Customer Fingerprinting FAQs 

After you set up an account with First Advantage, our system will send an email invitation to any employee needing to be fingerprinted when you place an order. The email will contain a unique registration code / scannable QR Code they will take to any First Advantage Biometrics fingerprinting location to collect and submit their fingerprints.

First Advantage Biometrics uses cutting edge electronic biometric capture devices to capture fingerprints. Live scan fingerprinting is the process of capturing fingerprints electronically with an advanced live scan biometric capture device. With live scan fingerprinting, there is no ink or card. Your fingerprints are captured using a fingerprint scanner and submitted electronically.

Electronic capture is faster and cleaner than the traditional ink and roll method and provides the ability to evaluate the quality of the prints in real time to help reduce FBI fingerprint rejections.

A candidate qualifies for an FBI Name Check if two sequential fingerprint submissions were rejected for image quality (also known as illegible). At least one (of the two rejections) needs to have the error code of L0008 returned with the FBI response with the following message: “The quality of the characteristics is too low to be used. Candidate(s) were found. Please resubmit a new set of fingerprints for comparison to the candidate(s).”

To initiate the FBI Name Check process, the Authorized Recipient (AR) must send a written request to their FBI point of contact (POC). The written request should only include the candidate’s full legal name and the two response Transaction Control Numbers (TCNs). Please do not include any other PII or any information from the FBI response. Doing so could create a CJI security incident.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) requires that all Broker Dealer and Funding Portal personnel undergo an FBI criminal history record review by their employer firm. First Advantage Biometrics is the sole fingerprint channeler for FINRA. You can take advantage of our low negotiated rates by registering your firm for an account using the appropriate instructions below:

• Instructions for Broker/Dealers
• Instructions for Transfer Agents/Clearing Agencies

Title 15, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 78q(f)(2) requires all personnel regulated by FINRA to undergo an FBI criminal history record review by their employer firm. Please see this FINRA guidance for more information.

First Advantage Biometrics is a designated Electronic Fingerprint Submission (EFS) provider for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). To process FINRA fingerprints with First Advantage, please follow the appropriate instructions below:

• Instructions for Broker/Dealers
• Instructions for Transfer Agents/Clearing Agencies

A FINRA CRD (Central Registration Depository) number is a unique, permanent identifier assigned to firms in the securities industry that is used to track regulatory and disciplinary history. It is publicly available through the FINRA BrokerCheck tool to verify broker licenses and credentials.

We need your organization’s CRD number because it is your FINRA account number. We use it to direct FBI results to your organization through the FINRA CRD. Without a CRD number, First Advantage Biometrics cannot create an account for your company.

A CRD Validation error occurs when the SSN, DOB, or Individual CRD Number (collected for the purposes of FINRA submissions) does not match what FINRA has in their system (webCRD/FinPro). The firm will need to work with the individual to ensure that they provide the correct information on file in FINRA CRD and resubmit the order.

First Advantage can assist in correcting this type of error. First, ensure that all the information on the fingerprint submission matches what is listed in the candidate’s FINPRO account. If your firm submitted a hard card, contact our hard card team to review and correct the problem. On most occasions, that will fix the discrepancy and the hard card will go through. If you submitted a live scan transaction, please correct the issue either in your submission or work with your EFS Provider.

If there is something that is incorrect in the CRD portal, the error will need to be corrected with FINRA. It may take a few business days for that change to reflect and for that updated information to be confirmed during submission. If a change must be made on the account, please reach out to finraclientsupport@fadv.com to let us know when that change is complete.

If the partner validation error is still being received, and all the information is correct on both the First Advantage portal and in the FINPRO portal, please contact FINRA to resolve.

Our equipment is FBI certified and conforms to FBI encryption and security standards. All fingerprint submissions and the FBI results are encrypted during transmission, processing and storage.

Cards are available in packets of 25. You will receive an invoice from First Advantage for the cards (separate from FINRA processing fees). To order cards please email finraclientsupport@fadv.com.

To order hard cards for FINRA firms, please use the following instructions:

• For Domestic Transfer Agent/ Clearing Agency hard card fingerprinting, use these instructions.
• For International Transfer Agent/Clearing Agency hard card fingerprinting, use these instructions.

FINRA will normally update the FBI background check status in the web CRD/FPRD within 24-72 hours.

Once FINRA receives the results of an FBI background check, the candidate’s status will be updated in the Web CRD/FPRD and the results will be available to review.

Fingerprints may be deemed illegible for several reasons. For example, if the candidate has worn fingerprints and could not capture adequate ridge detail, the FBI may deem their prints illegible.

If a candidate’s fingerprints are marked illegible in the Web CRD/FPRD, please call us at 844.787.3431 so we can help the candidate resubmit fingerprints.

If you realize that you have selected the wrong fingerprinting service prior to your candidate’s fingerprints being taken at the First Advantage Biometrics Network Kiosk, your order can be cancelled. Please contact our Support team for cancelation assistance at fa-biometrics@fadv.com or by phone at 844.787.3431.

Please note that refunds are generally NOT available after fingerprints have been submitted, as costs have been incurred.

If fingerprints are not received within 30 calendar days your order may be canceled. If your order is canceled, you will be automatically refunded, and a new order must be created in order to proceed.

We only offer fingerprinting equipment for lease. If your organization would like to lease our live scan equipment, please contact our support team at 844-787-3431.