Good afternoon,
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section is pleased to announce our websites www.fbi.gov/nics and www.edo.cjis.gov have recently been updated to better assist your customers receiving denial decisions during NICS checks.
Some of the improvements your customers will see on ourwww.fbi.gov/nics website include:
- The separation of challenge information from Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) information. Each topic now has its own launchpad on the website’s homepage. Examples of the launchpad images are shown above.
- Expanded information on both topics by enhancing the descriptions, step-by-step instructions, and frequently asked questions (FAQs).
- Providing more information regarding the process of “requesting the reason for denial.” Denied individual may request the reason for their denial decision, and the NICS Section will respond with the category of the denial within five business days of receiving the request. If, after receiving the reason for denial, the individual wants to challenge the denial decision or apply for VAF, they can pursue those services.
- Improving the navigation between topics, and to the eDO site.
The eDO site is the Electronic Department Order website—it was primarily designed to provide individuals with access to obtain their identity history summary, often referred to as criminal history record, but it also provides direct access for individuals to initiate a NICS challenge or begin the VAF process. Appellants and VAF applicants can directly upload fingerprint cards and any other supporting documentation through the eDO website. We partnered closely with FBI colleagues to improve the eDO experience for our NICS customers by designing a more intuitive, customer-friendly landing page for NICS-related challenges and VAF applications.
We are committed to supporting you and your customers, and one way we’re doing that is by providing faster turnaround times on challenges and VAF requests. As mentioned, the NICS Section will provide the reason for denial within 5 business days, and since 2018, we have met the 60-day mandate on completing challenge requests. While there is no required timeframe for responding to VAF requests, we generally process both challenge and VAF requests in just 45 days.
The www.fbi.gov/nics website is not only for individuals interested in challenging a NICS denial or applying for VAF. The site offers a broad range of resources for the public and for federal firearms licensees (FFLs). Anyone can use this website to learn more about NICS services and obtain current and historical stats and information about NICS. There is a launchpad designed specifically for our FFL partners which includes tutorials on the most common E-Check processes, quick reference guides, and numerous hyperlinks to things like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sites, ordering resolution cards, and subscribing to receive NICS updates.
Our goal with the website updates is to make processes clearer, faster, and more accessible for everyone. We encourage you to tell your customers about these improved resources so they can take full advantage of the tools and information available. Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions or suggestions on future improvements.
Thank you for your continued partnership,
The NICS Business Relations Team
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