FBI Identity History Summary for Adoption

Why Adoption Requires an FBI Background Check

Adoption agencies and courts may require criminal background checks on prospective parents. For domestic adoptions, requirements vary by state and agency; some agencies also require the federal FBI Identity History Summary Check (IdHSC) to cover records submitted from outside your home state.

For international adoptions, an FBI check is commonly required, and many receiving countries demand that the results be authenticated with a U.S. Department of State apostille.

The FBI check is fingerprint-based — it matches your prints against the national CJIS database and returns a report listing arrest and conviction records submitted to the system, with dispositions when reported. It's more reliable than the name-based commercial background checks that some agencies run separately.

How to Order the FBI Check for Adoption

You have two paths: electronic submission (faster) and mail-in (slower but available anywhere).

Electronic submission through the FBI's eDO portal at edo.cjis.gov:

1. Create an account and pay the $18 processing fee
2. Schedule a fingerprinting appointment with either USPS ($50 service fee at participating post offices) or an FBI-approved private channeler like IdentoGO, Accurate Biometrics, or Telos ID ($30–$75 depending on location)
3. Bring your confirmation email with the order number to the appointment
4. Receive the digitally signed PDF by email, typically within 24 to 48 hours of fingerprint capture

Mail-in submission using Form 1-783:

1. Complete FBI Form 1-783 (Identity History Summary Request Form) in black ink
2. Have two FD-258 fingerprint cards rolled by a certified technician at a local police station or private vendor
3. Include an $18 money order or cashier's check payable to "Treasury of the United States" (personal checks and cash are rejected)
4. Mail everything flat — never fold the fingerprint cards — to the FBI CJIS Division in Clarksburg, WV
5. Processing takes 2 to 6 weeks, though seasonal backlogs can push it to 12 to 14 weeks

For adoption timelines, the electronic path is worth the extra fingerprinting cost. A 24-hour turnaround versus a potential three-month wait can mean the difference between staying on schedule and missing a court date or country filing window.

The Apostille Step for International Adoption

If you're adopting from a Hague Convention country, your FBI report needs a federal apostille — the standardized international authentication that certifies the document is genuine.

Only the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications can apostille an FBI document. State Secretary of State offices handle state-level documents but cannot authenticate federal records.

Three routes:

• Mail-in DIY — cheapest at $20 per document, but takes 5 to 8 weeks. You mail Form DS-4194, the original FBI report, payment, and a prepaid return envelope (USPS or UPS only — FedEx is rejected) to the Office of Authentications in Sterling, VA.
• Walk-in drop-off — faster if you're near Washington, D.C. The window at 600 19th Street NW is open 7:30–9:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday, with a 9 business day processing turnaround and a 15-document daily limit.
• Expedited service — $120 to $385 through a registered third-party expeditor who handles the D.C. walk-in for you. Processing in 7 to 9 business days. Worth considering if your adoption agency has a hard deadline.

Some countries also require the apostilled report to be translated into the local language by a certified translator. Check your agency's country-specific requirements early — translation can add processing time.

For a detailed comparison of all three apostille routes and step-by-step submission instructions, see our guide on FBI background check apostille procedures.

Common Issues That Delay Adoption Background Checks

Fingerprint rejection. Fingerprint quality problems — smudged prints, incorrect card stock, or scans that don't meet required quality — can delay the process. If your prints are rejected, you'll need to resubmit and may pay the fingerprinting vendor again. Using a digital live-scan provider may reduce rejection problems compared to traditional ink-and-card methods. Our guide on filling out the FD-258 card covers the specific technical requirements.

Records that appear on the report. The FBI check can show arrest records submitted to the national database, including dismissed cases, deferred adjudications, and charges that resulted in acquittal when those records are reported. A record appearing on your report doesn't automatically disqualify you from adoption. Adoption agencies and courts evaluate the nature and recency of any offenses, with most focusing on convictions for violent crimes, sex offenses, and child abuse.

Missing dispositions. The FBI report sometimes shows an arrest without a final court disposition because the local jurisdiction never transmitted the outcome to the state repository. If your report shows an open charge that was actually dismissed, you'll need to obtain certified court disposition records proving the case was resolved. The Record Self-Audit Toolkit walks through the process of comparing your FBI report to state and court records and tracking down missing dispositions before they stall your adoption.

Timeline Planning

Start the FBI check early in your home study process — ideally as soon as your agency confirms the requirement. Build in buffer time:

• Electronic path: 1–2 days for the FBI report + 5–8 weeks for apostille (if international) = plan for 5–8 weeks plus 1–2 days total
• Mail-in path: 2–14 weeks for the FBI report + 5–8 weeks for apostille = plan for 7–22 weeks total

Adoption agencies and receiving countries set their own freshness rules for FBI reports. Check your agency's and receiving country's requirements early; if your adoption process extends beyond that window, you may need to reorder.