A Step By Step Guide on ATF Fingerprinting – EFT File Creation – Sending EFT File to ATF

ATF has recently introduced a revamped online system to submit different eForms including the electronic ATF fingerprinting process on its website and applicants have been facing a hard time accommodating the new system, especially the existing users, who were using legacy ATF eForm system.

Applicants will have to create an online account with the ATF and have their identity verified. They will fill out an electronic version of the current form and upload a digital passport-type photo of themselves. Fingerprints will have to be submitted through a digital fingerprint system. The customer will be notified of problems or mistakes and will receive the result of their application by email. The biggest difference is that the customer will be kept in the loop.

Fingerprinting is an essential component in many NFA item-related transactions such as approval requests, licensing, transfer of NFA items, etc. ATF has been making use of FD-258 fingerprint cards for a long time to capture and process fingerprints for different requests received from applicants. However, now live scan fingerprinting has become a preferred way to submit fingerprints due to several benefits such as speed, convenience, etc. it offers. No wonder the live scan fingerprinting process has taken over the fingerprint card-based submissions.

In order to submit digital fingerprints through the ATF portal, you will need live scan fingerprinting equipment as well as ATF fingerprinting software. What is the ATF fingerprinting software, how does it help you submit ATF digital fingerprints and what are the steps to upload fingerprints on the new ATF website, we have discussed everything step-by-step in the subsequent sections.

Following are the steps for using the new eForms and subsequently uploading fingerprints on the new ATF website. The process to electronically file a Form is very similar to the current paper process as it is more or less an electronic version of the paper process. Yet, it is faster and more efficient than the paper-based process.

Our ATF fingerprinting software allows you to electronically capture fingerprints, enter demographic data, create the EFT file, and scan photograph and signature, which are needed to be uploaded to the ATF eForm system in order to complete your application process.

Bayometric’s live scan software supports both rolled as well as flat fingerprints. (2 thumbs, 4finger slaps, and single finger rolls). To submit fingerprints for NFA items, an applicant must provide flat as well as rolled prints. Our ATF live scan software facilitates easy-to-follow fingerprint capture with step by step guided process to scan individual fingers, 2-finger slaps, and rolled prints of individual fingers.

Bayometric’s Live Scan Fingerprinting Software comes equipped with stringent quality control mechanisms and captured prints are thoroughly checked for any quality issues. If the system finds the prints to be below the quality standards, it disposes of the scan asks the user to rescan.

Live scan fingerprinting is only a part of the equation when you submit fingerprints for an ATF application. Providing correct demographic details, which are free from data entry errors is crucial as they can lead to delay or rejection of your application. Data entry and human errors can be easily missed if you fill paper forms manually, and when it comes to ATF, errors in ATF forms can potentially double your waiting time as errors will be discovered only when the agency receives and start processing your application. Eventually, you will have no option but to reinitiate your application process.

Entering demographic data in Bayometric’s ATF live scan software not only fast-forwards the process but also saves you from making errors that are easy to miss. Bayometric’s live scan software comes equipped with a highly efficient demographic data entry module with a user-friendly and easy-to-use interface. It allows gun shops or FFL dealers to quickly fill the demographic data of the customers.

Our ATF fingerprinting software’s demographic data entry module is also equipped with field-level validations that will quickly pick potential errors and alert you to fix them.

EFT (Electronic Fingerprint Transmission) file is a digital file that contains your fingerprint information in order to securely transfer it to the law enforcement agency (ATF in our case). Electronic Fingerprint Transmissionspecifications are the specifications prescribed by the FBI to ensure standards and interoperability while transferring and processing digital fingerprints. It can be crucial how your ATF fingerprinting software handles EFT file creation and what additional functionality it provides with it.

Bayometric’s NFA live scan software allows you to create EFT files effortlessly and allows for easy download of the files. These files can be exported as well and saved forever.

When you need to make live scan fingerprint submission to the ATF, the agency also needs your passport-style photo and signature. Bayometric’s ATF fingerprinting software comes equipped with the ability to scan your photo and capture your signature using a digital signature pad. If you already have a passport-style photo available, you can upload it to the live scan software, or scan a new one, which would require a scanner.

ATF accepts passport photos in JPG/JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) and GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) format, which are the most popular digital image formats around.

Electronic submission of fingerprint cards for ATF Form 4, ATF Form 1, ATF Form 4473, and ATF Form 5320.23, you will be able to attach your “digital fingerprint cards with the required electronic documents” to your submission. The updated eForms will accept electronic documents up to 30 MB in size. The new eForm system features enhanced validations to ensure the upfront validations of your data prior to submission.

ATF is live with its new eForm system which aims to process your NFA applications faster, however, existing users of ATF’s legacy system, as well as the new users, have a lot of confusion and questions about how the system works. We have tried to gather all the information you may need to initiate your application process on the ATF eForm 1 eFile system.

The agency claims the new eForm system to be more efficient as well as secure with the enhanced upfront validations that have been introduced with it. The agency has also made eForm 4 available, which is one of the biggest upgrades people have been waiting for. The new system is expected to cut short the time taken in processing different NFA items related to approvals/requests made to the agency.

The ATF has also introduced eForms User Services, which is a temporary service to assist with the migration process form the legacy to new ATF eForms system.