Gun Rights
DOJ Fingerprints for Federal Gun Rights Restoration: Why You Must Wait and Use USPS
Applicants preparing for the new federal firearm-rights restoration process should resist the temptation to get fingerprints early. DOJ’s current instructions are unusually specific: the required electronic fingerprints must be taken through the United States Postal Service process, and applicants should wait until the federal application generates the information needed for fingerprinting.
Quick answerDo not submit a police-station fingerprint card, private fingerprint-company scan, or old set of prints. DOJ currently says FFRR fingerprints must come through the participating USPS electronic process. After the application is submitted, Criminal Justice Information Services sends the applicant a case number, barcode, and QR code needed for the fingerprint step.
Why can’t I just get fingerprints now?
The prints have to be connected to the correct federal application. DOJ says that after the application is submitted, the applicant receives an email from Criminal Justice Information Services explaining the next steps and providing the case number, barcode, and QR code.
Those identifiers allow the USPS and FBI process to associate the electronic fingerprints with the correct FFRR application.
Where do I get the fingerprints?
At a participating United States Post Office. Not every USPS location offers the service, so DOJ directs applicants to use the location-search tool included in the federal instructions.
Will fingerprints from a police station or private vendor work?
DOJ’s current guidance says no. It states that fingerprints collected anywhere other than the USPS electronic process will not be accepted for FFRR.
What should I bring to the Post Office?
DOJ says applicants should bring the email containing the CJIS information, payment, and an accepted form of identification. The published list includes a state driver’s license, state non-driver ID, U.S. passport or passport card, and military identification.
Where do the prints go?
Once taken, the prints are sent directly to the FBI for processing and then uploaded into the FFRR application. DOJ says the applicant will receive notification when the FBI receives the fingerprints.
How should fingerprints fit into application planning?
Collect documents and line up your three qualified character references before starting the application. Then follow DOJ’s sequence rather than improvising: submit the application, follow the CJIS instructions, complete USPS fingerprints, and monitor the application status.
For the larger application sequence, review the Federal Restoration Application intake, the Resource Center, and the FFRR FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
DOJ says FFRR fingerprints must be collected through the USPS electronic process, so an old fingerprint card should not be assumed acceptable.
Not under DOJ’s current instructions. Prints collected outside the USPS electronic process will not be accepted.
DOJ says the CJIS email sent after application submission will contain the case information, barcode, and QR code needed for fingerprinting.
No. DOJ says applicants must locate a participating USPS fingerprinting location.
General information only. This article is not legal advice and is not permission to possess, receive, transport or purchase a firearm. Verify the current law and the legal effect of your actual court orders.
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