Legal & Immigration
FBI Background Check
in Colombia
Get your FBI background check in Colombia without flying to the U.S. — we send a fingerprint technician to you, submit electronically to the FBI, and handle the federal apostille and certified Spanish translation.
Mobile coverage in Medellín, Bogotá, Pereira, Cali, Cartagena & Santa Marta — we come to you.
Private service provider. Not affiliated with the FBI, U.S. Department of State, or any government agency.
Choose the Right FBI Background Check Option
Not everyone needs the same level of service. Pick the route based on what you need the document for.
FBI Report Only
$199 USD
Best for: People who only need the FBI background check and do not need apostille or translation from us.
- ✓Mobile fingerprinting in covered areas
- ✓Traditional FBI background check submission
- ✓FBI report delivered digitally
- ✕No digital fingerprinting
- ✕No electronic FBI submission
⏱ Typically 2–4 weeks for the FBI report
This option does not include federal apostille or certified Spanish translation.
Full Service VIP
$550 USD
Best for: Applicants who want the fastest, smoothest, and most reliable route.
- ✓Mobile digital fingerprinting in covered areas
- ✓Electronic FBI submission
- ✓FBI results typically returned in 24–48 hours
- ✓Federal apostille in Washington, DC
- ✓Certified Spanish translation (standard 2-page report)
⏱ As fast as 10–15 business days
VIP is the best option if your visa timeline matters or you want the most reliable path to receiving an FBI background check.
Full Service Traditional
$400 USD
Best for: Visa applicants who need the full document package but are not in a rush.
- ✓Mobile fingerprinting in covered areas
- ✓Traditional FBI background check processing
- ✓Federal apostille in Washington, DC
- ✓Certified Spanish translation (standard 2-page report)
- ✕No digital fingerprinting
- ✕No electronic FBI submission
⏱ Estimated 22–36 business days
This route uses the traditional FBI processing workflow. It is lower cost, but slower.
The Traditional packages use ink fingerprinting and mail-in submission. Only VIP uses digital fingerprinting and electronic FBI submission — the part that actually changes your timeline.
The included certified Spanish translation covers the standard two-page FBI report — the length almost every report is, which is what the package price is built around. If yours runs longer, the extra pages are $30 each and we confirm before any additional charge. The package price is the same whether or not you use the translation.
Traditional and VIP Electronic Submission Are Not the Same Process
The biggest difference isn’t just speed — it’s peace of mind. Two parts of the process get confused all the time, so here is exactly what changes between the routes.
How prints are captured
Digital Fingerprinting
We capture your fingerprints electronically instead of using ink. This generally produces higher-quality fingerprints and can reduce the chance of fingerprint quality issues. But digital capture alone does not automatically mean the fingerprints are submitted electronically to the FBI.
How prints reach the FBI — VIP
Electronic FBI Submission
The VIP upgrade submits your fingerprints to the FBI electronically, which typically returns FBI results within 24–48 hours. This allows the apostille process to begin much sooner and can reduce the overall timeline by several weeks.
With the traditional route, even if your fingerprints are captured digitally, the fingerprints are still processed through the traditional mail-in workflow. This typically takes 2–4 weeks for the FBI report. Because physical documents are involved, there is also the possibility of mailing delays, customs delays, or the need to resubmit fingerprints if they are not accepted.
Another advantage of the VIP route is peace of mind: if there is a fingerprint quality issue, we usually learn about it much sooner. And in situations where fingerprints continue to be unclassifiable, we also have access to alternative FBI processing options that can help ensure a background check is ultimately issued.
In short
- •Digital Fingerprinting = better fingerprint capture.
- •VIP (Electronic FBI Submission) = faster FBI processing, fewer delays, and less overall risk.
Most visa applicants choose VIP because they get both — digital fingerprint capture and the fastest, most reliable FBI processing route available.
Most Services Still Use the Traditional Route
The final FBI report may be the same, but the route to get it is not.
Most FBI background check services available to Americans in Colombia still use the traditional process. That means your fingerprints are taken, then the FBI report is processed through a slower workflow that can take weeks.
