Live Scan fingerprinting in Morgan Hill & San Jose: a walk-in guide
If a new job, professional license, or volunteer position asked you to “get Live Scan fingerprinting,” you might be picturing an ink pad and a trip downtown. It’s much simpler than that. Live Scan is digital, it takes just a few minutes, and you can walk into any of our three stores to get it done. Here’s the full rundown.
What Live Scan actually is
Live Scan is electronic fingerprinting. Instead of rolling your fingers in ink, your prints are captured digitally and transmitted straight to the California Department of Justice (and the FBI when required) for a background check. It’s the standard method for most employment, licensing, and certification background checks in California.
Because it’s electronic, there’s no smudging, no re-do, and no mailing paperwork — your prints go where they need to go the same day.
What to bring
Come in with two things and you’re set:
- Your Request for Live Scan Service form. Whoever is requiring the background check — your employer, licensing board, or agency — gives you this form. It’s pre-filled with the ORI number and the specific applicant type they need. That form tells us exactly where to send your results, so bring it with you — we can’t guess the ORI.
- A valid government photo ID. A driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
If you don’t have the Request for Live Scan form yet, contact the organization that asked for the background check — they issue it, not us.
What it costs
Our rolling fee is $40 — that’s the fee for the fingerprinting service itself, and it’s the same at all three stores.
One thing to know: the requesting agency usually also charges a separate government processing fee (the DOJ/FBI charge for running the background check). That amount varies by the type of check and is set by the state, not by us — your Request for Live Scan form typically lists it. So your total is our $40 rolling fee plus whatever the state charges for your particular check.
Walk in — no appointment
All three of our locations offer Live Scan, and you don’t need to book ahead:
- Cochrane Plaza — Morgan Hill
- Tennant Station — Morgan Hill
- Branham — San Jose
Just come by during business hours:
- Monday–Friday: 9am – 6pm
- Saturday: 10am – 5pm
- Sunday: closed
A few tips for a smooth visit
- Double-check your form is filled in before you arrive — the ORI and applicant type especially.
- Clean, dry hands scan best. If you work with your hands, that’s fine — the operator can usually get a clean read either way.
- Keep your reference info. After scanning you’ll get an ATI (transaction identifier); hang onto it in case the requesting agency asks.
That’s genuinely all there is to it. Most people are in and out in well under fifteen minutes.
See our Live Scan and fingerprinting page for details, or find your nearest store and walk in.