No Matter What State You’re In: Get Your FBI Apostille Fast — All 50 States

One of the most common questions we hear from people who have just received their FBI results: ‘I’m in Boston / Denver / Dallas / Miami — do I need to go to Washington DC or Los Angeles to get my apostille done?’

The answer is no. You do not need to travel anywhere.

MR Fingerprints processes FBI apostilles for clients in all 50 states — entirely remotely. You email us your FBI PDF. We handle the rest. Your apostilled document ships directly to your door, anywhere in the United States. Here is how it works and why your location does not matter at all.

 

Why People Think They Need to Be in DC or LA

The confusion makes sense. The US Department of State Office of Authentications — the only office in the country that can apostille an FBI document — is in the Washington DC area. MR Fingerprints is based in downtown Los Angeles. So people assume they need to be close to one or the other.

They do not. Here is why:

• The State Department accepts PDF submissions for FBI apostille — you do not need to mail a physical document to DC
• MR Fingerprints works with a DC-based partner who submits your document in person at the State Department walk-in counter every business day
• You email us your FBI PDF from wherever you are. We handle DC. Your apostilled document ships to your address.

Your location is irrelevant to the apostille process. Whether you are in Boston, Denver, New York City, Houston, Seattle, or a small town in Kansas — the process is identical and the timeline is the same.

 

Who We Serve — All 50 States

We process FBI apostilles for clients across the entire country. Here is a sample of where our clients are located:

 

Northeast & Mid-Atlantic	Mountain & West	South & Southeast	Midwest & Other
Massachusetts (Boston)	Colorado (Denver)	Texas (Dallas/Houston)	Florida (Miami/Orlando)
New York (NYC)	California (LA/SF)	Georgia (Atlanta)	Illinois (Chicago)
Washington (Seattle)	Arizona (Phoenix)	Virginia (DC Metro)	North Carolina (Charlotte)
Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)	Ohio (Columbus)	Michigan (Detroit)	Nevada (Las Vegas)

 

If your state is not on this list — it does not matter. If you have a US mailing address and a PDF of your FBI Identity History Summary, we can process your apostille.

 

The Remote Process — Step by Step

Here is exactly what the remote apostille process looks like for a client in Boston, Denver, or anywhere else in the country:

Step 1 — You Email Us Your FBI PDF

As soon as you receive your FBI Identity History Summary — whether it came by email from the FBI or from an FBI-approved channeler — forward that PDF to [email protected]. That is the only thing you send us. No mailing anything. No driving anywhere. Just an email.

Step 2 — We Prepare Your Submission Package

We complete your DS-4194 form (the State Department’s Request for Authentication Services form) with the correct destination country, correct fee, and all required information. This is the step where most DIY submissions fail — an incorrect or incomplete DS-4194 causes the entire package to be returned unprocessed, resetting your timeline. We have processed thousands of these. Errors do not happen.

Step 3 — Our DC Partner Submits In Person

Our Washington DC partner submits your document at the State Department Office of Authentications walk-in counter — the fastest submission method available. The State Department processes your apostille in 7–10 business days.

Step 4 — We Ship to Your Address

Once the State Department releases your apostilled document, we ship it directly to your address via FedEx or UPS — Boston, Denver, New York, or anywhere else. If you need a certified translation for your destination country, we include that in the same shipment.

Total time from the day you email us your PDF: approximately 2–3 weeks. From Boston, Denver, Miami, or any other city in the country.

 

Do I Need to Be in Washington DC to Get an FBI Apostille?

No — and here is why that misconception persists The State Department’s walk-in counter IS in Washington DC — but you do not need to show up there yourself. Any person or service with a DC presence can submit on your behalf. MR Fingerprints has a dedicated DC partner who does this every business day. The apostille is mailed back to whoever submitted it — our partner, who then ships it to your address. You stay in Boston. You stay in Denver. Your apostilled FBI document comes to you.

 

What If I Still Need My FBI Background Check?

If you have not yet received your FBI results, MR Fingerprints handles that step too. We are an FBI-approved channeler, which means we can submit your fingerprints electronically directly to the FBI DOJ in Sacramento — significantly faster than the standard FBI mail-in process.

Here is how to get fingerprinted from anywhere in the US:

• In-person Live Scan at our downtown Los Angeles location — if you are in Southern California or visiting LA, this is the fastest and most accurate method. Results in 24–48 hours.
• Local fingerprinting near you — most UPS Stores, police stations, and notary offices can take ink fingerprints on standard FD-258 cards. Contact us first and we will provide the cards and instructions. Mail or scan and email your completed cards to us and we handle FBI submission.

