One of the requirements for obtaining a visa in Colombia that can cause the most headaches for foreigners is a criminal background check, particularly for those coming from the United States, who must present an FBI Report. The good news? expatgroup.co is expanding its coverage: fast, FBI-certified digital fingerprinting in Barranquilla is now available! This article explains why you should choose this option, how to schedule your fingerprinting appointment, and obtain the FD-258 Card.
Why Opt for Fingerprinting in Barranquilla?
The main reason an expat should choose a fingerprinting service is that background checks have become a common requirement for many Colombian visas. While Resolution 5477 of 2022 explicitly mandates an FBI report for specific categories—such as Digital Nomad, Spouse Visa, and Investor visas—immigration officials can request “additional documentation(…) in cases deemed necessary” (Article 19), including criminal checks or “a record from the country of birth or residence” (Article 26) under their discretionary authority.
For U.S. citizens and residents, or people who have lived in the USA, one required document is an FBI Background Check, which applicants can obtain by submitting fingerprints taken on the official FD-258 card. Given the recent rise in requests for criminal records from visa applicants, we recommend including this document with your initial application, rather than waiting for the government to request it.
The FBI strictly enforces quality standards for fingerprint submissions. Smudged or incorrectly rolled prints will be rejected, causing significant visa delays. Having your prints taken by trained professionals using FBI-certified equipment ensures your documents are accepted on the first attempt.
Expatgroup.co, the visa agency partner of Medellin Guru, already offered this digital fingerprinting service using an FBI-certified scanner, but exclusively in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali. Nevertheless, it will soon expand the service to Barranquilla, offering an alternative for foreigners in this city or those who find it more convenient to travel there to complete this process.
Fingerprinting Service
Digital fingerprinting with an FBI-certified scanner in Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, and Cali. (The fingerprints are printed on letter-size paper using the FD-258 Format Fingerprint Card, which includes high-precision digital fingerprinting).
How Can I Book My Fingerprinting Process in Barranquilla?
Scheduling your fingerprinting appointment in Barranquilla is simple and can be done 100% digitally.
1: Go to the Expatgroup.co Payment Form
Go to the expatgroup.co service page and click the ‘Apply Now’ button to access the payment form.
You can also click the button below to use the payment form attached to this blog at no additional cost.
2: Choose the Type of Service
Select between the 2 options for the fingerprinting service in Colombia:
- ‘FBI Background Check + Apostille + Official Translation’ for $400 USD.
- ‘FBI Background Check’ (FBI Report Only) for $220 USD.
Note: If you wish to obtain the individual fingerprinting service and the FD-258 Card for other purposes, you can use the ‘Fingerprinting Services in Barranquilla’ option for only $35 USD.
3: Confirm the city and amount to pay
Confirm the city (Barranquilla) and the total amount to pay for the process or package.
After verifying that this information is correct, select the ‘Apply Now’ button.
4: Complete the requested personal information
In the following fields, complete the following information:
- First name and last name.
- Passport number.
- Email address.
- US Residential Address.
- US Phone Number
- Nationality.
- Date and Place of birth.
- Social Security Number
You must also confirm if you are a US citizen or legal permanent resident.
5: Reason for fingerprinting request
Complete the following information for the person getting fingerprinted.
- Gender.
- Hair color.
- Height (in feet).
- Race.
- Eye color.
- Weight (in pounds).
Then, please indicate the reason for requesting the fingerprinting service in the following field.
Finally, upload the first page of your passport to the system and click on Next.
6: Comments and Observations
Complete the following 3 fields:
- First, provide the name of the advisor who suggested the fingerprinting service.
- Provide information about where you first met expatgroup.co (Google, references, Medellin Guru, etc.).
- Provide your comments and observations about the service or your specific needs at this point.
7: Check your email
After you complete your payment, check your inbox for a confirmation email containing your scheduling link.
Review the brief instructions inside and click the ‘Book an appointment’ button to select your date and time.
8: Select an available date and time
Select an available date and time when you can attend in person. Choose an available appointment slot.
