Fingerprinting Rule Requirements for Out-of-Country Attorneys

Under California Rule of Court Rule 9.9.5, all active attorneys licensed in California must be re-fingerprinted. The State Bar is requiring attorneys to resubmit fingerprints by April 30, 2019. Failure to follow these instructions may be considered non-compliance with State Bar fingerprinting rule requirements and may subject attorneys to penalties. Out-of-country attorneys must follow the instructions below:

» Request Fingerprint Cards from the State Bar
» Obtain Fingerprints from a Law Enforcement Agency or Fingerprinting Vendor
» Obtain a Receipt for Fingerprint Cards Purchased on My State Bar Profile
» Proof of Fingerprint Cards Submission
» Rejection of Fingerprint Cards Submitted
» Out-of-Country Deadline Extension Request
» Fingerprint Card Refund Request
» Return to Fingerprinting Rule Requirements Menu
» Return to My State Bar Profile

Request Fingerprint Cards from the State Bar Back to top
If you live outside the United States you must obtain prepopulated fingerprint cards issued by the State Bar.

To request fingerprint cards:

  1. Request fingerprint cards online from the State Bar for out-of-state residents only (you must be logged into My State Bar Profile). You cannot use a blank fingerprint card issued from another source. Using a non-State-Bar issued fingerprint card will impact your ability to satisfy the fingerprinting requirement.
  2. Pay a one-time fee of $49 to the State Bar for the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) processing fees. (Payment methods are explained at My State Bar Profile.)
  3. Retain a copy of the payment for your records.
  4. Submit your preferred mailing address. You can request a fingerprint card as many as three times via My State Bar Profile.

The State Bar will mail you two prepopulated fingerprint cards once the payment had been received. You should receive fingerprint cards within 60 business days from the initial payment.

Out of state and out of country attorneys have two options in order to comply with the fingerprinting requirements. They can obtain a fingerprint card and proceed with the steps outlined above, or they can use a Live Scan vendor in California if they visit the state.

However, in the event an attorney’s Live Scan fingerprints are rejected by the DOJ and/or FBI, the attorney must return to a Live Scan vendor in California to resubmit their fingerprints without new processing charges. If the attorney chooses not to return to a California Live Scan vendor, they must be fingerprinted using a fingerprint card, which will results additional costs.

Obtain Fingerprints from a Law Enforcement Agency or Fingerprinting Vendor Back to top
Once you have received the two prepopulated fingerprint cards, you must take the following steps to ensure that your fingerprints are properly submitted to the DOJ and FBI:

  1. Contact a United States embassy or consulate, local law enforcement agency, or fingerprinting vendor which may provide the necessary fingerprinting services. Contact the vendor in advance for their operating hours, fees, payment methods, and walk-in policy, etc.
  2. Take the two State Bar-issued fingerprint cards to the licensed fingerprint vendor of your choice, along with valid photo identification.
  3. Complete the fingerprint impressions on the two fingerprint cards as instructed by the vendor.      
  4. Pay any fees for completing the fingerprinting impressions.
  5. Mail the two fingerprint cards to the State Bar:

The State Bar of California
Office of Admissions - Re-Fingerprinting Submission
845 S. Figueroa
Los Angeles, CA 90017-2515

Obtain a Receipt for Fingerprint Cards Back to Top
A receipt can be obtained via your My State Bar Profile. Please follow the steps below:

  1. Log into My State Bar Profile.
  2. Choose the bar card and other documents link.
  3. Under the bar card and other documents section, choose the get my bar card and other documents link.
  4. Under the 2018 fee summary section on the bar card and other documents webpage, download an invoice that starts with F. 
  5. Open the downloaded fingerprinting payment summary.
  6. Please note: A $50.10 payment represents a credit card transaction and a $49 payment represents bank routing transaction.

Proof of Fingerprint Cards Submission
Attorneys must submit complete fingerprint cards to the State Bar by April 30, 2019, to avoid penalties. Fingerprint cards mailed to the State Bar must be postmarked by April 30, 2019.

State Bar policy is to destroy fingerprint cards on file for attorneys that satisfy the fingerprint rule requirement. Once the State Bar is notified of the attorney’s criminal history information or clearance, the second fingerprint card on file will be destroyed.    

DOJ and FBI fingerprint card processing times can vary. Due to the length of time to process fingerprint cards and potential delays at the DOJ and FBI, out-of-state attorneys are encouraged to submit completed fingerprint cards as soon as possible. 

» See more information on the background check process and potential causes for delay (DOJ website)

Rejection of Fingerprints Cards Submitted Back to Top
Once received, the State Bar will review the fingerprint cards for accuracy and completion. Once assessed and approved for submission, one fingerprint card will be mailed to the DOJ and another card will be kept on file at the State Bar. The DOJ coordinates with the FBI to conduct background checks. In the event of DOJ and/or FBI rejection, the State Bar will send the DOJ the second fingerprint card on file.

State Bar policy is to destroy fingerprint cards on file for attorneys that satisfy the fingerprint rule requirement. Once the State Bar is notified of the attorney’s criminal history information or clearance, the second fingerprint card on file will be destroyed.

Fingerprint Card Refund Request Back to Top

Refunds are available for fingerprint card request purchases when the attorney has chosen to travel to California and submit fingerprints through a California Live Scan vendor. An attorney must request a refund prior to submitting completed fingerprint cards to the State Bar. If fingerprint cards were sent to the State Bar, the attorney must contact the State Bar's Office of Attorney Regulation and Consumer Resources as soon as possible and inquire whether the fingerprint cards were mailed to the state DOJ. Once fingerprint cards are sent to the DOJ, the attorney is no longer eligible to receive a refund.

Email the completed refund form to the State Bar with the subject line: Fingerprint Cards Refund Request and include the attorney's Bar number.

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