingerprints that are difficult to capture. This could be due to working with chemicals, fine/smooth skin, or prints that are worn down due to certain work or activities etc.  Please refer to our Fingerprint Fact Sheet. The suggestions outlined in this document may improve fingerprint quality.

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) must determine that the fingerprints are the best quality. If WSP determines the fingerprints are not the best quality and they believe better prints can be obtained, the applicant will need to be printed again.

Once the WSP accepts the fingerprints, they will send them to the FBI for processing. The FBI will then determine whether the fingerprints are the best quality. If the FBI rejects the prints, the applicant will need to be printed one more time. If the FBI rejects them a second time, BCCU will request a National Name Date of Birth check from the FBI and the fingerprint process will be completed.

To view WSP and FBI fingerprint process, please refer to our flowchart.

 

What options do I have if my fingerprints keep being rejected?

Some applicants have fingerprints that are difficult to capture or are poor quality. We recommend applicants experiencing issues follow the guidance in our Fingerprint Fact Sheet.

Here are some options for multiple rejects:

  • The applicant can travel to the WSP office in Olympia to be printed for a small out of pocket fee. WSP will not reject fingerprints they take in-house. Please note, the FBI may still reject the prints requiring another printing.
  • An applicant has the option of being fingerprinted at a local law enforcement office with ink on a hard card for a small out of pocket fee.
  • BCCU can notify the fingerprint vendor when applicants are experiencing issues with printing and have been rejected multiple times. The vendor can contact the printing site, and if available, have a senior technician or supervisor assist at the applicant’s appointment to try to obtain the best prints possible. If you have an applicant who is difficult to fingerprint or has experienced more than two rejects, please contact BCCU to explore options.

 

What is the turnaround time for fingerprint checks from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)?

WSP and FBI turnaround times can vary due to the volume of fingerprints being processed or other factors. The turnaround time on prints also depends on whether the fingerprint cards are the first set of prints submitted for the associated inquiry ID/OCA number or if they are resubmitted prints (previously rejected). The first set of prints is submitted electronically, allowing for a faster turnaround time. However, the resubmitted prints require a hard card to be printed and mailed, causing slower turnaround times.

If an inquiry has been “Pending Fingerprint Results” in BCS for over 14 days, please contact BCCU.