What Is the FBI eDO (Electronic Departmental Order)?

A plain-English guide to the FBI's online Identity History Summary request

In short: eDO (Electronic Departmental Order) is the FBI's online form for requesting your own Identity History Summary. You fill it out online, pay the FBI's $18 fee, and send a fingerprint card. It's the main route for people who can't use a channeler, including visa holders and other non-citizens.

The terms, decoded

Identity History Summary (IdHS): the FBI's official name for your criminal history record, informally a rap sheet. If you have no record, the FBI issues a letter saying so. Many countries call this an FBI police certificate or police clearance.
Departmental Order (DO): the U.S. Department of Justice rule that lets any person request and review their own FBI record.
eDO: the electronic version, the FBI's online request system that replaced most paper application forms.
FD-1164: the FBI fingerprint card used for these personal requests.

Who uses the eDO

Any person can request their own record through the eDO. U.S. citizens and green-card holders often choose an FBI-approved channeler instead because it's faster. Non-U.S. citizens who aren't permanent residents can't use channelers, so the eDO (or the paper mail-in request) is their route. See why channelers can't serve visa holders.

How an eDO request works, step by step

Start the request online. Register with an email address, confirm it, and enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport.
Pay the FBI fee. The FBI charges $18 per request.
Get fingerprinted. Your prints go on an FD-1164 card: all ten fingers rolled, plus flat impressions, on white card stock, in black ink.
Send the card. The card goes to the FBI CJIS Division with your request confirmation, as the confirmation email instructs.
Processing. Plan on about 3–14 weeks from start to finish, including mail time.

Where people get stuck

Rejected prints. Faint, smudged or partial impressions are the most common reason a request comes back. A rejection costs you weeks.
Name mismatches. Spelling or name order that differs from the passport causes trouble later, especially when the result needs an apostille or goes to an embassy.
Wrong card or ink. The FBI asks for current FD-1164 cards and no red or purple ink.

Let us handle it

At our Naperville office we roll your fingerprints on FD-1164, check each impression, complete the eDO paperwork with you, and send everything to the FBI. If the result is going abroad, we can add the U.S. Department of State apostille.

Ready to start? Call or text 847-436-5222 before you come in so we can confirm a time and tell you exactly what to bring. Ask about pricing for the full service, and about adding a U.S. Department of State apostille if your result is going overseas.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does eDO stand for?
Electronic Departmental Order. It's the FBI's online system for requesting your own Identity History Summary under the Department of Justice Departmental Order.

Is an Identity History Summary the same as a rap sheet?
Yes. Identity History Summary is the FBI's formal name for what people usually call a rap sheet or FBI background check. Many foreign governments call it an FBI police certificate.

Can I use the eDO if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. Requesting your own record from the FBI isn't limited to citizens. The citizenship restriction applies to FBI-approved channelers, not to direct FBI requests.

Can I use an eDO result for a U.S. job or license?
Generally no. U.S. employers and licensing boards run their own fingerprint checks, usually by Live Scan with their agency code. The eDO result is for personal review and for uses such as foreign visas, residency and overseas employment.

Do you submit the eDO for me?
We fingerprint you on FD-1164, complete the request paperwork with you, and send the card to the FBI. Call or text 847-436-5222 to set a time.

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