We hear this surprisingly often. A caller tells us, “I already tried getting my FBI fingerprints, but they were rejected. They told me I need ink fingerprint cards now.”
By the time they call us, they are usually frustrated and worried they are running out of options.
We recently spoke with an older applicant who had experienced exactly this situation. She had already visited another location to have her fingerprints taken, received a rejection, and understandably assumed her only remaining option was ink fingerprint cards.
When someone calls us after a rejection, we do not automatically schedule ink fingerprint cards. We first evaluate whether another electronic capture has a reasonable chance of succeeding. We can usually tell a great deal simply by examining the applicant’s fingerprints before we begin.
Before scheduling her appointment, we asked a few questions.
- Where had she been fingerprinted?
- Why had the fingerprints been rejected?
- What exactly did the rejection notice say?
- Were the fingerprints rejected because of poor ridge detail, or was there another issue with the submission?
Those questions matter because a fingerprint rejection does not automatically mean ink fingerprint cards are the next step.
The First Question Isn’t “Ink or Digital?”
The first question is much simpler:
Why were the fingerprints rejected?
There are many possible reasons an FBI submission may not produce usable fingerprints.
- Very dry skin
- Worn fingerprints from years of manual labor
- Elderly skin with reduced ridge detail
- Scars or medical conditions
- Poor finger placement
- Rolling technique
- Insufficient ridge detail captured during the original appointment
- Errors caused by the electronic fingerprint capture device or capture process
Every situation is different.
The solution depends on understanding why the original submission was unsuccessful.
Sometimes Another Digital Submission Is the Better Choice
Many people are surprised when we recommend trying another electronic fingerprint capture before immediately switching to ink cards.
Why?
Because an experienced fingerprint technician may be able to improve the quality of the fingerprints significantly.
Sometimes something as simple as preparing the skin properly, adjusting finger pressure, changing the rolling technique, slowing down the capture, or taking additional time with difficult fingers can make the difference between another rejection and a successful submission.
That is one advantage of working with providers who perform fingerprinting every day rather than offering it as one of many unrelated services.
When Ink Fingerprint Cards May Be Appropriate
There are certainly situations where ink fingerprint cards become the better option.
Applicants with extremely worn fingerprints or certain medical conditions sometimes produce better results using traditional FD-258 fingerprint cards.
In other situations, an agency may specifically require ink cards regardless of fingerprint quality.
The important point is that ink cards are not automatically the answer simply because an earlier electronic submission was rejected.
Good technicians evaluate the situation before recommending the next step.
One Important Difference Between the FBI and California DOJ
This is something many applicants, and even some providers, do not realize.
For California Live Scan submissions, the California Department of Justice has procedures that may eventually allow a criminal history search to continue through its Name Index process after repeated unreadable fingerprint submissions under certain circumstances.
The FBI Identity History Summary process works differently.
The FBI searches fingerprints through its Next Generation Identification (NGI) system. Unlike certain California DOJ submissions, the FBI generally does not have a similar fallback process if fingerprint quality remains too poor for an Identity History Summary search.
In other words, fingerprint quality remains critically important throughout the FBI process.
Experience Matters
When we spoke with this applicant, we did not immediately tell her she needed ink fingerprint cards.
Instead, we explained that we would first evaluate whether a better electronic fingerprint capture might be possible. If the digital images looked strong, we could submit electronically, which is generally faster. If not, we could then discuss whether ink fingerprint cards would provide a better path forward.
That conversation often surprises people.
Many applicants assume a rejection means they have run out of options.
In reality, understanding why the rejection occurred is usually the most important step.
Final Thoughts
If your FBI fingerprints have already been rejected, do not assume you automatically need ink fingerprint cards.
Start by determining why the rejection occurred. An experienced fingerprint technician may be able to improve your chances with another electronic capture, or they may recommend ink cards if they are truly the better solution.
A rejection does not necessarily mean you are out of options. It usually means it is time to understand why the fingerprints were rejected before deciding on the next step.
Either way, the decision should be based on your particular circumstances, not simply on the fact that a previous submission was unsuccessful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do rejected FBI fingerprints mean I need ink fingerprint cards?
Not always. A rejection means the submitted fingerprints were not usable for the FBI search. Depending on the reason, another electronic capture may work better, or ink fingerprint cards may be appropriate.
Why are FBI fingerprints rejected?
FBI fingerprints may be rejected because of poor ridge detail, dry skin, worn fingerprints, scars, finger placement, rolling technique, or insufficient image quality during the original capture.
Is electronic FBI fingerprinting usually faster than ink cards?
Yes. When electronic fingerprinting produces good-quality images, it is usually faster than submitting ink fingerprint cards. However, some applicants or agencies may still need cards depending on the situation.
Can an experienced fingerprint technician improve rejected fingerprints?
Often, yes. Adjusting pressure, preparing the fingers, slowing the capture, changing the rolling technique, and taking extra time with difficult fingerprints can sometimes produce a better submission.
Does the FBI use a name search if fingerprints are rejected?
For FBI Identity History Summary requests, fingerprint quality remains critical. Unlike certain California DOJ Live Scan situations, there is generally no comparable automatic name-index fallback for an FBI Identity History Summary request.
What should I do if my FBI fingerprints were rejected?
Start by reviewing the rejection notice and determining why the fingerprints were rejected. Then work with an experienced fingerprint technician to decide whether another electronic submission or ink fingerprint cards are the better next step.
This article is part of When Something Goes Wrong, where we cover the two situations behind most of the distressed calls we take.
Also in this section: Does the FBI Already Have My Fingerprints?.