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For a Virginia background check online, the State Police SP-167 system helps generate the state criminal-history request, but the official workflow still includes required signatures, notarization and submission. SP-167 is a Virginia record check; a qualifying national fingerprint-based check follows a separate authorized process.
“Online” in Virginia describes form preparation, not an instant completed history
Virginia State Police provides an online interface that generates the SP-167 criminal-history request, but the completed check is governed by the formal request instructions. The subject signs the form, notarization is required, and additional signatures are needed when results are sent to another recipient. That distinction prevents a misleading expectation that entering a name on a website immediately returns a finished Virginia report.
State Police also separates this Virginia criminal-history request from national fingerprint checks available for qualifying statutory purposes. The two services answer different questions. If an employer or organization specifically requires national fingerprint screening, a Virginia-only SP-167 should not be substituted simply because it is easier to initiate.
Choose the Virginia route by the required output
| Need | Starting route | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia criminal-history record | SP-167 through Virginia State Police | State record rather than a national fingerprint report. |
| Results sent to another recipient | SP-167 with the additional recipient signature/notarization steps | Recipient instructions must be completed correctly before submission. |
| Qualifying national fingerprint check | Authorized fingerprint process described by State Police | Eligibility depends on the requesting purpose or program. |
| Third-party employment consumer report | Consumer-reporting company plus applicable FCRA workflow | State source verification does not replace consumer-report notice and dispute rights. |
Prepare a Virginia request without skipping the formal steps
1
Confirm the requested scopeAsk whether the recipient wants Virginia state history or a qualifying national fingerprint check.2
Generate the correct formUse the State Police SP-167 workflow when a Virginia criminal-history report is the required product.3
Complete signatures and notarizationFollow the subject and recipient signature instructions before mailing the request as directed.4
Verify a material record separatelyIf the returned history contains a consequential charge or disposition, obtain the owning court or agency record for context.Avoid three common Virginia background-check shortcuts
Delivery
Do not call SP-167 an instant online result
The website helps prepare the form, while the actual State Police request follows formal submission steps.
Geography
Do not label a Virginia state check “national”
National fingerprint screening is a separate process for qualifying purposes.
Decision use
Do not confuse source access with screening compliance
When a consumer report is used for employment, federal procedures apply alongside source verification.