Your FBI background check, apostilled. That's our specialty.

You'll need that first — it's the one document we apostille, not the fingerprints themselves. See our guide to getting started for the FBI's approved channelers (IdentoGO, Fieldprint) and how to request a digitally-issued, apostille-ready copy. Once you have that PDF back, that's exactly where we pick up.

No, we only handle federal documents, specifically the FBI Identity History Summary. State-issued documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, most notarized documents) get their apostille directly from that state's Secretary of State, not from us or the U.S. Department of State. A state apostille is normally the complete process on its own. The one exception is if your destination country isn't part of the Hague Apostille Convention, in which case a federal authentication step can be added on top of the state apostille: a longer embassy legalization process, and a different service we don't provide.

No. Pouch & Seal is an independent authentication and courier facilitation service. We are not part of, or endorsed by, the FBI or the Department of State.

We only collect what you give us through the request form: your name, contact info, the FBI report itself, and any notes you add — nothing more. Given how sensitive an FBI background check is, see our privacy policy for exactly what we collect, who (if anyone) sees it, and how long we keep it.

No. This service is specifically for FBI Identity History Summary results issued as a digital PDF. If your document is a physical original, this isn't the right service for it.

No. The price shown above updates live as you choose your delivery type, extra copies, and any add-ons — that's the real, final number, not a starting estimate, and you never have to hand over contact info just to see it. Once your free pre-check passes, you can go straight from picking your options to paying, in one sitting; there's no separate quote step where we get back to you later.

In the standard flow, you're not charged — we check your PDF first and only charge once it clears. If you used the fast-track option instead (pay upfront, verify immediately), and your document doesn't pass, you get a full refund before anything is submitted. Either way, we'll tell you exactly what needs fixing, usually a formatting or document-type issue, so you can try again.

No. Our check confirms your file is the correct, unaltered, current FBI Identity History Summary and that your destination qualifies for an apostille — it's an internal screen against the rejection reasons we see most often, not a legal review, and we can't speak for the Department of State. Rejection after a passed check is rare, but if it happens, see our terms for how we handle it.

Yes, as long as you have your FBI Identity History Summary as a digital PDF. International shipping addresses are $275 flat instead of $145, since return shipping needs a fast courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS Express) rather than standard USPS to keep turnaround fast. Mention your location in your pre-check request and we'll confirm the details.

Yes. The majority of people order just one, but it depends on your needs. You might have multiple institutions or multiple countries that each need their own original at the same time, or want one for your own records. Extra copies of the same document are $70 each, up to 15 total per order, and you'll be asked how many you need after your free pre-check.

Most orders take roughly two to four weeks end-to-end. The Department of State's own processing queue sets the floor and varies with their volume, so we'll give you a current, realistic estimate once your pre-check clears, rather than a fixed number we can't stand behind. We submit documents in person in regular rounds rather than making a special trip for every single order, which is part of how we keep pricing low. Need it faster? A paid rush option is available at checkout — see the next question for exactly what it guarantees.

A dedicated trip to submit your document at our very next walk-in opportunity, not a fixed calendar promise like "next business day." The State Department's own walk-in window runs Monday through Thursday mornings only, so most of the week that next opportunity really is the next morning. If you order late Thursday through Friday evening, though, the next real opportunity is the following Monday, not Friday (which doesn't exist as a walk-in day). We'll show a clear note at checkout if that applies to your order, rather than letting "Rush" imply something it can't deliver that week. Rush also only affects how soon your document gets in front of the Department of State, not how long their own processing takes once it's submitted.

Yes. The FBI Identity History Summary is issued in English only, nationwide and territory-wide, including Puerto Rico (the FBI doesn't produce a Spanish-language version). The apostille certificate itself is also in English.

Possibly. Your FBI report and its apostille are both in English. If your destination country's official language isn't English, many receiving offices there require a certified translation as well, sometimes by a translator accredited within that specific country. Select your destination country in the request form below and we'll flag it if this is likely to apply. We don't provide translation ourselves, so confirm the exact requirement with whoever is requesting your documents.

For most orders, we handle everything directly. Occasionally, usually when it helps speed things along, we route fulfillment through a trusted partner service instead, and the shipping label may show their business name and address as the sender rather than ours. We cover any added cost of doing that ourselves; it never changes your price. If a package ever arrives that doesn't look like it's from us, just reach out and we'll confirm it right away.