Obtaining a Police Certificate and Interview Date in London

[lostpup 0]

Hello All,

My fiance finally received her info packet from the London consulate right before the holidays. (I'm guessing from reading a few posts that VJers refer to this as Packet 3?). As we review the paperwork that's needed, a couple things remain unclear...or rather, we're wondering what other experienced visa recipients have done.

1) Has anyone been able to contact (via phone or email) the UK consulate directly and request a specific interview date? If so, please let us know the number or email address you used. OR is your interview date only determined by the consulate once the applicant has returned all of the requested documentation?

2) re: the police certificate. How long exactly have applicants waited to receive their police certificates from the Metropolitan Police? We've read differing opinions and the Metropolitan police website says "no more than 40 days". How accurate is this? Is this business days or calendar days? Has anyone received one any sooner? We're trying to plan her travel to the US and want to think as proactively as possible.

3) Is form 3019b the correct form? This is the form which provides information held on the Police National Computer (PNC) about you provided by the National Identification Service (NIS).

4) Has anyone ever mailed the police form application instead of requesting it in person?

Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Lost Pup

[ddkm 0]

Hello All,

My fiance finally received her info packet from the London consulate right before the holidays. (I'm guessing from reading a few posts that VJers refer to this as Packet 3?). As we review the paperwork that's needed, a couple things remain unclear...or rather, we're wondering what other experienced visa recipients have done.

1) Has anyone been able to contact (via phone or email) the UK consulate directly and request a specific interview date? If so, please let us know the number or email address you used. OR is your interview date only determined by the consulate once the applicant has returned all of the requested documentation?

2) re: the police certificate. How long exactly have applicants waited to receive their police certificates from the Metropolitan Police? We've read differing opinions and the Metropolitan police website says "no more than 40 days". How accurate is this? Is this business days or calendar days? Has anyone received one any sooner? We're trying to plan her travel to the US and want to think as proactively as possible.

3) Is form 3019b the correct form? This is the form which provides information held on the Police National Computer (PNC) about you provided by the National Identification Service (NIS).

4) Has anyone ever mailed the police form application instead of requesting it in person?

Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Lost Pup

1 - you are able to contact the embassy direct (some searching will find the number!) although calling the DOS line is cheaper and they have the same info. You aren't able to set your own interview time/date - just gotta wait in line and hope that they give you a nice date!

2 - Order the police certificate ASAP. this does take up to 40 days to get (mine was about 35, inc weekends) but once you have it it is good for a year

3 - not sure

4 - i mailed in a request, with a £10cheque, and it was with me within the 40days. I think i got the forms off the met's website

Good Luck!

Edited January 2, 2008 by ddkm

[English Muffin 59]

3) Is form 3019b the correct form? This is the form which provides information held on the Police National Computer (PNC) about you provided by the National Identification Service (NIS).

That's the right form but it's more commonly known as the 'Subject Access' form.

Gillian

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

A minor note, but your fiancee should obtain her police certificate from the Met ONLY if she lives or has ever lived in the London area. If she hasn't, she needs to obtain it from her local constabulary.

Also, anecdotal evidence seems to show that it almost always takes around 40 days to receive the certificate. Don't forget that 40 days is counted from the date on the receipt the police will post back to you, and not from the date you actually post it to them. And ditto on what ddkm says about calling the Embassy -- it's cheaper to call the Dept of State and they seem to have exactly the same information as the visa info line based in Scotland. When you return your readiness for interview checklist, it might be useful to put down any dates you are not available for interview, or if you have a genuine need to be in the US by a certain date. London tries to work with applicants who have made concrete plans like a wedding with non-refundable deposit. But nope, you can't ask for a certain date.

[Mags 112]

Don't forget that 40 days is counted from the date on the receipt the police will post back to you, and not from the date you actually post it to them.

And that normally takes a good 10 days to two weeks as a rule. I always say allow 2 months for the police certificate - just to be sure.

[lostpup 0]

Dear All,

Thanks so much for the great input. We hurried up and mailed the police form off today and are planning to finish the rest of the Packet3 forms tomorrow!

Best,

Lost Pup