As mentioned under the DPS Process Overview, administrative sponsorship and, if applicable, employment eligibility verification for foreign nationals must be completed before DPS can begin the process. Afterwards, DPS can begin the process in the following order: (1) Prescreening, (2) Badge Enrollment, (3) Badge Issuance/Authorization and (4) Adjudication.
Note: Please review the FBI Privacy Act statement, which describes how applicant's fingerprints are used during the federal vetting process. Procedures for obtaining a change, correction or update of an FBI criminal history record are set forth at 28 CFR 16.34. Information regarding this process may be found here.
Summary of the Two Main Fingerprint Services We Offer:
Individuals who are getting an NIH PIV or RLA Badge are required to complete the Badge Enrollment process, which includes the process of Identity Proofing, the capture of a photograph and the collection of fingerprints, which are all tied to the individual's badge. Fingerprints collected are also used for running an FBI criminal history check required for the individual's Prescreening process. Individuals must make an appointment for Badge Enrollment.
Please note: The individual's badge will not be issued until the fingerprint results have been returned from the FBI (which may take several days) and all Prescreening requirements have been completed favorably. Therefore, individuals cannot complete Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance on the same day UNLESS they previously completed all Prescreening and fingerprinting requirements in advance.
If an individual cannot travel to an NIH PIV Card Issuance Facility (PCIF) immediately to complete their Badge Enrollment appointment, please see the Fieldprint section below.
2. Fieldprint Fingerprint Service
Fieldprint is a third party used to capture fingerprints required for the sole purpose of running an FBI criminal history check before getting cleared for a badge. Individuals located more than 50 miles from an NIH PCIF can utilize Fieldprint to complete fingerprints for their Prescreening process. These individuals will still need to complete Badge Enrollment at an NIH PCIF to get their biometrics tied to their badge before being issued a badge at their Badge Issuance appointment. Individuals may find PCIFs located at the NIH Main Office Location in Building 31 and at Other DPS Locations (PCIFs).
Please note: Individuals located more than 50 miles from an NIH PCIF who have completed ALL their Prescreening requirements ahead of time may qualify for completing both Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance on the same day on or after their Entry-on-Duty (EOD) date listed in the NED system.
You may view the tabs on the left to further understand each of these fingerprint services in more detail.
Please also look at the chart below to understand these two different types of fingerprint services we offer, as these should
not be confused with one another:
What is it?
- Fieldprint is a third party used to capture fingerprints required for the sole purpose of running an FBI criminal history check for Prescreening before getting cleared for a badge.
- These fingerprints are
not tied to any badge.
- These fingerprints
must be captured at a Badge Enrollment Workstation in an accredited PIV Card Issuance Facility (PCIF).
- Fingerprints, identity proofing and a badge photo will be captured and
will be tied to the individual's NIH badge.
When is it used?
- Fieldprint is used during the Prescreening process to collect fingerprints for the FBI criminal history check. This is primarily used by individuals who are located more than 50 miles from an NIH PCIF and cannot immediately travel to an NIH PCIF to complete their Badge Enrollment.
- Note: Fieldprints users will still need to complete Badge Enrollment when they are able to travel to an NIH PCIF. Typically, these individuals would attempt to do Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance appointments on the same day on or after their Entry-on-Duty date.
- This is also required for individuals who need a new background investigation even if they already have a badge.
The individual will receive emails to make this appointment. Individuals must bring two forms of valid government issued IDs to their Fieldprint appointment.
- Fingerprints for Enrollment can
ONLY be completed when the NED Badge Tracking Status shows “Awaiting Applicant Enrollment.”
-
When the NED system prompts it, the individual will receive emails to make a Badge Enrollment appointment. - Individuals
must bring two forms of valid government issued IDs to their appointment for identity proofing.
- Individuals located over 50 miles from an NIH PCIF can utilize Fieldprint to complete Prescreening prior to going to an NIH PCIF on their Entry-on-Duty date to complete both Badge Enrollment and Badge Issuance.
Where to go?
- Individuals located over 50 miles from an NIH PCIF can utilize Fieldprint. There are multiple Fieldprint locations across the United States.
-
Individuals located under 50 miles from an NIH PCIF must complete Badge Enrollment. Fingerprints captured during Badge Enrollment will be used for both their Prescreening/background investigation and to be tied to their NIH badge.
- Fieldprint cannot be used for Badge Enrollment or Badge Issuance, as it is not an NIH PCIF. Those who used Fieldprint for Prescreening will still need to complete Badge Enrollment at an NIH PCIF.
- The individual must travel and complete Badge Enrollment at an accredited NIH PCIF to capture their biometrics, identity proofing, photograph and fingerprints used to tie to their badge.
The individual must bring two forms of valid government identification, one of which must contain a picture and both identifications must have your name matched, to their appointments. Visit FIPS 201-3 PDF to view a complete list of approved identification documents. Please note: It is illegal to use a photograph of any government ID badge. Section 701 of Chapter 33 of Title 18 of the United States Code (USC) covers the unauthorized creation of engravings, photographs, prints, or impressions of official badges, identification cards, and other insignia.
