Learn the Basics of Livescan
What is a livescan?
If you are like me, I had no idea what a livescan was. When did livescans come into existence? Well, in the past, when you applied for a job or needed clearance, many used to go to local law enforcement. The way they would collect your prints were through ink and paper. Although this technology has not left, Livescan is now more prevalent and faster in 2022. The computer which has an encrypted program oversees processing your prints and sending the information to its respective agencies. The fingerprint machine scans your prints, and the roller handles the applicant’s hands making sure your prints are of the highest quality to avoid rejection. This process is not in all states yet but luckily, livescan fingerprinting is approved in California.
How long does a Livescan process take?
Once you have received a current 2022 livescan request form from your requesting agency, the livescan process is not quite long actually. With a completed form, your local livescan provider will simply input your information in a secured program, and then proceed to taking your prints. Usually, this process includes taking all your flat prints and rolled ones as well. What is a rolled print? Well, this is done by literally rolling your prints from one side to the other. Once all said and done, the prints get transmitted and within 72 hours, the agency receives their results.
Who needs a livescan?
Although many agencies and many states ask for ink fingerprinting, Livescan in California is what most agencies use for many reasons. Take for example, school districts, they need to periodically do a background check for security reasons for many employed within their school system. A law enforcement applicant also, will need to get clearance from criminal convictions. Another example is a volunteer applicant for a local church, as many churches require this clearance. As this process continues to grow, we will see it expand in more and more states.
Why do fingerprints get rejected?
Depending on what type of work you do for a living, fingerprints can be rejected. Although a livescan provider can have the best equipment to ensure the livescan goes through, sometimes the fingerprints can be rejected. One of the reasons this happens is the chemicals used on a regular basis. These chemicals can harm your prints leading to permanent damage. Another reason could be running hot water from washing dishes for long periods. With so many careers work with technology, this also can affect your prints. When you type for hours and you don’t moisturize as often as needed, this can damage your print quality. Some of the things a livescan operator can do is tell the customer to wash their hands or clean their hands with baby wipes. If this doesn’t help corn huskers lotion and greaseless lotion can enhance the print. People with overly sweaty hands can use a fan or alcohol wipes to make sure the prints don’t come out too dark to read. If all fails, and you have repeated the submission of prints, the receiving agency will request a background check using your birth certificate. I hope this helps you and have a couple of tricks to make sure your results come back as quickly as possible.