Are fingerprints on file after you complete Live Scan or an FBI background check? Many people believe that if they have completed fingerprinting before—such as a Live Scan for a job or an FBI background check—their fingerprints must already be “on file” with the government.
This is one of the most common misconceptions about fingerprinting.
In reality, submitting fingerprints for a background check does not automatically create a permanent fingerprint record about you. Instead, fingerprint submissions are primarily used as a search tool to check criminal history databases.
Understanding how this works can help clarify why fingerprinting is required for licensing, employment, immigration processes, and security clearances.
The Common Misconception: “My Fingerprints Are Already on File”
People often say something like:
“I’ve done Live Scan before, so the DOJ or FBI must already have my fingerprints on file.”
Watch: Are fingerprints on file after Live Scan?
This assumption sounds logical, but it is not technically correct.
When fingerprints are submitted for most background checks, they are primarily used to search existing criminal history databases. They are not simply stored as a permanent personal record attached to your name.
In other words, fingerprinting is usually a method of identification and searching, not the creation of a new criminal record.
How Fingerprint Searches Actually Work
A useful way to think about fingerprinting is this:
Your fingerprints act like a key.
That key is used to open a database “safe” maintained by agencies such as the California Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
When fingerprints are submitted through Live Scan or through an FBI background check, the system performs a search to determine whether those fingerprints match an existing record.
- If the fingerprints match a prior arrest record, the criminal history record associated with those fingerprints can be retrieved.
- If there is no match, the search simply confirms that no record was found in that database.
This process is designed to ensure that background checks are based on biometric identification, which is far more reliable than relying only on names or dates of birth.
When Do Fingerprints Actually Become Part of a Criminal Record?
Fingerprint records in criminal history databases are typically created during the booking process after an arrest.
When someone is arrested, law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints and submit them to state and federal databases. Those fingerprints are then associated with the arrest record and any related criminal history information.
This is why fingerprint searches are effective for identifying criminal records: the fingerprints collected during an arrest are already linked to the official record.
By contrast, fingerprinting for employment, licensing, immigration, or background checks is generally used only to search those existing records.
What Happens If There Is No Match?
If a fingerprint search does not match any prior arrest record, the response typically indicates that no criminal history was found.
For example, FBI background check results often include language similar to the following:
“A search of the fingerprints provided by this individual has revealed no prior arrest data at the FBI. This does not preclude further criminal history at the state or local level.”
This statement simply means that the fingerprint search did not locate any arrest records within the FBI database.
It does not necessarily guarantee that no records exist anywhere, but it confirms that no match was found in the system that was searched.
Why Fingerprints Are Used for Background Checks
Fingerprint-based searches are widely used because they are one of the most reliable ways to identify individuals. Names can be shared by many people, and identifying information can change over time.
Fingerprints, however, are unique and permanent biometric identifiers.
This is why many organizations require fingerprint-based background checks, including:
- Professional licensing boards
- Employers working with vulnerable populations
- Immigration and visa applications
- Government security clearances
- Certain financial or regulated industries
Using fingerprints helps ensure that the background check results correspond to the correct individual.
Live Scan vs. FBI Fingerprint Background Checks
| Fingerprint Process | Database Searched | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| California Live Scan | California Department of Justice | State licensing, employment, volunteer screening |
| FBI Fingerprint Background Check | FBI national criminal database | Immigration, international visas, federal checks |
Both systems rely on fingerprints as a biometric search tool, but they search different databases depending on the purpose of the background check.
So, Are Fingerprints On File?
Many people assume fingerprints are automatically stored permanently after Live Scan or background checks. In reality, fingerprints are primarily used as a biometric search tool to determine whether a criminal history record already exists.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fingerprint Records
Are fingerprints on file after a Live Scan?
No. Live Scan fingerprinting is primarily used to search criminal history databases. If your fingerprints do not match an existing record, the search simply confirms that no record was found.
Does the FBI keep fingerprints after a background check?
When fingerprints are submitted for an FBI background check, they are used to search the FBI’s criminal history database. The search determines whether those fingerprints match an existing record.
Do fingerprints stay on file if you were never arrested?
In most cases, fingerprints are permanently associated with a criminal history record only when they are collected during the booking process after an arrest.
Why are fingerprints used for background checks?
Fingerprints are unique biometric identifiers. They provide a much more reliable way to confirm identity than names or dates of birth, which is why many licensing agencies and employers require fingerprint-based background checks.
Can fingerprints exist in government databases without an arrest?
Fingerprints may be submitted for various administrative purposes such as licensing, employment screening, or immigration checks. However, those submissions are generally used to search databases rather than automatically creating a criminal record.
Fingerprinting Services in Los Angeles
If you need fingerprinting for employment, licensing, immigration, or international background checks, professional fingerprint services can help ensure that submissions are completed correctly.
At Anshin Mobile Notary & Live Scan in Los Angeles, we assist clients with Live Scan fingerprinting, FBI fingerprint submissions, and related document services for both local and international requirements.
Understanding how fingerprint searches work can help avoid confusion about what fingerprinting actually does—and what it does not do.
