Frequently Asked Questions
Global Background Screening provides a simple yet powerful online platform to screen your Employees, Contractors, Volunteers or yourself.
Yes. We use secure, encrypted systems that comply with FCRA, GDPR, and DPF standards. Visit our Privacy Policy to learn more about how your data is protected.
Most U.S. background checks—including criminal, employment, and education—are completed within 2–3 business days after the applicant submits their consent form.
International background checks vary by country and service, typically taking 3–15 business days.
To view exact turnaround times and pricing, just head to our International Background Check page and choose the type of check you need (employment, landlord, or personal).
Our standard background check goes back 7 years, which is typical for most states. That said, employers can request a 10-year search—but we’ll only report results from states that legally allow it.
In some cases, like positions paying $75,000+ or those involving FBI or Level 2 fingerprinting, the lookback can go back further depending on the state.
Please note: We do not report arrest-only records (with no conviction) unless it’s required by federal or state law, or for a licensing-related position.
Not sure what your state allows? We’re happy to help you navigate it!
No. We have zero setup fees, no contracts, and no annual commitments. You pay only for the services you order.
Yes—we support international criminal checks in over 150 countries through our multi-source network. See pricing and availability on our International Portal.
To get started, all we need from you is the applicant’s name and email address—we’ll take it from there.
From the applicant, we’ll collect:
Full legal name
Date of birth
For U.S. background checks, we also ask for a Social Security Number (SSN) to run address history and county-level alias searches. If they don’t have an SSN, that’s okay—we can still run a national database search and current state of residence search.
For international checks, some countries may require extra details like:
Mother’s maiden name
National ID numbers
Country of birth or nationality
In some cases, even a wet-ink signature on authorization forms
No worries—we handle all of this directly with the applicant through our secure platform. You just send us their name and email, and we guide them through the rest.
🔍 Criminal Checks
County, State, Federal & National Criminal Searches
International Criminal Checks
Fingerprint (Level 2 / FBI)
Sex Offender Registry, Most Wanted, Watchlists & Ongoing Monitoring
📄 Verifications
Employment & Education History
Professional & Personal References
Identity & Right-to-Work Verification
License & Credential Checks
💳 Financial & Tenant Screening
U.S. & International Credit Reports
Bankruptcies, Liens, Civil Judgments
Tenant Checks (Credit, Evictions, Landlord History)
🌐 Digital & Social Media Screening
Social Media Reports (customized by category)
Adverse Media & Google Deep Search
💉 Drug Testing
4–12 Panel Tests (Lab or Instant)
DOT & Non-DOT, Random Testing Pools
🚗 Other Services
U.S. & International MVR (Driving Records)
Sanctions & Compliance Lists (OFAC, OIG, SAM, etc.)
You can browse the full list and order anytime via our online checkout portals.
We’re certified under EU-U.S., UK, and Swiss Data Privacy Frameworks for HR data. We support both complaint escalation and arbitration through EU DPAs, the ICO, FDPIC, and JAMS. See details in our Privacy & Compliance Section.
We offer:
Transparent, upfront pricing with no hidden fees or contracts
Same-day scheduling for U.S. drug tests
Fast turnaround times, courtesy of court runners in every county
FCRA, GDPR, and DPF compliance
A 5-star reputation on Google and Trustpilot
Compare us with others on our Why Choose Us page.
Volunteer checks typically include:
Criminal background
Sex offender registry search
National watchlists (e.g., terror watchlist, OFAC, Warrant search)
Optional credit, reference, and education checks
More info is available on our Volunteer Services page.
Yes! We support employment verification in over 150 countries, including popular destinations such as Canada, India, and the U.K. Head to our International Background Check portal to get started.
Yes—volunteer checks (including criminal and sex-offender registry screenings) are supported at no extra setup costs. Review our dedicated page on Volunteer Background Checks for specific package pricing and checkout today.
Yes—you must have the applicant’s permission before running a background check, no matter where you're located. In the United States, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires you to: Provide a clear written disclosure, obtain written consent, and send both pre-adverse and final adverse action notices if the report affects your hiring decision. Internationally, other laws require similar or stricter consent: GDPR (Europe/UK) – Requires clear purpose, consent, and data minimization; Brazil (LGPD) – Requires legal basis and explicit consent for processing sensitive data; Mexico (Federal Law on the Protection of Personal Data) – Requires written consent and proper handling of personal data. Our platform is built to help keep you compliant across regions. We automate consent collection and, in the U.S., we also handle the full adverse action process—you just click "Initiate Adverse Action" in the applicant's profile. We’ll manage the time-stamped notices, communication, and even mailing required documents to the applicant.
A standard criminal background check typically includes: - National Criminal Database Search – Searches digitized records from thousands of sources, including state agencies, corrections departments, and sex offender registries. - County Criminal Searches – Direct courthouse searches based on the applicant’s 7-year address history, uncovering local felonies and misdemeanors not always included in national databases. - Federal Criminal Search (optional) – Searches U.S. District Courts for federal-level offenses such as fraud, embezzlement, and drug trafficking. - Statewide Criminal Search (where available) – Collects records from state criminal databases for broader coverage. - Sex Offender Registry & Most Wanted Lists – Included in national search results for all 50 states. - Fingerprint-Based Checks (Level 2) – Required in Florida and other regulated states for roles involving vulnerable populations or licensure. - International Criminal Checks – Vary by country and may involve police certificates, government clearance databases, court-level searches, or checks through national agencies. We tailor each search to meet your needs and ensure full compliance with U.S. and international laws, giving you the most accurate and relevant report possible.
Our USA Employee Check includes federal, national & state criminal history, county searches via SSN trace, education verification (optional), employment verification (optional), and optional drug testing, credit, civil, and social media checks. All services can be easily selected during checkout. No setup required—just choose what you need for each role.
Yes, absolutely! You can order a background check on yourself at any time. Just visit our Personal Background Check page, choose whether you need a U.S. or international search, and complete checkout.
Once your order is placed, you’ll receive a secure consent form—your approval is required before we begin any checks. It’s fast, simple, and 100% private.