If you’re applying for a visa to Spain, Portugal, or Italy, you’ve probably heard stories like this: “The Department of State takes 3 months to process one document.” In 2026, the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C., is experiencing a significant increase in requests from digital nomads and expats. If you mail in your FBI…
Read MoreThe Expat “Fast-Track” Summary Why Getting an FBI Background Check is Harder Overseas For U.S. citizens in Europe, Asia, or South America, the IdHSC is a mandatory hurdle for work permits and residency. However, U.S. Embassies generally do not provide fingerprinting for civil purposes. Step-by-Step: How to Get FD-258 Prints Abroad If you are living…
Read MoreThe Global Pipeline: Why You Need a Federal Apostille If you are applying for a digital nomad visa, dual citizenship, or teaching English abroad, you’ve likely encountered a request for an “Apostilled FBI Criminal Background Check.” Because the FBI Identity History Summary (IdHS) is a federal document, it cannot be apostilled at the state level….
Read MoreWhether you are chasing the sun in Spain, starting a business in the UAE, or teaching in South Korea, one document will inevitably appear on your residency checklist: the FBI Identity History Summary (IdHSC). For Americans moving abroad, this “federal clearance” is the gold standard for proving your criminal record status to foreign governments. However,…
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