Some services may use better fingerprint capture methods, but the FBI report can still be delayed if the submission route itself is not electronic. OCC VIP combines both advantages: digital fingerprinting, electronic FBI submission, faster FBI results, a faster start to apostille, and less overall delay risk.
Want the specifics? See our side-by-side comparison of every FBI background check provider in Colombia — who offers digital fingerprinting, who submits electronically, and who only mails it in.
| Traditional Route | OCC VIP Route | |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Method | Traditional fingerprinting | Digital fingerprinting |
| FBI Processing | Traditional mail-in processing | Electronic FBI submission |
| FBI Report Timeline | Typically 2–4 weeks | Typically 24–48 hours |
| Main Point | Risk: waiting weeks before the apostille can even begin | Advantage: faster FBI results and a smoother path to apostille |
| Best For | Lower-cost cases with no urgent deadline | Visa applicants, deadlines, and anyone who wants the safest route |
See Your Real Delivery Date on the Calendar
“A few weeks” is easy to shrug off. Put it on a calendar and the difference is hard to ignore. Choose your start date and watch where each route actually lands.
Pick your fingerprinting date and we’ll map both routes onto the calendar. Estimates count U.S. business days and skip weekends and federal holidays. Already ordered? Choose the date you started — past dates work — to see when your report should arrive.
VIP Electronic Submission
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Typical: 15 business days · about 21 calendar days
On a tight deadline? When the timing lines up, in hand as early as Tuesday, August 4, 2026 — built on the Department of State’s 10-business-day in-person window.
Traditional Mail-In
No fast track available
Thursday, August 27, 2026
30 business days · about 42 calendar days
VIP puts your FBI report in hand 21 calendar days sooner — and when the timing lines up, as much as 23 days sooner.
The 10-Business-Day Fast Track
Ten business days is not a sales number. It is the U.S. Department of State’s own in-person processing window for a federal apostille.
In a real full-service case, we completed the client’s fingerprint appointment on Saturday and received the FBI background check one hour later the same day. Because the Department of State is closed on weekends, we submitted the report for apostille on Monday — the first available business day.
Once the apostille was picked up, we completed the certified translation the same day.
Result: the full package — FBI background check, federal apostille, and certified translation — was ready in 10 business days from the day we submitted it to the Department of State.
This timeline depends on clearing our cutoff, avoiding federal holidays, and having all documents ready to move without delay. When those pieces line up, this is how fast the full-service process can actually move.
Estimates exclude weekends and U.S. federal holidays; Department of State drop-off and pickup run Mon–Thu only. Government apostille and FBI processing times are outside our control.
Same Destination. A Very Different Journey.
Both routes end with the same visa-ready package. What changes is everything in between — and how many places the traditional route can stall.
The long road
Mobile technician comes to you
Home, hotel, or office
Ink fingerprinting
~30 minutes
DHL shipment to the U.S.
~2 days in transit
Customs clearance
Up to a 2-week buffer to clear
FBI mail room
~2 weeks processed by mail
FBI evaluation
Ink print quality reviewed
If the ink prints are rejected, the journey restarts from step one.
FBI results returned by mail
Only now can apostille begin
Federal apostille
10 business days · U.S. Dept. of State
Certified Spanish translation
Visa-ready package
Every shipment, customs hold, and mail-room queue is time you can’t get back — and a rejection sends you back to the start.
The short road
Mobile technician comes to you
Home, hotel, or office
Digital fingerprinting
10–15 minutes
FBI results — submitted electronically
24–48 hours
Federal apostille
10 business days · U.S. Dept. of State
Certified Spanish translation
Visa-ready package
While the traditional route is still going
You’re done. The rest is peace of mind.
Every day the other route spends in transit, customs, and the FBI mail room, you’ve already got your visa-ready package in hand.
- No tracking numbers to refresh
- No customs holds or mail-room queues
- No rejection restarts hanging over you
- Weeks of buffer before your visa deadline
On the Traditional Route, One Setback Can Send You Back to the Start
The final FBI report can be identical. The journey to get there is not. These are the things that keep our clients up at night:
- !
Rejection means starting over
If your fingerprints aren’t accepted, you don’t pick up where you left off — the process begins again from zero.
- !
