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The process of obtaining fingerprints is a crucial step for various important procedures, including applying for FBI background checks and meeting other international requirements. Recognizing this need, at expatgroup.co, we are pleased to announce the expansion of our specialized fingerprinting service to the vibrant Colombian capital. Following a successful launch in Medellín in November 2024, residents of Bogotá and nearby cities, as well as people from other parts of the country who find it easier to reach the capital via El Dorado International Airport, can now access this service through our FBI-certified scanner.
Obtaining your FD-258 card in Bogotá is now more accessible and efficient than ever. Digital fingerprints significantly increase the probability of precision and the quality required by international authorities, simplifying the procedure for users. In this blog, you will find everything you need to know to prepare for and carry out your fingerprinting in Bogotá, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. We will guide you through the requirements, the step-by-step process to get started, and provide some useful tips to complete this procedure with full confidence.
Why Get Your Fingerprinting in Bogotá?
Fingerprinting, a procedure that documents unique patterns on the skin of your fingers, has become a universally recognized method for identity verification and background certification. In an increasingly interconnected world, where professional, academic, and personal opportunities transcend borders, having this record is often a crucial step. For those located in the Colombian capital or with easy access to it, fingerprinting in Bogotá represents a significant advance in achieving their international goals.
This process is fundamental and serves a wide range of purposes. Fingerprints serve as a personal key, granting authorities and organizations access to applicants’ identity records and security profiles. Among their most common uses are:
Criminal Records Certificate
Obtaining fingerprints and the FD-258 card is the primary requirement for obtaining a Federal Criminal Background Certificate (FBI) and for other police departments in the United States.
Immigration and Visa Procedures
Various countries require background checks to assess the suitability of a visa applicant by verifying their criminal records. This may be required for work permits, study, visas, residency, or citizenship.
Licenses and Certifications
For certain regulated activities, such as medicine, nursing, law, or money transmission, obtaining a license may depend on a background verification that includes fingerprinting.
Employment Applications (Private or Public)
Many companies and public bodies operating in sensitive sectors such as finance, education, or security often require this type of identity verification as part of their hiring process.
International Adoptions
To improve child safety, prospective parents who wish to adopt must undergo rigorous verifications, including fingerprinting, to ensure a safe and suitable environment for their future children.
Naturalization of Foreign-Born Spouses
For the naturalization of foreign-born spouses, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires fingerprints to be taken on the standard FD-258 form.
Recognizing the significance of this service, our office in Bogotá is strategically situated in the El Chicó neighborhood, a key and easily accessible location from anywhere in the city.
- Address: Calle 91 #11-29, Piso 2
- Sede: expatgroup.co Bogotá
- Business Hours: De 8:00 am a 12:30 pm y de 1:30 pm a 6:00 pm (with appointment)
Our professional team will guide you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free process.
Digital Fingerprinting vs. Traditional Ink and Paper
In the field of fingerprinting, technological advancements have led to a significant transformation. While the traditional ink-and-paper method has been the standard for many years, digital fingerprinting offers substantial improvements in efficiency, security, and, importantly, a higher likelihood of acceptance. At expatgroup.co, we use an FBI-certified digital fingerprint scanner to ensure that your fingerprints meet the quality standards required by authorities.
Digital Fingerprint: Certified Precision and Efficiency
Digital fingerprinting using an FBI-certified scanner provides exceptional precision and quality. This technology captures clear, high-resolution images, significantly reducing the risk of rejection by authorities such as the FBI and ensuring a higher approval rate for your applications. Additionally, the process is quicker and cleaner, as it doesn’t involve ink. Your biometric data is removed from our system once it is sent to the FBI, ensuring your privacy and security.
Traditional Method: Risks and Delays
The ink and paper method is susceptible to human errors, such as smudges or incomplete impressions, which increases the risk of rejection and can significantly delay your process. This method requires drying time and can be messy. Additionally, it often results in lower image quality, and the extra time needed to repeat the process makes it a less efficient and reliable option for your international procedures.
Why Choose Digital Fingerprinting Service?
The choice is clear: the digital fingerprinting service outperforms the traditional method in almost every way. The importance of accurately submitting your fingerprints cannot be overstated; a high-quality FD-258 application is essential to avoiding delays, additional costs, and frustration. Digital systems reduce errors and enhance the efficiency of the process, leading to a smoother approval path for your international paperwork.
