What IdentoGO Fingerprinting Involves
IdentoGO is a fingerprinting service operated by Idemia, a company contracted by the Department of Justice to collect fingerprints for federal and state background checks. When you schedule an IdentoGO appointment, you're arranging to have your fingerprints recorded using digital technology. The process captures your fingerprints electronically and submits them to FBI databases and state law enforcement agencies for background check purposes.
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The fingerprinting process itself typically takes 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish. During your appointment, a trained operator will use a digital fingerprint scanner to capture images of all 10 fingers. The scanner works by pressing your fingertips onto a glass surface, which reads the ridge patterns and whorls that make up your unique fingerprint. The digital images are then encrypted and transmitted to appropriate government agencies.
IdentoGO locations operate in most U.S. states and some U.S. territories. You can find local IdentoGO service centers through the official IdentoGO website. The locations are typically situated in urban and suburban areas, often near courthouses, police departments, or in commercial office buildings. Hours of operation vary by location but often include evening and weekend appointments to accommodate different schedules.
People seek IdentoGO fingerprinting for many different reasons. These may include employment background checks, professional licensing requirements, volunteer work with organizations serving vulnerable populations, adoption processes, gun purchases in certain states, or visa applications. Each of these situations may have different fingerprinting requirements or destinations for where the fingerprint records are sent.
Practical Takeaway: Before scheduling, understand which type of fingerprinting you need—local, state, or federal—as this determines where your fingerprints are submitted and which agencies receive them. Contact the organization requesting your fingerprints to confirm the specific requirements they have.
How to Find and Schedule Your IdentoGO Appointment
Finding an IdentoGO appointment location begins with visiting the IdentoGO website directly. The website contains a location search tool where you enter your ZIP code or city name. The search results display nearby service centers with their addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation. Many locations offer both walk-in appointments and scheduled time slots, though scheduling in advance typically means shorter wait times.
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When you locate a service center near you, you have several scheduling options. Many IdentoGO locations allow you to book appointments through their online system, which shows available time slots in advance. Some locations still accept phone reservations, where you can call and speak with someone to arrange your appointment. A small number of locations may operate on a walk-in basis only, though these may have longer wait times, particularly during busy hours or days.
Scheduling typically involves providing basic information such as your name, date of birth, and contact information. You may also need to specify the purpose of your fingerprinting—whether it's for employment, professional licensing, volunteer work, or another reason. This information helps direct your fingerprints to the correct agencies. The system will confirm your appointment date and time and may send you a confirmation email or text message.
Payment for IdentoGO services varies. In many cases, fingerprinting through IdentoGO is free when required for certain government processes or regulated professions. However, when fingerprinting is requested for private employment or other non-government purposes, fees typically range from $15 to $30, depending on your state and the specific service. Some employers reimburse employees for fingerprinting costs, so checking with your employer beforehand is worth considering.
Timing matters when scheduling. If you need fingerprints for a specific deadline—such as a job start date or license application—plan to schedule your appointment with extra time built in. Processing times for fingerprint results vary from a few days to several weeks, depending on whether results are going to local, state, or federal agencies, and depending on current processing backlogs.
Practical Takeaway: Schedule your IdentoGO appointment at least two to three weeks before any deadline you're working toward, as this provides time for fingerprinting, processing, and delivery of results to the requesting organization.
What to Bring and How to Prepare
Before your IdentoGO appointment, gather the required identification documents. You will need to bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. This can include a driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID. The photo ID must not be expired, as IdentoGO staff will verify your identity before proceeding with fingerprinting. If your ID is expired but you're unable to renew it before your appointment, contact the specific IdentoGO location you're scheduled to visit—policies may vary slightly between locations.
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If you're being fingerprinted for employment or another specific purpose, bring any paperwork or requests that explain why fingerprinting is needed. This might include a letter from an employer, an application form that requests fingerprints, or documentation from a professional licensing board. Having this documentation on hand helps IdentoGO staff route your fingerprints to the correct destination and ensures nothing gets misdirected.
Prepare your hands before your appointment. Clean, dry hands work best with the digital fingerprint scanner. If you work in a profession that causes dry, cracked skin on your hands—such as construction, healthcare, or cleaning—consider moisturizing your hands several days before your appointment. However, don't apply lotion or oil immediately before fingerprinting, as this can interfere with the scanner's ability to read your fingerprints clearly. Wash your hands with regular soap and water shortly before your appointment to remove dirt, dust, or other substances that might affect the scan quality.
If you have scars, calluses, or other marks on your fingers, don't worry. The fingerprint system is designed to work with hands in various conditions. However, if you have extremely fresh cuts or wounds on your fingertips, contact IdentoGO in advance. They may suggest rescheduling until the wounds have healed enough that the fingerprint patterns are readable. Temporary bandages over minor cuts typically don't prevent fingerprinting, but you should ask the staff when you arrive.
Plan to arrive about 10 minutes early to your appointment. This gives you time to check in, complete any paperwork if required, and explain the purpose of your fingerprinting. Bringing a pen can be helpful, as some locations require you to complete a brief form with your contact information and the reason for fingerprinting.
Practical Takeaway: The night before your appointment, ensure your ID is valid and easily accessible, wash your hands thoroughly, and review any paperwork you need to bring so nothing is forgotten during your visit.
Understanding the Fingerprinting Process and What Happens During Your Appointment
When you arrive at your IdentoGO appointment, check-in usually takes just a few minutes. Staff will verify your identity using your government-issued photo ID and confirm the information on file matches what you provided when scheduling. They will also confirm the purpose of your fingerprinting and which agency or organization your fingerprints should be sent to. This step is important because it ensures your fingerprints reach the correct destination and are associated with the right background check request.
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After check-in, you'll be taken to a fingerprinting station. The operator will position you at a digital fingerprint scanner—a device with a glass surface about the size of a computer mouse. You'll place your fingers on the glass one at a time, starting typically with your right hand. The scanner captures high-resolution images of each finger. The operator may guide your hand placement to ensure a clear image is captured. Each finger is scanned individually, and the process for all 10 fingers usually takes less than 5 minutes.
The digital fingerprint scanner creates images of the ridge patterns on your fingertips. These ridge patterns are unique to each person and remain unchanged throughout life, which is why fingerprints serve as a reliable identifier. The scanner captures multiple images of each finger to ensure at least one high-quality scan that can be read by the FBI's Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) or state law enforcement equivalents. If an image isn't clear enough, the operator will ask you to place your finger on the scanner again.
After your fingerprints are captured, the operator typically shows you a preview of the scanned images to confirm quality. You may be asked to verify that the images look clear and readable. The complete set of your fingerprints is then encrypted and transmitted electronically to the appropriate