The Truth About the “Good Moral Character Check”: It’s Not a Test of Virtue, It’s an FBI Background Check

If you just typed “good moral character check” (or “GMC check”) into Google, congratulations. You’ve officially entered the murky, slightly dramatic language of immigration law. That phrase feels like something from a Victorian morality play, doesn’t it? The good news is you haven’t missed a secret USCIS form. The better news is that there is a clear, legitimate, and frankly boring step you can take to stop guessing and start preparing.

When people ask for a “good moral character check,” what they actually need is an FBI background check—specifically the FBI Identity History Summary (IDHS). This is the official, fingerprint-based report compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide. It’s the closest thing you get to seeing the file USCIS will eventually see on you.

Let’s be honest about why this search happens. It’s born from that little jolt of dread you get when the immigration form asks, yet again, about your past. Maybe it was a truly bad weekend a decade ago. Maybe it was a youthful mistake that felt over and done with. Most of us mentally file those things away under “Resolved” and never think about them again.

Immigration has a wonderfully inconvenient way of pulling those files back out. Suddenly, the question isn’t, “What did I do?” but, “What did the government record that I did?” Those two things are rarely the same, and that gap between memory and paper is where all the panic lives.

Here’s the helpful reframe: seeking out your FBI Identity History Summary isn’t about dreading a surprise; it’s about eliminating the possibility of a surprise. It’s the single best proactive step you can take to arm your attorney (or yourself) with the exact information USCIS will eventually see. Knowledge, as always, is power, especially when applying for a huge life change.

What USCIS Really Means by “Good Moral Character” (GMC)

Good Moral Character (GMC) is a legal standard that shows up most often in Naturalization (Form N-400). It’s also relevant in other high-stakes situations like VAWA and certain forms of cancellation of removal. Crucially, USCIS is looking at your conduct and criminal history during the relevant statutory period—not your Sunday school attendance.

Despite the heartwarming phrase, this is absolutely not a moral evaluation in the traditional sense. USCIS is not interested in whether you donate to charity, volunteer at the shelter, or have generally “turned your life around.” While those things are lovely for your conscience, GMC is rooted strictly in statute, not sentimentality.

This is why the confusion is so widespread. People hear “good moral character” and assume a subjective essay test. In reality, much of it is rigid and technical. Some conduct creates automatic, non-negotiable bars. Other conduct triggers intense scrutiny. And some conduct, while it might keep you up at 3 AM, is legally irrelevant.

The problem, as usual, is that most applicants don’t know which category their history falls into. And guessing wrong here can be spectacularly costly.

Common Statutory Bars (The Things USCIS Definitely Sees)

• Murder
• Aggravated felony
• Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMTs)
• Two or more gambling offenses (Yes, really.)
• Habitual drunkenness or certain drug-related issues

Lists like this are deceptively simple. Real cases rarely arrive neatly labeled with a conviction code. They arrive with partial records, missing dispositions, sealed files that USCIS might still have access to, and explanations that sound perfectly sensible in plain English but fall apart on paper. This is why experienced practitioners focus less on the label and more on the quality of your documentation.

When you read those lists, the natural human impulse is to play ‘armchair lawyer’ and try to figure out where your past fits. That’s a dangerous game. Instead of focusing on the label, focus on the evidence. USCIS will use their background check to identify records; your job (or your attorney’s job) is to use your own FBI report to gather all corresponding court dispositions, police reports, and official documents before the interview. This turns a defensive panic into a prepared presentation.

The FBI Identity History Summary (IDHS)

The FBI Identity History Summary is the official fingerprint-based report the FBI provides about you. For immigration purposes, this is the definitive FBI background check—the receipt USCIS is looking for.

You should know this document is not written for human comprehension. It doesn’t tell a story. It doesn’t explain outcomes. It is a raw, technical snapshot of what has been reported to the FBI—and it doesn’t care whether that information is complete, incomplete, or utterly outdated.

That bluntness is precisely why it’s useful. It strips away all your emotional assumptions and replaces them with cold, hard facts. Sometimes they are wonderfully reassuring facts. Sometimes they are inconvenient ones. But finding them out early is always better than finding them out when your case is on the line.

Think of your IDHS report as a translation key for USCIS. It speaks the language of codes, dates, and charging agencies. If a record shows up on this report, USCIS is likely to ask about it, even if the case was dismissed, expunged, or just a misunderstanding. By having this key in advance, you or your attorney can ensure every potential issue is accompanied by a full, clear, and legally compliant explanation package before it becomes a problem at the interview desk.

Why Name-Based Checks Aren’t Enough

Name-based background checks are a lovely way to get incomplete information, as they can easily miss records or pull the wrong ones. Fingerprint-based checks tie the record to the individual, which is why USCIS relies on them.

In immigration matters, we simply don’t do “probably accurate.”

Live Scan vs. Cardscan: Just Logistics

• Live Scan: digital capture and electronic submission; typically the fastest way to get your report.
• Cardscan: FD-258 ink cards digitized for submission; often required for out-of-state or overseas applicants.

Both methods lead to the exact same FBI report. The only difference is whether you prefer a digital appointment or an ink mess.

Verified-KYC Live Scan

Our Verified-KYC Live Scan adds biometric identity verification to fingerprint capture. To our knowledge, this level of KYC verification is uncommon in Live Scan services and can be useful where identity certainty matters.
Learn more here .

General information only — not legal advice. Immigration matters are fact-specific and unforgiving. Consult an immigration attorney for legal guidance.