Standard FBI processing after we submit: 5–7 business days. Expedited: 48 hours. Then we proceed immediately to the apostille — back to your door in 2–3 weeks total.

 

What About Certified Translation?

If your destination country requires a certified translation of your FBI document — Germany, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, France, Spain, Mexico, and others — we handle that as part of the same process. Your apostilled document and certified translation ship together to your address. One provider, one package, one timeline.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m in Boston — how do I get started?

Email your FBI Identity History Summary PDF to [email protected]. We handle the rest from there — State Department submission, apostille, and delivery to your Boston address. No travel required.

I’m in Denver — same question.

Identical process. Email us your FBI PDF from Denver. Apostilled document ships to Denver. Approximately 2–3 weeks total. If you still need your FBI background check, contact us and we will walk you through getting fingerprinted locally in Denver or by mail.

What if I’m moving and my address will change before the apostille arrives?

Let us know your expected move date when you email us. We can time the return shipment to arrive at your new address, or hold the apostilled document for a few days until you confirm your new address. Just communicate with us — we handle logistics for clients in transition all the time.

Can I use MR Fingerprints if I’m moving abroad and only have a few weeks?

Yes — this is exactly the situation we are built for. Email us your FBI PDF as soon as you have it. Our expedited service takes approximately 2–3 weeks. If you have a hard deadline — a consulate appointment, a visa window, an employment start date — tell us when you contact us and we will confirm whether the timeline works and advise if there is anything to accelerate.

 

????  Wherever You Are — Email Us Your FBI PDF and We Take It From Here All 50 states served — Boston, Denver, New York, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, and everywhere in between. Email your FBI Identity History Summary PDF to us today. We begin processing the same day we receive it. Apostilled document delivered to your door in approximately 2–3 weeks. Certified translations available for Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, Brazil, Mexico, and more.

 

????  Email your FBI PDF →  [email protected]

????  Message us → Message Us

????  Call us → 213.761.5883

FBI Apostille in 2 Weeks: How We Do It and Why It’s the Fastest Legal Method

If you have been researching FBI apostille services, you have probably seen two kinds of timelines: the standard 6–8 week government mail-in route, and vague claims of ‘expedited processing’ with no explanation of what that actually means.

This post explains exactly how MR Fingerprints delivers FBI apostilles in approximately 2 weeks — what the mechanism is, why it is faster, and why it is the fastest non-emergency method legally available in the United States. No vague claims. No fine print.

 

Why Standard FBI Apostille Takes 6–8 Weeks

The US Department of State Office of Authentications in Sterling, Virginia (with walk-in counter in Washington DC) is the only office in the United States with authority to apostille an FBI background check. There is no shortcut around this — it is a federal requirement.

When someone submits their FBI document by mail, here is what happens:

1. They download and complete the DS-4194 form (the State Department’s Request for Authentication Services form)
2. They mail the document, the form, a check or money order for $20, and a prepaid return envelope to Sterling, VA
3. The State Department receives the package — typically 2–5 days after mailing depending on the carrier
4. The package sits in queue with thousands of other mail-in submissions
5. Processing takes 6–8 weeks from the date the State Department receives it — as of 2026
6. The apostilled document is mailed back to the return address on the envelope

Total time from sending: 7–10 weeks including transit in both directions. And that assumes the DS-4194 form was filled out correctly — a missing or incorrect destination country in Section 4 causes the entire package to be returned unprocessed, resetting the clock completely.

 

Why Our Method Takes 2 Weeks

The State Department Office of Authentications has a walk-in counter in Washington DC, open Monday through Thursday, 7:30am–9:00am only. Documents submitted in person at the walk-in counter are processed in 7–10 business days — significantly faster than mail-in.

MR Fingerprints works with a DC-based partner who submits documents in person at the Office of Authentications every business day. This is the mechanism. Here is the full sequence:

7. You email us your FBI Identity History Summary as a PDF
8. We prepare your DS-4194 form and submission package — same day we receive your PDF
9. Our DC partner submits your document at the walk-in counter — next business day
10. The State Department processes your apostille in 7–10 business days and releases it to our partner
11. Our partner ships your apostilled document to your address via FedEx or UPS

From the day you email us to the day your apostilled document arrives at your door: approximately 2–3 weeks. This is the fastest non-emergency method available to any provider in the United States — because in-person walk-in submission is the fastest method the State Department offers.

