Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about OpenEFT

🔒 Why does my login link show an "Access Error"?

There are a few reasons why you might see an access error when clicking your magic link:

Common reasons:

  • Link already used - For security, magic links can only be clicked once. If you've already accessed the system, the link becomes invalid.
  • Link expired - Magic links expire after 24 hours for security purposes.
  • Link corrupted - Sometimes email clients break long links across multiple lines, causing them to not work properly.

How to request a new link:

  • Visit the Request Access Page
  • Important: Use the exact email address you used to purchase the conversion
  • A fresh magic link will be sent to your email immediately
  • The new link will be valid for 24 hours

Note: The email address must match exactly - check for typos, extra spaces, or different email accounts you might have used during purchase.

❓ What is an FD-258 card?

An FD-258 (Applicant Fingerprint Card) is the standard fingerprint card used by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in the United States for civil and criminal background checks.

The FD-258 card includes:

  • Individual fingerprint impressions for all 10 fingers (rolled prints)
  • Flat impressions of four fingers from each hand (slaps)
  • Flat impressions of both thumbs
  • Personal information fields (name, DOB, address, etc.)

These cards are typically completed at a fingerprinting service, but can also be done at home using ink and proper technique.

❓ What is an EFT file?

An EFT (Electronic Fingerprint Transmission) file is a digital format used to electronically submit fingerprints to the FBI and other agencies. It's the modern replacement for physical fingerprint cards.

EFT files are:

  • Digital files that can be uploaded online
  • Required by many agencies for background checks
  • Faster to process than physical cards
  • More secure and less prone to loss or damage

OpenEFT converts your physical FD-258 fingerprint card into an EFT file that you can submit electronically, eliminating the need to mail physical cards or visit fingerprinting locations multiple times.

❓ How do I fill out an FD-258 card?

We've created a comprehensive guide to help you complete your FD-258 card at home:

📚 Check out our detailed FD-258 Guide for step-by-step instructions, materials needed, and tips for success.

The guide covers:

  • Materials you'll need (form, ink pad, etc.)
  • Step-by-step fingerprinting technique
  • How to apply flat impressions (slaps and thumbs)
  • Video tutorials for proper technique
  • Tips to get clear, usable prints

Important: For OpenEFT, you only need to complete the fingerprint sections at the bottom of the card (left slap, right slap, and both thumbs). No personal information is required!

👁ī¸ How can I view my EFT file?

After OpenEFT creates your EFT file, you can view it using the NIST Viewer - a free tool designed specifically for viewing electronic fingerprint files.

🔍 Download the NIST Viewer: netxsolutions.co.uk/downloads.aspx

The NIST Viewer allows you to:

  • View all fingerprint images in your EFT file
  • Verify the quality of your converted fingerprints
  • Check that all required fields are properly formatted
  • Confirm your file is ready for submission

This is a helpful way to verify your EFT file before submitting it to the FBI or other agencies.

❓ Do I need a scanner to digitize my FD-258 card?

No, a scanner is not necessary! If you have a modern smartphone (iPhone, Android, etc.), you can simply take a photo of your completed FD-258 card.

Using a Phone Camera:

  • Modern phone cameras (from the last 5 years) have sufficient resolution
  • Ensure good, even lighting when taking the photo
  • Keep the camera parallel to the card to avoid distortion
  • Make sure all four corners of the card are visible
  • Do NOT crop the photo - you'll select a bounding box during conversion
  • Avoid shadows and glare

Tips for best results:

  • Use natural daylight or bright white light
  • Place the card on a dark, contrasting surface
  • Hold your phone steady or use a flat surface
  • Take multiple photos and choose the clearest one
  • Make sure the ink is completely dry before photographing

While flatbed scanners can produce high-quality results, they're completely optional. A clear phone photo works perfectly for conversion to EFT format!

❓ What happens to my fingerprint data?

Your privacy is our top priority:

  • No personal information required - we don't ask for names, addresses, SSNs, or dates of birth
  • Temporary storage only - files are stored for a maximum of 7 days
  • Automatic deletion - all files are permanently deleted after the download period
  • No long-term retention - we don't keep copies or backups of your fingerprints

OpenEFT is designed with privacy first. We only need your fingerprint images to perform the conversion, nothing more.

💰 What is your refund policy?

Refunds are only available if the service has not been used. If you have completed a conversion, the service has been delivered and refunds cannot be issued.

To request a refund:

  • Visit paddle.net
  • You will need the email address you used to purchase the conversion
  • Submit your refund request through Paddle's platform

All payments are processed through Paddle, our payment processor. They handle all refund requests directly.

💸 Are you poor?

The original OpenEFT is open source! You can host your own instance of OpenEFT completely free.

🚀 Fork of the original OpenEFT: github.com/Robbbbbbbbb/OpenEFT

Self-hosting benefits:

  • Complete control over your data
  • No payment required
  • Run it on your own server or locally
  • Customize the code to your needs
  • Full transparency - inspect all the code
  • You don't have to give me your personal information this way either
  • It is a different app though it does largely the same thing, Open EFT! is more modern and easier to use but it ain't free

The GitHub repository includes setup instructions, documentation, and everything you need to run your own OpenEFT instance.

ℹī¸ About this service

This service is based on the OpenEFT project by Noah G. Wood (github.com/NoahGWood/OpenEFT) and community forks (e.g., github.com/Robbbbbbbbb/OpenEFT).

This is an independent hosted service provided for convenience — source code available on GitHub.

⚖ī¸ What about the constitutionality of the NFA?

Personal Statement from the Creator:

I recognize the National Firearms Act (NFA) as unconstitutional. With the NFA tax now reduced to $0, I sincerely hope that Congress will take this opportunity to abolish the NFA entirely.

My hope is that this application won't be needed in the future. The goal of OpenEFT is to help people navigate the current system, but ideally, these burdensome requirements would be removed altogether.

Until that day comes, OpenEFT exists to make the process as simple and accessible as possible for law-abiding citizens.