Insurance Companies UPDATE: Submission of Biographical Affidavits and Independent Third-Party Verification for Officers and Directors of Authorized Insurers

If DFS does not receive your application (or an application from an entity with whom you are affiliated) within 10 days of the receipt of scanned fingerprints, those scans or cards will be discarded, and you will have to start the fingerprint process over - this includes paying a fee again.

Call DFS at (800) 342-3736, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. if you have any questions about fingerprinting for DFS.

DFS uses IdentoGO for live scan fingerprinting services. 

• Learn more about live scan fingerprinting on the IdentoGO website.

New York State Authorized IdentoGO Locations

Only New York State Authorized IdentoGO Centers may be used. Not all IdentoGO sites are authorized for use.

Use the IdentoGO website to locate a New York State Authorized IdentoGO enrollment center

• Enter the correct Service Code (see below) for your license type and hit 'Go'.
• At the top of the screen you will see the service code you entered and the name of the associated license. Make sure it is correct.
• Select 'Locate an Enrollment Center'. You can search for a New York State Authorized IdentoGO Center by using current location, postal code, city and state, or airport code.

Appointment Scheduling

Appointment scheduling via the IdentoGO website is available at all times. Appointment scheduling via phone is available from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

To schedule an appointment for fingerprinting, note your Service Code (see below) and go to the IdentoGO website or call IdentoGO at (877) 472-6915.

Identification

To avoid rejection, please make sure your personal information is consistent across all ID documents.

• Use the IdentoGO website to learn what ID to bring to an Appointment.

Fees

You will pay a fingerprinting fee at the IdentoGO Center at the time of your appointment. If fingerprinting is done at a New York authorized IdentoGO Center located outside of New York State, an additional and separate fee will be charged.

If you enroll under the wrong service code your prints cannot be used and you will need to enroll again and incur additional costs.

Receipts

At the IdentoGO Center, your ID documents will be reviewed, fingerprints will be taken, and your photo will be taken.

You will be given two receipts indicating your name, fingerprinting location, date and time, fee paid and reason for fingerprinting. You must submit/attach one receipt to DFS with your application, submission or biographical affidavit as proof of fingerprinting. Retain the other copy for your records.

When making your appointment, you will need your Service Code. Find and confirm the correct Service Code for your license/application type below.

You are responsible for ensuring that you are fingerprinted under the correct service code. If you enroll under the wrong service code your prints can not be used and you will have to start the fingerprint process over - this includes paying a fee again. If you are uncertain of your correct Service Code, contact DFS at (800) 342-3736.

• FBI Noncriminal Justice Applicant’s Privacy Rights
• FBI Privacy Act Statement (from FD-258 Fingerprint Card)

You may obtain a copy of your FBI criminal history record by submitting fingerprints and a fee to the FBI. Information regarding this process may be obtained at the FBI Website. You may obtain a copy of your New York state criminal history via the Division of Criminal Justice Services website.

If you believe the results of your background check are not complete or are incorrect, contact the FBI or DCJS.

If you are a Mortgage Banker, Broker, Servicer or Mortgage Loan Originator, every individual submitting fingerprints for processing using IdentoGO for live scan must review and acknowledge receipt of the above FBI Privacy Act Statement, FBI Noncriminal Justice Applicant’s Privacy Rights. and Applicant Notification and Acknowledgement - NYDFS Privacy Act Statement. Once you have completed your review of the documents, sign and date the acknowledgement section of the Applicant Notification and Acknowledgement - NYSDFS Privacy Act Statement and return it to the Department with your  receipt.

If the image quality of your scanned prints is poor, IdentoGO or DFS will contact you and you must schedule an appointment for re-scanning. There is no cost for re-scanning within one year from the date of your original submission, however, you may be required to pay a fee by the entity rolling the new fingerprint cards.

For those who cannot access a New York-authorized IdentoGO Center, two hard-copy rolled fingerprint cards (FBI FD-258) must be taken and mailed to DFS. This method may be costlier, may delay the processing of your application, and should only be used when absolutely necessary.

Pre-Enroll and Pre-Pay

Applicants who wish to use fingerprint cards must complete a pre-enrollment and pre-payment process via the IdentoGO website. You will need to provide the correct Service Code for the license you are seeking to obtain (see table above).