Why Can’t Everyone Just Do This? The walk-in counter is open only 16 hours per month total — Monday through Thursday, 7:30–9:00am. There is a limit of 15 documents per submission per day. Being physically in DC every business day to submit and pick up documents requires a dedicated DC-area operation. Most apostille services do not have this infrastructure — they mail documents like everyone else and call it ‘expedited.’ MR Fingerprints’ DC partner submits in person daily. This is why our timeline is 2–3 weeks and theirs is 6–8.

 

What About Emergency Same-Day Options?

The State Department does offer emergency same-day apostille service — but only for genuine life-or-death emergencies, approved in advance by the Office of Authentications. Visa deadlines, job start dates, consulate appointments, and moving dates do not qualify for emergency processing.

Our 2-week expedited service is the fastest available option for every non-emergency situation. If you have a real emergency — a medical situation requiring immediate international travel — contact us and we will advise on whether you qualify and how to apply.

 

The Real Timeline — Side by Side

 

Step	DIY Mail-In	MR Fingerprints Expedited
Get your FBI results	Already done ✅	Already done ✅
Email PDF to MR Fingerprints	Same day	Same day
We prepare DS-4194 + submit to State Dept.	Same day we receive your PDF	Same day we receive your PDF
State Dept. apostille processing	6–8 weeks (mail-in, DIY)	7–10 business days (our DC partner, in-person)
Return delivery to you	3–5 business days	3–5 business days via FedEx/UPS
TOTAL from today	~8–10 weeks	~2–3 weeks

 

Timeline assumes your FBI document is already in hand. If you still need your FBI background check, contact MR Fingerprints — we handle fingerprinting and FBI submission as well, with results in 5–7 business days standard or 48 hours expedited.

 

What Can Delay Even Expedited Processing

In the interest of full transparency — these are the things that can add time to even the expedited route:

• Federal holidays — the State Department is closed on all federal holidays. The Office of Authentications is also closed Fridays year-round. If your submission week includes a holiday, add 1–2 business days.
• Volume spikes — while rare with in-person submission, unusually high government document volume can occasionally extend processing by 1–2 days beyond the standard 7–10 business day window.
• Return shipping delays — FedEx and UPS transit to your address is typically 2–3 days. Remote locations may take longer.

Even accounting for these variables, our expedited service consistently delivers in 2–3 weeks total. We have never seen it exceed 4 weeks for a standard submission.

 

Do I Need to Be in Los Angeles or DC to Use This Service?

No. MR Fingerprints processes FBI apostilles for clients in all 50 states — entirely remotely. You email us your FBI PDF from Boston, Denver, New York, Miami, Seattle, anywhere. Our DC partner handles the State Department submission. Your apostilled document ships directly to your address.

You never need to travel to Los Angeles or Washington DC. The only thing you send us is an email with your FBI document attached.

 

What If I Need a Translation Too?

If your destination country requires a certified translation — Germany, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, France, Mexico, and others — MR Fingerprints coordinates certified translation in all major languages as part of the same process. Your apostilled document and certified translation are delivered together as one complete, submission-ready package. You do not need to coordinate a separate translation provider.

 

????  Ready to Get Your FBI Apostille in 2 Weeks? Email us your FBI Identity History Summary PDF today. We begin processing the same day we receive it. Apostille delivered to your door in approximately 2–3 weeks. Clients in all 50 states — Boston, Denver, New York, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, and everywhere in between. Certified translations available if your country requires it.

 

????  Email your FBI PDF →  [email protected]

????  Message us → Message Us

????  Call us → 213.761.5883

Just Got Your FBI Results? Here’s Exactly What to Do Next

You just received an email with your FBI Identity History Summary as a PDF attachment. Or maybe a hard copy arrived in the mail. Either way — you have the document. Now what?

If you need this document for a visa application, a move abroad, citizenship by descent, or any other international purpose, the next step is getting an apostille. And if you have a deadline — a consulate appointment, an employment start date, a visa window — the next step needs to happen fast.

Here is exactly what to do, in order.

 

Step 1 — Do Not Do Anything to the Document

Before anything else: do not notarize it, do not make any markings on it, do not staple anything to it, and do not print it out and then scan it again. The FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document. The US Department of State authenticates the FBI Section Chief’s original signature on it. Any modification — including a notary seal — breaks the authentication chain and causes the State Department to reject your submission.

If you received a PDF: keep it as-is. If you received a hard copy: handle it carefully and do not fold or crease it.