9: Confirm your appointment details
On the next screen, double-check your appointment date and time. Then, enter your full name and contact number, read the terms and conditions, and click ‘Schedule Appointment’ to finish.
What Are the Requirements to Obtain an FBI Background Check?
To complete your FBI Background Check process, there are some requirements you must meet:
Valid Passport
Bring your passport to your scheduled appointment.
FD-258 Fingerprinting Card
This is the standard form required for the FBI Background Check, printed on letter-sized paper.
Social Security Number
If you are a U.S. citizen and/or U.S Permanent Resident, you need to provide your 9-digit Social Security Number (SSN).
If you need the FBI Report for a Colombian Visa, keep in mind that once the FBI Background Check has been issued, the next step is to obtain the apostille and translation of the document. This is because, according to Resolution 5477 of 2022, all documents issued outside the country must be apostilled and translated if they are in a language other than Spanish. If you just want to obtain your fingerprints and your criminal record certificate on your own, we recommend that you read this article about how to get the FBI Report by yourself.
The FBI Background Check, Apostille + Translation package offered by expatgroup.co is a convenient alternative for expats, handling the entire process from obtaining the criminal record to its apostille and translation.
FBI Background Check Service
- Fingerprinting (Medellín, Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Cali)
- International shipment to USA
- VIP faster processing with electronic submission
- FBI criminal record certificate (FBI Report)
- Washington D.C. Apostille certificate
- Official translations into Spanish
GET 25% OFF IN YOUR FBI BACKGROUND CHECK
The expatgroup.co anniversary offer is now open! Obtain your U.S. FBI Background Check with Apostille and Translations with our reliable partner and meet the Colombian regulations.
*Offer available until January 30th.
*Apply terms and conditions.
Where Will the Fingerprint in Barranquilla Be Available?
In Barranquilla, expatgroup.co offers fingerprinting services at the conveniently located Calle 76 No. 54 – 11. Of. 707, World Trade Center, Barranquilla.
Note: Fingerprinting in Barranquilla is available by appointment only.
How Long Does the Process Take to Obtain the FBI Background Check?
For United States citizens, the FBI Background Check process can take 5 to 7 business days (FBI Report only) and 3 to 5 weeks with apostille and translations. This can pose a problem for foreigners applying for a visa in Colombia who are not aware of this requirement and apply without including their criminal records, as the timelines provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are usually shorter. As mentioned before, the visa authority may require an expat to include a criminal record certificate with the visa application.
According to Resolution 5477 of 2022, “The Visa and Immigration Authority may grant a period of up to ten (10) calendar days for the foreign national to satisfy the requirement. Failure to do so within the allotted time may result in the application being declared inadmissible or denied” (Article 97, Paragraph 1)
Resolution 5477 also states that: “Failure by the applicant to take action within ten (10) days following the issuance of a formal request shall be construed as a withdrawal of the application; consequently, the procedure shall be deemed concluded without a formal ruling from the Visa and Immigration Authority”. (Article 97, Paragraph 3).
For the same reason, one recommendation is to get fingerprinted and provide your FBI Background check in advance, especially to ensure appointment availability in the city where you want to complete the process. Completing the process in advance will also ensure that there are no delays and, more importantly, that you do not have to spend additional money in case you need to repeat your visa application process.
What Are the Advantages of Completing the Fingerprinting Process in Barranquilla with Expatgroup.co?
Given the importance of obtaining your FBI Background Check, we recommend leaving the process in the hands of experts who not only have the tools to take fingerprints but can also advise and accompany you throughout the entire process to obtain your FBI Background Check or a Colombian visa.
Multiple Locations
You can get your fingerprints taken in Medellín, Bogotá, Cali, and Barranquilla.
Do it from Colombia
You don’t have to go to the USA to acquire your FBI Criminal Records.
Digital Fingerprint
High-precision scanner certified by the FBI.
All Include Princing
With just one payment, you’ll obtain all the features of your package.
As you can see, getting your FBI Background Check doesn’t have to be stressful. With expatgroup.co’s FBI Background Check, Apostille + Translation package, you can have the entire process handled from start to finish. You can also follow our step-by-step guide below to complete your application.
