Do I Need an FDLE or FBI Background Check for a Foreign Residency Application?

Why immigration authorities ask for a criminal background check

Most residency or long-term visa processes include a criminal background check as part of the overall applicant evaluation. The usual purpose is to confirm the applicant has no criminal record in the country or countries where they resided, including the United States if that applies to their case. This is an administrative requirement of the immigration process, not something Integramerica evaluates or determines.

FDLE vs. FBI: which one authorities tend to request

This is where many people get stuck: some immigration authorities specifically request the federal FBI check because it covers the entire country, others accept the state-level check from where the applicant resided, and others request both. There's no fixed list of what each country requires, because requirements vary by the specific authority and can change. If you want to first understand the difference between the two documents and why they follow different apostille routes, see our guide FDLE vs. FBI Background Check: Which One Do You Need Apostilled?

How to confirm it with the immigration authority

The most reliable way to know which background check you need is to review the official document checklist published by the immigration authority or the relevant consulate, or to ask directly in writing. Avoid relying on what someone else told you about a similar process they went through at a different time, since documentation requirements can change between applications and between countries. Confirming in writing before ordering the background check avoids having to repeat the entire process.

The apostille process once you know which one you need

Once the correct document is confirmed, order the certified version (never the non-certified search, which isn't apostille-eligible) and send it to the matching apostille authority: the Florida Department of State for FDLE, or the U.S. Department of State for the FBI. Sending the document to the wrong authority is a common jurisdiction mistake that almost always ends in the document being returned; we cover it in detail in this guide on the FDLE/FBI jurisdiction mistake.

Mistakes that delay a residency application

• Ordering a background check without first confirming with the immigration authority exactly which one it requires.
• Submitting FDLE's non-certified search when the process requires an apostille.
• Sending the FBI check to a state office, or the FDLE check to the federal government, due to a jurisdiction mistake.
• Not checking the maximum age the immigration authority accepts before ordering the document.
• Assuming a single background check covers the requirement when both are actually requested.

We don't provide immigration eligibility advice; we coordinate document authentication once you've confirmed with the receiving authority which check you need.