 

Step 2 — Confirm You Need a Federal Apostille (Not a State Apostille)

⚠️  The Most Expensive Mistake in This Entire Process Your FBI background check is a FEDERAL document issued by the FBI — a federal agency. Only the US Department of State in Washington DC has authority to apostille it. A California Secretary of State apostille, a Texas apostille, a New York apostille — any state apostille — is INVALID on an FBI document. Every foreign consulate will reject it. You will lose weeks and have to start over. If your country is not a Hague Convention member (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc.) you need embassy legalization — not an apostille at all. Contact us to confirm which process applies to your destination.

If your destination country is a Hague Convention member — which covers 129 countries including all of Europe, most of Latin America, Australia, Singapore, Japan, and more — you need a federal apostille from the US Department of State. That’s it. One step on top of what you already have.

 

Step 3 — Email Your FBI PDF to MR Fingerprints

This is where most people’s process gets dramatically faster.

The US Department of State accepts PDF copies of FBI Identity History Summaries for apostille purposes. You do not need to mail a physical document. Email us your FBI PDF and we begin processing the same day we receive it.

Here is what we handle from there:

1. We prepare your DS-4194 form — the State Department’s Request for Authentication Services form. This is where most DIY submissions go wrong: a missing destination country in Section 4 or the wrong fee causes your entire submission to be returned unprocessed.
2. We submit your document to the US Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington DC — in person, through our DC partner, not by mail. In-person submission is the fastest non-emergency method available.
3. The State Department processes your apostille in 7–10 business days and releases the document to our partner.
4. We ship your apostilled document to your address via FedEx or UPS.

Total time from the day you email us your PDF: approximately 2–3 weeks on our expedited service. Standard mail-in to the State Department yourself: 6–8 weeks — if the form is filled out correctly on the first try.

 

Step 4 — Check Whether Your Country Needs a Certified Translation

A few countries require a certified translation of your FBI document in addition to the apostille. Here is the quick reference:

• ???????? Germany — certified German translation always required
• ???????? Italy — certified Italian translation always required (plus hard copy, not just PDF)
• ???????? Portugal — certified Portuguese translation always required
• ???????? Brazil — certified Portuguese translation always required
• ???????? Spain — confirm with your specific consulate
• ???????? France — certified French translation required
• ???????? Mexico — certified Spanish translation required
• ???????? UK / ???????? Australia / ???????? Singapore — no translation required

If your country requires translation, MR Fingerprints coordinates certified translation in all major languages — delivered alongside your apostilled document as one complete package. You do not need a separate translation provider.

 

Step 5 — Watch Your 90-Day Clock

⏱  The 90-Day Window Starts the Day the FBI Issued Your Document — Not Today Most countries require your FBI document to be issued within 90 days of your consulate appointment or application submission date. The clock started when the FBI issued your document — which may already be a week or two ago. If you are sitting on your FBI results while you ‘figure out the next step’ — you are spending your 90-day window. Email us today. The apostille process starts the same day we receive your PDF. With our expedited service, you have your apostilled document back in 2–3 weeks — leaving you plenty of runway.

 

What If You Already Have Your FBI Results But No Deadline Yet?

Even if your consulate appointment or application is months away, getting the apostille done now is the smarter move. Here is why:

• The State Department is only open for in-person submissions Monday through Thursday, 7:30am–9:00am — a 16-hour window per month. Our DC partner submits daily, but appointment backlogs can affect timing.
• Processing times can fluctuate. Right now, expedited is 7–10 business days. If volume increases, that could stretch. Submitting now locks in current timing.
• You will have one less thing to manage when your application window opens. The apostille is done, the document is in hand, you focus on everything else.

 

The Complete Next Steps — Summary

5. Do not modify the document
6. Confirm you need a federal apostille (not state, not embassy legalization)
7. Email your FBI PDF to MR Fingerprints — we handle the rest
8. Confirm whether your country needs a certified translation — we handle that too
9. Watch your 90-day validity window — do not wait

 

????  Already Have Your FBI Results? Email Us Your PDF — We Take It From Here MR Fingerprints processes FBI apostilles for clients in all 50 states. Email us your FBI PDF and we begin processing the same day. Expedited apostille: ~2 weeks via our DC partner. Certified translations available in all major languages. One provider. Complete package. No back-and-forth.

 

????  Email your FBI PDF → [email protected]

????  Message us with questions → Message Us

????  Call us → 213.761.5883