Step-by-Step Process to Obtain Your Fingerprints in Bogotá
Obtaining your fingerprints and completing your international procedures at the expatgroup.co’s new Bogotá office is a simple and well-structured process. Here we guide you through each stage, from the beginning to obtaining your final documents, including optional apostille and translation services.
Remember: to ensure a successful and efficient fingerprinting process, it is essential to hydrate your hands days before the appointment to obtain clearer fingerprints, avoiding recent wounds or cuts on your fingers. On the day of the procedure, ensure your hands are clean and free from any residue.
Step 1: Complete the Payment Form
The first step is to complete and pay for the service using the form attached to the service page. Access our website and follow the instructions to enter your details and make a secure payment.
Step 2: Book Your Appointment
Once your payment has been successfully processed, you will receive a confirmation email containing a button to schedule your fingerprinting appointment in Bogotá. Select the date and time that best suits your availability and receive an appointment notification via email.
Please note that the section named America/Bogotá (-05:00) indicates that the time zone for the scheduling calendar is Colombia.
Step 3: Visit Our Fingerprinting Office
On the day of your appointment, go to our office in Bogotá, conveniently located for easy access. Our office is located at Calle 91 #11-29, Floor 2, El Chicó neighborhood, allowing you to arrive without complications from anywhere in the capital or the interior of the country. Make sure to bring an original identification document to complete the building access process.
Step 4: Get Your Fingerprints Taken
At the office, you will be greeted by one of our professionals, who will guide you through the entire fingerprinting process using our FBI-certified scanner. The procedure takes approximately 15-30 minutes.
Step 5: Obtain Your FBI Criminal Background Check Certificate
Once your fingerprints have been captured and verified, we will manage the FBI Background Check application. This includes submitting your FD-258 form with fingerprints, monitoring the status of your application, and ensuring you receive the background certificate once it is issued by the FBI.
The response time is between 10 and 15 business days.
Step 6: Apostille of the FBI Report
If you have requested the apostille service, once we have obtained your FBI certificate, we will proceed with this process. The apostille from the Department of State of Washington D.C. is essential if the document will be used in a country that is a member of the Hague Convention, as it certifies the document’s authenticity for international validity.
The response time is between 10 and 15 business days.
Step 7: Official Translation to Spanish
Finally, if you acquired the official translation service to Spanish, we will take care of this last step. A certified professional will translate the FBI background report with its apostille page, ensuring the document is fully understandable and accepted by Colombian authorities or any other entity requiring it in Spanish.
The response time is between 2 and 5 business days.
From Which Cities Can I Travel for My Fingerprinting in Bogotá?
Our new office in Bogotá has a clear objective: to offer a more accessible alternative for those who find traveling to the capital more convenient. Bogotá’s central geographical location and the extensive connectivity of El Dorado International Airport (BOG) play a crucial role in this strategy. For residents of cities and regions in central, eastern, and southern Colombia, as well as some in the Caribbean and the Coffee Axis, travel costs and times to Bogotá are often significantly lower. For example, a trip from cities like Villavicencio, Neiva, Ibagué, Tunja, Bucaramanga, Pereira, or even Armenia can be more direct and economical if the destination is Bogotá, given the multiple air and land routes that converge in the capital.
Particularly for more distant cities with frequent and competitive flights to El Dorado, such as Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Cúcuta, Pasto, San Andrés, and Leticia, in most cases, the connection to Bogotá is the most practical and economical option. Therefore, our service in Bogotá is designed to cover all Colombian citizens who, for logistical, geographical, or economic reasons, find the capital the ideal location to carry out their fingerprinting procedure.
To Sum Up
Fingerprinting is an indispensable step in a wide range of international procedures, including visa applications, naturalization, and obtaining FBI background checks. This service, conducted with an FBI-certified scanner, enhances the precision and quality of your fingerprints, thereby minimizing delays in the process of obtaining Federal Criminal Background Checks and other procedures. Remember to prepare well before your appointment, so that more evident fingerprints can be obtained, and be punctual to ensure a smooth development of your appointment.
With the launch of our Fingerprinting service in Bogota, we enter a new stage, where we apply the availability and ease of access from anywhere in Colombia. We are committed to offering you an efficient and secure solution. It’s time to take that crucial step. Schedule your appointment today and move safely towards your goals with expatgroup.co.
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