What Happens After Your Fingerprints Are Taken?

A Complete Guide to the Fingerprint Card Process — Trusted Identity Partners

When you visit Trusted Identity Partners for fingerprinting, the appointment is fast, clean, and completely digital. We use Livescan technology to capture your fingerprints and print them onto the specific card type required by your employer, licensing board, or government agency.

But once you leave with your cards (or choose to have TIP mail them), a common question comes up:

“What happens after my fingerprints are taken?”

Because fingerprint card requirements vary widely depending on the agency, the type of background check, and the purpose, it’s not always clear what comes next. This guide explains everything TIP can confirm, what you’re responsible for, and what typically happens once your cards reach the agency requesting them.

1. TIP Captures Your Fingerprints Digitally (No Ink)

Trusted Identity Partners uses Livescan fingerprinting, which captures your prints electronically. This method provides:

• Crisp, clear ridge detail

• Less risk of rejection

• No smudging or messy ink

• Faster appointments

• Better quality control

Instead of ink rolling, your prints are printed onto:

• FD-258 cards

• Any agency-provided forms you bring

These printed cards are accepted anywhere ink cards are required.

2. You Choose What Happens With Your Fingerprint Cards

After fingerprints are captured and printed, you have two options:

Option A: You Take Your Cards With You

This is the most common option.

You may need to:

• Mail your fingerprint cards to the requesting agency

• Include them with a larger application packet

• Deliver them directly to HR or a licensing board

• Upload proof of mailing to your application portal

Before you leave, TIP will verify that you have:

• The correct type and number of cards

• Any additional forms the agency requires

Option B: TIP Mails the Cards for You

Some agencies allow third-party submission of fingerprint cards.

If allowed, TIP can:

• Mail your fingerprint card directly to the agency

• Add required payments (if provided by you)

TIP only mails cards according to the exact instructions provided by the agency and only when the customer chooses this service and pays the required fees.

3. The Agency Receives Your Fingerprints and Links Them to Your Application

Once your fingerprint card arrives at the agency (either through you or via TIP), the agency begins the next steps in their own process.

Although we do not see what happens internally, agencies typically:

• Log the fingerprint card

• Match it to your application or case number

• Check for required forms or payment

• Ensure all demographic fields are complete

If anything is missing, the agency may pause the application, request additional information, or return the card to you.

Everything from this point forward is handled by the agency—not TIP.

4. The Agency Conducts the Background Check

Each organization has its own procedures and timelines. Depending on the purpose of your fingerprints, the agency may:

• Conduct a state-level background check

• Conduct a federal background check

• Perform a licensing or certification review

• Verify your identity for employment or volunteer work

• Check your eligibility for a specific program or status

The background check type depends entirely on the agency’s rules.

TIP does not:

• Receive your results

• Have access to your results

• Determine or influence the timeline

• Communicate with the agency about your results

Only the agency that requested your fingerprints has that authority.

5. You Receive a Notification or Decision From the Agency

Once the agency completes the background check, they send the results or next steps directly to you or your employer/licensing board.

You may hear from them through:

• Email

• Postal mail

• Phone call

• An online portal

• Your HR department

• A licensing division contact

Common outcomes include:

• Approval or clearance

• A copy of your background report (agency-dependent)

• A request for additional documentation

• A request for a new fingerprint submission

• A denial or reconsideration notice

If you have questions about your results, you must contact the agency directly.

6. Common Reasons For Fingerprint Card Delays

While TIP creates high-quality fingerprint cards, delays can happen for reasons outside your control.

Common causes include:

1. Missing or incomplete paperwork

Some agencies require:

• Application packets

• Barcoded cover sheets

• Case numbers

• Payment forms

• Specific instructions included in the envelope

If something is missing, processing stops until the agency receives it.

2. High-volume seasons

Many agencies experience delays during peak times such as:

• School hiring seasons

• Medical licensing periods

• Tax season

• End-of-year renewals

3. Address or routing mistakes

If the fingerprint card is sent to the wrong department, it may take longer to be forwarded internally.

4. Quality issues

Although Livescan dramatically reduces this risk, some natural factors—such as worn ridges or very fine prints—can still cause difficulty for the receiving agency.

5. Record “hits”

If the agency needs to review a potential match or request additional court information, processing takes longer.

7. What If Your Fingerprint Card Is Rejected?

If a fingerprint card cannot be processed:

• The agency will notify you, not TIP

• They will explain the reason for the rejection

• They may request a new set of fingerprints

• They will provide instructions for resubmitting

If required, TIP will capture your fingerprints again and print new cards for you. Whether there is an additional charge depends on the agency’s or customer’s policies.

8. Can You Get a Copy of Your Background Check Results?

This depends entirely on the agency that requested your fingerprints.

Some examples:

• Employers usually do not release copies of background checks.

• Licensing boards may provide a copy upon request.

• State background checks vary depending on the state.

• FBI personal background checks require a separate request through the FBI’s Identity History Summary process.

TIP does not receive results and cannot obtain them on your behalf.

Final Thoughts: TIP Makes the Fingerprint Card Process Simple and Secure

Your fingerprint appointment at Trusted Identity Partners is just the first step in an important process. While the background check itself is handled entirely by the requesting agency, TIP ensures that your side of the process is:

• Fast

• Accurate

• High-quality

• Stress-free

We make sure your fingerprint cards are clear, complete, and properly prepared—and if available, we can mail them for you according to the exact requirements of the receiving agency.

If you ever need help determining what to bring, where your cards need to go, or whether TIP can send them on your behalf, we’re here to guide you.