This can add lag time to the reporting process. Communications are normally done by fax machine. It is not practical, for example, for an American firm to attempt to call a foreign country to locate the past employer's phone number. ESR will typically need permission to contact the applicant directly in order to obtain any additional necessary information. If ESR needs to help an employer arrange for the services of an investigator abroad, then in many countries, payment must be made in that country's currency.
Some investigators require that some or all be paid in advance.
International screenings are normally much more expensive then a comparable investigation in the United States. Because an employment screening will normally consist of verifying supplied information, the pricing can be kept more reasonable. However, even verifying supplied information can be expensive for the reasons indicated above. For some countries, there is also a translation fee. Exact fees vary by counties.