Almost everyone arrives here having been told to “get a background check” by an attorney, a foreign government, an employer, a licensing board or an immigration consultant — and rarely told which one. California DOJ and the FBI hold different records, serve different purposes and apply different rejection rules. Choosing the wrong one delays employment, licensing, immigration paperwork and travel.
DOJ vs FBI Background Checks
Two different agencies, two different records, two different sets of rejection rules. Which one your requesting authority actually means.
FBI Identity History Summary vs. California Record Review
The federal summary and the state record review answer different questions. Which you need depends entirely on who is asking and why.
Why FBI Electronic Submission Is Harder Than California Live Scan
Both capture thumbs and four-finger slaps, both are electronic, and they look identical from the applicant’s side. One difference makes FBI submissions less forgiving — and in difficult cases FD-258 cards can succeed where electronic capture will not.
What the FBI’s State and Local Disclaimer Means
“This does not preclude further criminal history at the state or local level” raises more questions than the rest of the letter. What the FBI is and is not telling you.