Understanding FBI Background Checks
What Is an FBI Identity History Summary — and Why Is It Different?
The FBI Identity History Summary — sometimes called a "rap sheet" — is the official record of all federal criminal history associated with a person's fingerprints, pulled directly from the FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI) system. It is the primary federal criminal history source in the United States.
This is fundamentally different from commercial background checks. When a company runs a background check through a service like Sterling, Checkr, or HireRight, they are querying third-party aggregated databases — which may have gaps, outdated records, or missing information. The FBI Identity History Summary goes directly to the source: the federal database itself.
Why does this distinction matter? Many government agencies, licensing boards, immigration programs, and international employers will only accept an official FBI Identity History Summary — not a commercial report. If you're applying for a green card, a professional license, a government clearance, or international employment, you almost certainly need the FBI version specifically.
As an FBI-certified channeler, Just Doing Business LLC submits your fingerprints directly to the FBI's NGI system electronically — bypassing the mail entirely. That's why our results come back in 24–48 hours instead of the 4–8 weeks required for mail-in requests. We capture your prints on-site, verify quality, and handle the full submission process so you don't have to navigate federal paperwork alone.