No guarantee the next try works
Nothing stops a second or third submission from being rejected too. You can spend the time and patience and still end up exactly where you started.
- !
No clear pathway for repeat rejections
When prints keep coming back unclassifiable, the traditional route simply runs out of options.
- !
Lost in the mail
Physical fingerprint cards have to travel to the U.S. Packages get delayed — and sometimes they are lost entirely.
- !
Stuck at customs
International shipping can sit in customs for days or weeks, with no way to hurry it along.
Every setback adds weeks — right when your visa clock is ticking.
Traditional
A path through the forest at night
You can’t see what’s ahead. Every setback stays hidden until it happens, and one wrong turn sends you all the way back to the beginning.
VIP
A clear path with an open horizon
Electronic submission, fast answers, problems spotted early, and backup processing options if anything goes wrong. You can always see where you’re going.
Why Pay $550 Instead of $400?
Because VIP is not just a faster appointment. It is a different processing route.
The Traditional package and VIP package both include the same final visa-ready deliverables: the FBI background check, federal apostille, and certified Spanish translation.
The difference is how quickly and reliably we can get the FBI report. With Traditional, the FBI report typically takes 2–4 weeks before apostille can begin. With VIP, the FBI report is typically returned in 24–48 hours, allowing the apostille process to begin much sooner.
- ✓Faster FBI results
- ✓Digital fingerprinting
- ✓Electronic FBI submission
- ✓Faster start to apostille
- ✓More usable validity time for your visa application
- ✓Less risk of losing weeks if fingerprint issues occur
- ✓Stronger path to completion in difficult fingerprint cases
A More Reliable Path to Your FBI Background Check
Most people do not have fingerprint issues. But when they do, the route matters.
With the traditional route, a fingerprint issue can cost you weeks. If prints are not accepted, the process may require another submission and another wait.
With VIP, issues are identified much faster because the FBI submission route is electronic. In difficult fingerprint cases, VIP also gives us access to additional processing options that help ensure a background check can still be obtained. This is one of the biggest reasons clients choose VIP when the document is needed for a visa deadline.
We cannot control government processing times, but VIP gives you the fastest and most reliable route we offer.
Protect More of Your FBI Report’s Useful Life
For visa applications, speed is not just convenience. It can affect how much usable time you have left on the document.
Many visa processes require a recent FBI background check. If you spend several weeks waiting for the FBI report, you lose valuable time before the apostille and translation are even completed.
VIP helps preserve more useful document life by getting the FBI report back faster and starting the apostille process sooner.
Traditional
More time spent waiting for the FBI report.
VIP
More time available for apostille, translation, and visa filing.
FBI Background Check Requirements for a Colombian Visa
If you are applying for a Colombian visa, the FBI background check usually is not optional. Under Resolution 5477 of 2022 — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rule that governs Colombia’s visa system — most migrant (M) visa applications, including the popular retirement and marriage visas, require a criminal record check from the country where you lived during the past three years. For U.S. citizens, that document is the FBI Identity History Summary.
To be accepted, the report generally needs a federal apostille and an official Spanish translation. Colombian authorities also expect supporting documents to be recent — criminal record certificates are commonly required to have been issued within 90 days of your application — so weeks lost waiting on the traditional route eat directly into the window you have to file. Always confirm the current requirements for your specific visa category, or use our visa application support and we will walk you through them.
What We Handle For You
From fingerprinting to final documents, we make the process simple.
- ✓We send a fingerprint technician to your home, hotel, or office in covered cities
- ✓We handle the FBI background check process
- ✓We coordinate the federal apostille in Washington, DC when included
- ✓We arrange certified Spanish translation of the standard two-page FBI report when included
- ✓We send digital copies by email as soon as documents are ready
- ✓Physical shipping can be arranged from Washington, DC if needed
Apostille processing is handled by the U.S. Department of State. No private company can guarantee a faster apostille than the government allows.
Available in Major Cities Across Colombia
We send trained fingerprint technicians to you in covered areas.
Outside these cities? Many of our technicians travel. Message us and we’ll let you know what it costs to send one to your area — an especially smart option for groups getting fingerprinted together.
How It Works
- 1
Choose Your Package
Select FBI Report Only, Full Service Traditional, or Full Service VIP depending on your deadline and document needs.