How to Obtain the FBI Background Check for a Colombia Visa
Obtaining the FBI background check for a Colombia visa is a crucial step in the visa application process. The background check serves as a record indicating the presence or absence...
Read MoreFAQs About Fingerprinting and FBI Background Check
Yes. First, you have to pay for the service in order for expatgroup.co to send you the link to schedule your fingerprinting appointment. If you want to first check possible date availability, you can contact them through their WhatsApp Customer Service Channel.
On average, the process takes 1 to 5 weeks, depending on whether you include the federal apostille (Washington, D.C.), official translations, and your nationality/citizenship. For this reason, we recommend requesting this document in advance and including it with your first visa application submission, along with all your other documentation.
Digital fingerprinting with expatgroup.co takes, on average, between 15 and 30 minutes.
Yes. Resolution 5477 of 2022 states that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may request additional documentation during the visa process whenever it deems it necessary. In these cases, the deadline for delivering this document is 10 days from the date of notification.
Expatgroup.co will send you the results of your FBI Background Check digitally to the email address you provided while filling out the payment form.
Medellin Guru's comprehensive visa and passport series
The Colombian visa changes that went into effect in October 2022 were significant. So, on the Medellin Guru site, we have a comprehensive series of visa articles that are kept up-to-date and should answer most visa questions. These articles include:
- Colombia Visa Guide: Ultimate Guide How to Get a Colombian Visa
- How to Obtain a Colombian Visa with Up-to-Date Info – an overview of all the Colombian visas
- Popular Colombian Visas for Foreigners: Which Visa is the Most Popular?
- Coronavirus Impacts on Colombian Visas and Tourist Visas
- Visa Agencies: A Guide to Visa Agencies in Medellín and Colombia
- 9 Common Colombian Visa Mistakes: How to Avoid Them
We have looked in detail at the nine most popular Colombian visas used by foreigners:
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Retirement visa
- Marriage visa
- Investment visa
- Business Visa
- Resident visa
- Work visa
- Student visa
- Visitor visa
Also, we have looked in detail at three additional Colombian visas, which are less popular for foreigners:
- Rentista visa (annuity visa) – for foreigners with a fixed income
- Beneficiary visa – for relatives of visa holders
- Expertise visa – for professionals
In addition, we have a guide to Colombia tourist visas and how to extend a tourist visa. Also, we have a guide to renewing U.S. passports in Colombia and a guide to obtaining a Colombian passport.
Furthermore, we provide information about travel health policy that meets the health requirements for Colombian visas. And we have a guide to how to apply for a cedula extranjeria in Colombia and a guide to using notaries in Medellín and Colombia. Finally, Medellín Guru has partnered with a visa agency to offer Colombia visa services.
All of our Colombia visa articles are up to date (2025) and will continue to receive updates in 2026.
The Bottom Line: Get Fingerprinting in Barranquilla for Your FBI Background Check
By now, it should be clear that you not only need an FBI Background Check, but also an experienced specialist to handle your fingerprinting. That’s why the option to obtain your FBI Background Check from Barranquilla is great news for many expats in the visa process.
- More options in Colombia: Until now, one of the main problems many foreigners faced during the fingerprinting process was geographical limitation, with only a couple of cities having specialized machines to complete this step (Medellín and Bogotá). expatgroup.co seeks to eliminate this barrier by expanding its options and coverage to Barranquilla.
- Fingerprinting should be a priority: Even if a criminal record is not required for the visa you are applying for, we recommend obtaining this document to avoid delays or extra expenses.
- A complete package for your needs: It is also important to have a comprehensive service. Fingerprinting is only the first step in obtaining the FBI Background Check, which is why the recommendation is always for this process to go hand in hand with experts who can advise and offer help in the following steps, such as filling out and submitting the accompanying form, and even in the entire process of applying for your visa.
Don’t let location slow down your visa application. If you’re in Barranquilla, expatgroup.co can help you complete the fingerprinting process required for your FBI Background Check. Our team handles the process from fingerprinting to submission, helping you avoid unnecessary delays and paperwork. Schedule your appointment and get your FBI Background Check process underway.
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