Understanding IdentoGO and What Fingerprinting Involves
IdentoGO is a fingerprinting service operated by Idemia, a company contracted to provide digital fingerprinting across the United States. When you need fingerprints for background checks, the fingerprints are captured electronically rather than using traditional ink and paper methods. This guide provides information about how IdentoGO appointments work and what to expect when you visit a location.
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Fingerprinting appointments through IdentoGO are used for various purposes, including employment background checks, professional licenses, volunteer positions, housing applications, and other situations where organizations require fingerprint-based background screening. The process involves capturing your fingerprints digitally using electronic scanning technology. This technology has been used throughout the United States for many years and produces results that are compatible with most background check requirements.
IdentoGO operates service centers in multiple states and locations. The company maintains a network of sites where trained staff members can capture your fingerprints and submit them to the appropriate agencies or organizations that requested them. Each location operates during specific business hours, typically during weekday afternoons and some weekend hours, though hours vary by location.
The fingerprinting process itself takes a relatively short amount of time—typically between 10 to 30 minutes from start to finish, depending on the location's current volume and any complications that might arise. However, it's worth planning for additional time to check in, provide identification, and complete any necessary paperwork.
Practical Takeaway: Before scheduling your appointment, identify which organization requested your fingerprints and confirm they will accept IdentoGO's digital fingerprinting. Some organizations specify particular fingerprinting methods or vendors, so verification prevents unnecessary trips to the service center.
Locating an IdentoGO Service Center Near You
Finding a convenient IdentoGO location requires accessing the service locator tool available through the IdentoGO website. The website contains a searchable database of all service centers, including their addresses, phone numbers, and operating hours. You can search by city, state, or zip code to find locations near your home, workplace, or other convenient areas.
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When searching for a location, note that availability varies significantly by area. Urban areas typically have multiple locations within a short distance, while rural areas may have fewer options. Some service centers operate in high-traffic locations like shopping centers or office parks, while others are located in government buildings or dedicated fingerprinting facilities. It's important to verify the exact address and current hours before traveling, as hours may change seasonally or due to staffing changes.
The IdentoGO locator tool provides current information about wait times at many locations, though this data updates periodically rather than in real-time. If wait time information is available for your chosen location, it can help you plan when to visit. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon times typically have shorter waits than lunch hours or late afternoon, though this varies by location.
Some locations operate on a walk-in basis, while others require appointments. The locator tool indicates whether your chosen location accepts walk-ins or requires scheduling in advance. If the location requires appointments, the tool often links directly to the scheduling system or provides a phone number for booking. During peak times of year—such as summer when many schools require fingerprinting for staff or when businesses conduct hiring—appointment slots may fill up several weeks in advance.
Regional availability can vary because IdentoGO's service centers operate through partnerships with various organizations in different states. Some states have more extensive networks than others. If you're traveling or relocating, it's worth checking whether service centers exist in your destination area.
Practical Takeaway: Write down the address, phone number, and hours of your nearest service center, plus one or two backup locations. This way, if one location is closed unexpectedly or has long waits, you have alternatives readily available.
Scheduling and Preparing Your IdentoGO Appointment
Once you've identified a service center, the next step is scheduling your appointment if the location requires one. The IdentoGO website provides an online scheduling system for locations that use appointment-based service. When scheduling online, you'll select your preferred date and time from available slots. The system typically shows available appointments several weeks in advance, allowing you to find a time that fits your schedule.
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If you prefer to schedule by phone rather than online, you can call the service center directly. Staff members at the location can discuss your needs and find an appointment time that works for you. Calling can be helpful if you have questions about what to bring or what to expect, as the staff can answer these questions while scheduling.
Preparing for your appointment involves gathering the correct identification documents. IdentoGO requires at least one form of valid government-issued photo identification. Acceptable forms include a state driver's license, passport, state ID card, military ID, or similar documents. The identification must be current and not expired. If your identification is expired, bring an additional form of ID along with proof of your current address, such as a utility bill or lease agreement.
Information to bring or have available includes your full legal name exactly as it appears on your identification, your date of birth, and your current address. If the organization requesting your fingerprints provided you with any specific forms or reference numbers, bring those documents as well. Some organizations use case numbers or reference codes that help route your fingerprints to the correct agency once they're captured and submitted.
Practical considerations for the day of your appointment include planning travel time, accounting for parking if necessary, and building in a buffer for unexpected delays. Arriving 5 to 10 minutes early allows time to check in and complete any paperwork before your appointment time. Wearing clean, dry hands on the day of your appointment helps ensure good fingerprint quality, which reduces the likelihood of needing to retake fingerprints.
Practical Takeaway: Create a simple checklist of required documents and leave it where you'll see it before your appointment—on your bathroom mirror, dashboard, or phone reminder. Include your photo ID, proof of address if needed, any reference numbers or case numbers from the requesting organization, and the service center's address.
What Happens During Your Fingerprinting Appointment
When you arrive at your scheduled appointment time, check in at the reception area. Staff will verify your identification, confirm your appointment or add you to the walk-in queue if your location accepts walk-ins, and provide you with any necessary paperwork to complete. The paperwork typically includes a consent form authorizing the collection and submission of your fingerprints, and a form with your personal information including your name, date of birth, and address.
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After check-in, you'll proceed to the fingerprinting station where a trained technician will guide you through the process. The technician will explain how to position your hands on the electronic scanner and may provide hand sanitizer or a hand wipe to ensure your fingers are clean and dry. Clean, dry fingers produce the clearest scans and reduce the likelihood of needing to retake prints.
The actual fingerprint capture involves placing each finger on the electronic scanner one at a time. Modern IdentoGO equipment displays your fingerprints on a screen as they're captured, allowing both you and the technician to verify that the images are clear and readable. If a fingerprint image isn't clear enough, the technician will ask you to rescan that finger. This might happen if your finger is too dry, too wet, or if you move during the scan.
The complete fingerprinting process—capturing all ten fingers plus palm prints if required—typically takes 10 to 15 minutes. After all fingerprints are captured and verified as acceptable quality, the technician will review the captured images with you on the screen. You'll confirm that the images look acceptable before they're submitted to the requesting organization or agency.
Once your fingerprints are captured and approved, the submission process begins. IdentoGO sends your fingerprints electronically to the organization that requested them. This transmission typically happens within a few hours to a few days, depending on the specific requesting organization's systems. You'll receive documentation at the appointment showing that your fingerprints were submitted, including a reference number or case number for your records.
Practical Takeaway: Take a photo of your appointment confirmation and reference number or take a screenshot of your confirmation email. Having this information readily available helps if you need to follow up about your fingerprints or if the receiving organization needs to verify receipt.