- 2
Schedule Fingerprinting
We send a technician to your home, hotel, or office in a covered city.
- 3
We Process Your FBI Background Check
Your FBI background check is processed according to the route you selected.
- 4
Apostille and Translation
For full-service packages, we handle the federal apostille and certified Spanish translation.
- 5
Receive Your Documents
We email digital copies as soon as they are ready. Physical shipping can be arranged if needed.
FAQ
Can I get an FBI background check while in Colombia without going to the US?⌄
Yes. You do not need to travel to the U.S. or visit an embassy. We send a fingerprint technician to your home, hotel, or office in covered Colombian cities, and on the VIP route your fingerprints are submitted to the FBI electronically, with results typically returned in 24–48 hours.
What is the difference between the $199, $400, and $550 options?⌄
The $199 option is FBI Report Only. It includes fingerprinting and the FBI background check, but does not include apostille or certified translation. The $400 Full Service Traditional package includes the FBI background check, federal apostille, and certified Spanish translation using the traditional processing route. The $550 Full Service VIP package includes digital fingerprinting, electronic FBI submission, federal apostille, and certified Spanish translation. It is the fastest and most reliable route we offer.
Does the full-service price include translating my whole FBI report?⌄
The certified Spanish translation in the full-service packages covers the standard two-page FBI report. Almost every FBI background check is two pages, so that's what the package price is built around. In the rare case your report runs longer, the additional pages are $30 each, and we always confirm with you before charging anything extra. One important thing: Colombian authorities require the entire document to be translated by a single sworn translator — a report that's only partly translated, or that mixes translations from different translators, will not be accepted for your visa. So if your report is longer than two pages, the extra pages have to be translated by us as well.
Can I pay less if I don't need the translation?⌄
No — the full-service package is one bundled visa-ready price, so leaving out the translation doesn't make it cheaper. The FBI check, federal apostille, and certified Spanish translation are priced together. If you genuinely don't need apostille or translation, the right option is FBI Report Only at $199 instead of a full-service package.
Do I need apostille and translation for a Colombian visa?⌄
Most Colombian visa applications require the FBI background check to be federally apostilled and translated into Spanish. If you only order the FBI Report Only option, you may still need apostille and translation later.
How long is an FBI background check valid for a Colombian visa?⌄
The FBI report itself does not carry an expiration date, but Colombian authorities expect supporting documents to be recent — criminal record certificates are commonly required to have been issued within 90 days of the visa application. A faster processing route preserves more of that window for the apostille, translation, and filing.
Why is VIP faster?⌄
VIP is faster because it uses digital fingerprinting and electronic FBI submission. This allows FBI results to typically return in 24–48 hours instead of waiting weeks through the traditional route.
Is digital fingerprinting the same as electronic FBI submission?⌄
No. Digital fingerprinting refers to how fingerprints are captured. Electronic FBI submission refers to how the fingerprints are submitted for FBI processing. VIP includes both.
Can I start with FBI Report Only and upgrade later?⌄
Yes, but it may delay your visa process. If you know you need apostille and certified translation, Full Service Traditional or Full Service VIP is usually better from the beginning.
What happens if my fingerprints are rejected?⌄
Fingerprint issues are uncommon, but they can happen. With Traditional, a rejection can add significant delay because another submission may be required. With VIP, issues are identified faster, and we have access to additional processing options in difficult fingerprint cases.
How long does the federal apostille take?⌄
The federal apostille currently takes approximately 10 business days once the FBI report is ready and submitted for apostille processing. Apostille timing is controlled by the U.S. Department of State.
Do I receive physical documents?⌄
Digital copies are sent by email as soon as they are available. If you need physical documents, they can be shipped from Washington, DC for an additional shipping fee.
Are you affiliated with the FBI or the U.S. government?⌄
No. OnCallColombia is a private service provider. We are not affiliated with the FBI, U.S. Department of State, or any government agency.
Need an FBI Background Check for Your Colombian Visa?
Choose the basic FBI report, the full traditional package, or the VIP electronic route for the fastest and most reliable experience.
Not sure which option you need? Message us and we will help you choose the right route.