Trying to find where to get electronic .eft file fingerprints and it’s not easy. (Live just North of Charlotte)

Any advice/experience with do it yourself fingerprints to submit with ATF form 4?

I have ordered fingerprint cards from the ATF but due to time would like to just purchase cards and ink from Amazon, several different options there.

Links to cards and ink for purchase would be great if you have a particular ordering option that you have used.

Sure. I've printed people for years. Fill out the cards first, so you don't smudge the prints. Not to sound patronizing, but put the correct fingers into the correct boxes, they're labelled. Roll your finger lightly on the ink pad, the roll the finger ONCE on the card. If you try to roll twice, it will mess up the print. Practice on plain paper a few times first. Alcohol based hand sanitizes takes the ink off your fingers easily. Let the cards dry for a few minutes before stacking them or putting them in an envelope. If you were near me, I'd do it for ya. One more thing-there are several blocks in the identifying data block. Most people only have "US" for citizen, then Social Security Number. Most of the rest are for special situations like resident aliens, etc. You don't have to fill them out unless they apply to you.

My wife works with International deployments, and helps her candidates get fingerprinted for passports, clearances, etc. Most communities these days have businesses that will perform digital fingerprinting with checks and balances accepted by (at least) the State Dept., the military, and other Federal agencies (I believe the official name for this program is "FieldPrint," but I am far from certain about this). Look for these in mom and pop "check cashing" type businesses in neighborhoods with a strong immigrant presence.

Here in FL all 67 Sherriff offices have the ability to do the electronic finger print service, it's where I went.

In googling it for NC found this list.

List NC E-Print Locations

Yep, many law enforcement agencies offer fingerprinting for the public.

Around here, agencies usually offer it during a limited time window each week. Like Thursdays from 2-4 pm, or Mondays and Wednesday from 8-12 am, or similar. So check with your local PDs/SOs to see if they offer it, and on what schedule.

for my DoD clearances, we are sent to a Postal Annex store.

Maybe try there or a UPS store (not a facility)?

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
for my DoD clearances, we are sent to a Postal Annex store.

Maybe try there or a UPS store (not a facility)?

UPS has locations that do Electronic finger prints. There might be one closer to you

https://locations.theupsstore....ea-rd/fingerprinting

Note that most law enforcement agencies that take prints electronically are not going to provide the requested EFT file.

Print cards are free from BATFE: https://www.atf.gov/distribution-center-order-form

Order literally any fingerprint ink pad from Amazon and take your own prints on your kitchen table. I was off work with an injury for a couple months and did this. I bought this $7, single finger pad: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001HA4PJ4

So for $7, make as many print cards as you want.

There are also services that will convert an FD-258 print card to an EFT. I have seen $50 quoted.

At the present time, fingerprint approval is not the bottleneck on an eForm 4. The goal is to get eForm 4 approvals to 30 days by the end of next year. eForm 1 approvals have averaged at or below 30 days for a few years now with paper print cards, so it is unlikely that electronic prints will be required to get eForm 4s done in that timeframe.

There is no doubt that EFT fingerprint submission is more convenient.

Had mine done electronically at our county court house when I was applying for UT permit to carry.


Just prior to getting printed, the gal who was helping me asked if I had any outstanding warrants, which prompted me to ask why she asked that question when I was getting prints to apply for a permit to carry. Apparently they'd caught more than a few criminals who were submitting prints for permits.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:
Note that most law enforcement agencies that take prints electronically are not going to provide the requested EFT file.

If he does it himself at the kitchen table with an Amazon ink pad and a paper card, he won't have an EFT file either.

But the ink pad will last years.

You might try your friendly local CCW instructor. Some of them do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
But the ink pad will last years.

Right. For most people, spending a few dollars one time plus postage and getting 20 cards free from BATFE will be perfectly adequate. That covers 10 NFA items.

If you want to buy print cards to get them faster than from BATFE (I have never waited more than a week), you need FD-258 "applicant" cards. The ORI should be:

WVATF0800
ATF-NAT TRAC CTR
MARTINSBURG, WV