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Fingerprints are necessary for both local and international processes, including those in the U.S. and other countries. For foreigners in Colombia who aren’t aware of how to navigate this process, this blog will help them avoid delays and rejections while meeting the required standards.
In the United States, fingerprints are needed in many procedures to ensure security, authenticity, and accountability. The most common cases are:
Outside U.S. territory, they are also required for legal and administrative purposes. For example, in Canada, Australia or European countries, they often ask for fingerprints to apply for residency, obtain criminal records as in the U.S., get liquor, children’s education, or other business-related licenses, and make registers and studies to enter a specific labor market. You need to pay attention to what your process asks you and know what precisely the fingerprinting process is about.
What is a fingerprint?
Fingerprints are unique patterns found on the tips of fingers. These patterns do not change as a person gets older. Governments and organizations use fingerprints to give each person a unique identity. Most countries have biometric systems to identify their citizens and visitors, which is why they are reliable identifiers that are hard to alter.
In USA and many other countries, the government uses biometric fingerprinting to keep detailed records of individuals. This technology helps with security, prevents fraud, and maintains accurate records, which, in turn, are used to tracking crime, manage immigration, and ensure national security.
And this resource has become very useful worldwide, especially in recent years when collective awareness has increased. Governments and other organizations are focused on reducing crime by implementing complex checks on citizens, especially when they relocate to other lands.
Why do I need the fingerprints in Colombia?
If you are an expat living in Colombia and are going through a migration process or any other procedure that requires criminal record documentation from your country of origin or the last country you visited, you may need to obtain fingerprints. This is necessary if the organization that issued the records specifically requires prints to send the report.
In fact, for American citizens or foreigners who have stayed in the United States for more than six months, acquiring certified FBI fingerprints is a crucial step in obtaining the Federal Criminal Records: the FBI Background Check.
The FBI Background Check is a report that shows a person’s criminal record of the absence when no crime is registered. It uses fingerprints from U.S. citizens or visitors who enter the country and register at immigration offices. Each person’s unique identification is their fingerprints. If people commit a crime in the U.S. territory, their FBI report will show this, unless they`re delegated only to local security forces.
The FBI background check is necessary for Colombia visa applications, including retirement visas and other categories, as additional requirements that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks for. Additionally, this background check and any other are not limited to visa processes; companies and organizations you plan to work with or conduct business with may also require a clearance of your criminal records and ensure you are clean.
At expatgroup.co, we help you get your FBI background check from Colombia processed quickly and securely. Click the bottom and get the digital background certificate for American citizens that is valid before the Colombian government for visa applications, including fingerprinting, apostille and translation services
Where can I take my fingerprints in Colombia?
Unlike many other countries, fingerprint services aren’t available for all individuals who require them in Colombia because fingerprinting is restricted to government and law enforcement agencies. The only way to obtain them is with an authorized company or taking them by yourself.
Each procedure that requires this document has its own specific requirements. For example, the FBI Criminal Records and other American procedures require FBI Form 258, also known as the FD-258 Card, to advance the FBI Fingerprints in a certified way. If you are in Colombia, you can provide the filled card by post mail following the FBI instructions. And based on our experience, the same card can be used for multiple processes apart from this specifically case.
The contras of taking the Fingerprint Card on your own is that you can make a mistake without professional advice. The best decision when the time comes to avoid delay or prevent losing the process because of an error with the prints is to seek specialized guidance for taking fingerprints from the beginning.
Some fingerprint service providers can assist you in obtaining your prints effectively. Whether using traditional methods or certified digital scanners, they offer expert advice and specific instructions to help prevent any issues during the fingerprinting process.
How can I get a fingerprinting service in Colombia’s territory?
If you are looking for high-tech and quality fingerprinting services in Colombia, you can rely on expatgroup.co. We provide not only traditional fingerprinting services utilizing ink and paper but also offer advanced biometric technology. Our scanning machines are certified by the FBI and feature verification capabilities, ensuring each fingerprint is accurately captured and confirmed as clear and correct in real-time.
The digital fingerprinting service is exclusively available in Medellín at the expatgroup.co’s office in El Poblado. Schedule an appointment with our advisors and arrive at the selected day and time.
If you are not currently in Medellín, we recommend traveling to the city for this process to ensure that your fingerprinting is performed accurately. Our biometric software assesses the clarity and accuracy of each fingerprint, so it’s important to have this completed in person.
If you can’t travel, we have enabled the home delivery service of the traditional fingerprinting process for six of the main Colombian cities.
Digital fingerprinting with an FBI-certified scanner
You can get a printed FD-258 Card in Medellín with an automatic fingerprint verification process to ensure that each fingerprint is correct.
Traditional fingerprinting with the ink and paper method
Opt for the traditional ink fingerprinting if you are in Bogotá, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Cali, or Bucaramanga.
How much does it cost to get the fingerprints in Colombia?
expatgroup.co offers fingerprinting services with varying costs depending on the location. In Medellín, the fee includes the digital process printed in the FD-258 Card printed on a letter-size sheet for a promotional price of $75 USD. You will get additional charges if you choose the fingerprint ink home delivery service for other cities because of the logistics, courier services, and other matters. Also. We can offer an integral service if you’re interested in other related services, such as the FBI Background Check Certificate, official translations, and U.S. apostilles.
In the table below, you will find a comparison of the main service and its associates, adding the costs related to each city.
| City | Fingerprints Only | Fingerprints + FBI Background Check | Fingerprints + FBI BCheck + Apostille+ Translations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medellín | $75 USD | $220 USD | $400 USD |
| Bogotá | $137.50 USD | $282.50 USD | $462 USD |
| Cartagena | $175 USD | $320 USD | $500 USD |
| Barranquilla | $137.50 USD | $282.50 USD | $462.50 USD |
| Santa Marta | $175 USD | $320 USD | $500 USD |
| Cali | $137.50 USD | $282.50 USD | $462.50 USD |
| Bucaramanga | $145 USD | $290 USD | $470 USD |
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The best offer will always be the collection of fingerprints in Medellín by using our FBI-certified scanner.
If you have any questions, please contact us, and we will solve your doubts.
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