Expedited FBI apostille in San Jose
before your visa deadline
An FBI report is a federal document, so only the U.S. Department of State can apostille it. We pre-check it, submit it by courier, and track it until it is back in your hands.
Walk in with your report or get fingerprinted here, and most expedited federal apostilles come back in about 12–14 business days.
Start today, three ways
- Email your document for a free pre-check.
- Walk in at 434 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose.
- No report yet? We fingerprint you on site.
Which documents need a federal apostille?
Any document signed by a U.S. federal official must be authenticated by the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. — the California Secretary of State cannot do it. Every document below follows the same expedited route through our office.
FBI background check
Identity History Summary for visas, residency, teaching abroad, and adoption.
Federal court documents
Judgments, orders, and name changes certified by the clerk.
Naturalization records
Certified copies and Certificates of Non-Existence of Record.
IRS Form 6166
U.S. tax residency certification for treaty benefits abroad.
SSA letters
Benefit and verification letters signed by an SSA official.
Export health certificates
Certificates to Foreign Government and pharmaceutical product certificates.
Animal and plant certificates
Health certificates for pets, livestock, and agricultural exports.
Patents and trademarks
Certified patent and trademark records for foreign filings.
Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Certified FS-240 copies for citizenship and residency abroad.
NARA records
Archived naturalization files and military records for dual citizenship.
FAA certificates
Pilot and aircraft records needed for work overseas.
Other federal records
Any document bearing a federal official’s signature and seal.
Not sure whether yours is federal or state? Email us a photo of your document and we will tell you which route it needs. State-issued California records follow a separate, faster state route that we also handle.
One office that gets it right the first time
Checked before it ships
We verify the official’s signature, seal, and format before submission, so a rejection never costs you another month.
Fingerprints and apostille together
Need the FBI report first? We take your prints here and route the result straight into the apostille.
A real office you can visit
Hand your document to a person in San Jose instead of mailing originals to a website.
Help in your language
English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, with translation coordinated when your destination country requires it.
How the expedited federal apostille works
Bring or send your document
Walk in, or email a scan for a free pre-check before you mail the original.
We review and prepare
We confirm the document qualifies and complete Form DS-4194 for you.
Courier submission to Washington
Your document goes to the Office of Authentications by courier, not regular mail.
Your apostille comes back
Pick it up in San Jose or have it shipped to you, tracked end to end.
Everything handled, nothing to chase
- Document pre-check against State Department requirements
- Form DS-4194 completed and the government fee paid for you
- Courier delivery to and from Washington, D.C.
- Status updates by text or email until it is back
- Embassy legalization coordinated for non-Hague countries
- Local pickup in San Jose or tracked shipping
One flat quote before you commit
Your quote includes government and courier fees, so the number we give you is the number you pay. Call or email your document for an exact quote today.
What to bring to your visit
Required
- The original federal document, or a digitally signed PDF FBI report
- Government-issued photo ID
- The country where the document will be used
Helpful
- Your consulate or visa appointment date
- Any translation instructions from the receiving agency
Who needs an FBI background check apostille
Visa and residency abroad
Spain, Mexico, Colombia, and Portugal residency files.
Teaching English overseas
Korea, China, and Japan work-visa applications.
Dual citizenship
Archived naturalization records for Italian and Irish claims.
International adoption
Background checks for every adult in the home.
Foreign jobs and licenses
Nursing, medical, and teaching credentials abroad.
Exporters
FDA and USDA certificates for overseas buyers.
Local office vs. mail-in services
| Feature | Fingerscan Digital | Typical mail-in service |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in office in San Jose | ✓ Yes | No |
| Free pre-check before submission | ✓ Yes | Sometimes |
| Fingerprinting in the same visit | ✓ Yes | No |
| Courier submission to Washington | ✓ Yes | Varies |
| Spanish and Vietnamese support | ✓ Yes | Rarely |
Quinnie Do, owner
Quinnie founded Fingerscan Digital Inc. in 2019 and personally reviews federal apostille files before they leave the office. She is an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent and works with clients in English and Vietnamese.
FBI apostille questions, answered
How long does an expedited FBI apostille take from San Jose?
Most expedited FBI apostilles come back in about 12–14 business days from the day we receive your report. The final step belongs to the U.S. Department of State, so no private service can guarantee an exact date.
Can the California Secretary of State apostille my FBI background check?
No. An FBI report is a federal document, so only the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. can apostille it. Sending it to Sacramento is one of the most common causes of lost weeks.
Which federal documents can you apostille besides FBI background checks?
We handle federal court documents, USCIS naturalization records, IRS Form 6166, Social Security letters, FDA and USDA certificates, USPTO records, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and National Archives files. If a federal official signed it, it follows the same route.
Do I have to visit the San Jose office in person?
No. You can email a scan for a free pre-check and then mail or drop off the original. Visiting lets us review it on the spot and answer questions right away.
I don’t have my FBI report yet. Can you fingerprint me?
Yes. We take your fingerprints at our San Jose office and submit them through an FBI-approved channeler partner. Once your report arrives, we move it straight into the expedited apostille.
What if my country is not part of the Hague Convention?
The State Department issues an authentication certificate instead of an apostille, and the document then goes to that country’s embassy for legalization. We coordinate both steps for you.
How much does an expedited FBI apostille cost in San Jose?
You receive one flat quote before anything is submitted, with government and courier fees included. Call (408) 766-3528 or email your document for an exact quote.
Federal apostilles and authentication certificates are issued by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. Fingerscan Digital Inc. is a private document service, not a government agency. Turnaround times reflect recent experience and are not guaranteed. Last updated October 2, 2026.
Get your federal apostille moving today
Bring your document, or your fingerprints, and leave knowing exactly what happens next.