Once you enter your specific Service Code, you will be directed to a screen that displays the Service Code followed by the name of the license type you have selected. Review that information carefully to make sure that you are being fingerprinted for the correct license. Once you have confirmed the Service Code and license type are correct, select Submit Fingerprint Cards by Mail, provide the required information and follow the prompts to pay the fingerprinting fee.

Print and sign the completed pre-enrollment confirmation page, which includes a barcode printed on the top right of the page. You must mail the signed pre-enrollment confirmation page and completed fingerprint cards to the Department along with the application packet and licensing fee where applicable (producers). Please note the signed pre-enrollment confirmation must include an original signature, copies will not be accepted.

Original Signature Required

*This is important*: Fingerprint Cards received without the pre-enrollment confirmation page containing an original signature will be rejected.

Expiration of Pre-Enrollment Forms

The pre-enrollment forms utilized by IdentoGO to process fingerprint cards expire 90 days after the date issued. Applicants must provide DFS enough time to process the application and forward the fingerprint cards and pre-enrollment forms to IdentoGO and for IdentoGO to complete their process all within those 90 days. For these reasons, it is recommended that pre-enrollment forms be submitted to DFS no later than 30 days after the date issued. Expired forms will need to be replaced with new pre-enrollment forms IdentoGO does have a refund policy available.  Applicants will need to contact IdentoGO directly for refunds. 

Biographical Affidavits

To avoid delays in adding or updating Officers, Directors and/or Controlling Persons, please be sure the Biographical Affidavit is filled out completely. All questions on the Biographical Affidavit must contain a response.

Obtaining Fingerprint Cards

Fingerprints may only be taken by a law enforcement or government agency. Only FBI Form FD-258 fingerprint cards may be used - any other type of fingerprint card or form will not be accepted by DFS.

Mortgage Loan Originators may not use any cards other than cards ordered directly from DFS and pre-printed with the Mortgage ORI NY921860Z.

Requesting Pre-Printed Cards from DFS

To order FD-258 fingerprint cards pre-printed with the ORI for your license type from the Department of Financial Services, email your request to [email protected]. Your email must include:

• The specific Service Code for your application type (see above table)
• The reason for requesting the cards (application type)
• The number of cards requested (two cards per person are required)
• The name and address of the person to whom the cards should be mailed
• A telephone number to call if we need to contact you

When you receive your cards, make sure that the ORI number printed on the card is correct for the type of application/Industry:

• NY921970Z - Depository Institutions
• NY921270Z - Insurance Industry
• NY921822Z - Licensed Financial Services
• NY921860Z - Mortgage Industry

Using Blank FD-258 Cards

If you use blank FD-258 fingerprint cards, you must fill them out correctly according to the Fingerprint Card Instructions.

Make sure to enter the correct ORI for your industry type in Field #1: 

• NY921970Z - Depository Institutions
• NY921270Z - Insurance Industry
• NY921822Z - Licensed Financial Services
• NY921860Z - Mortgage Industry

Mortgage Loan Originators may not use any cards other than pre-printed cards ordered directly from DFS.

NAIC and NMLS Licensees

• If the ORI in Field #1 is NY921270Z - Insurance Industry, you must enter your NAIC # in field 20.
• If the ORI in Field #1 is NY921860Z - Mortgage Industry, you must enter your NMLS ID # in in field 20.

Mailing Completed Cards Back to DFS

Once your prints are taken, the following must then be submitted directly to the Department of Financial Services:

• Two correctly completed fingerprint cards (use the Fingerprint Card Instructions for guidance)
• Signed IdentoGO pre-enrollment confirmation/receipt
• Receipt with information verifying the person and/or location taking the prints
• A Fingerprint Certification Form completed at the time the fingerprints are taken
• A completed and signed Request for Fingerprint Card Scan Services – Information Form
• Associated application, submission, affidavit, etc.

Completed cards along with the above items should be mailed to DFS with your application, submission, affidavit, etc. You should mail everything to the address associated with your license type.

Below you will find more information specific to individual industry/license type:

• Adjuster/Public Adjuster
• Bail Bond Agents
• Banks, Credit Unions, Investment Companies, Trusts
• Budget Planners
• Check Cashers
• Insurance Agents & Brokers
• Insurance Companies Officers/Directors
• Licensed Lenders
• Life Settlement Brokers
• Money Transmitters
• Mortgage Bankers, Brokers, Servicers and Loan Originators
• Premium Finance Agencies
• Sales Finance Companies
• Virtual Currency Businesses