how to get the UK Police Certificate when you're not in the UK

[emmaline_g 2]

Hi, hope I'm posting in the correct forum.

I have applied for the K-1 visa for my fiance who is an Albanian citizen. He has lived in the UK long enough that I need to get his police certificate. The problem is there is no record of him in the UK as he was there undocumented, and the application requires proof of residence (for ex., bills, rent agreement, which he doesn't have).

If I am reading the instructions on the application correctly, the "proof of residence" means "where you currently reside" even if it's outside the UK. So if my fiance were to prove that his current residence is Albania with a bank bill and a phone bill (from Albania) that would meet the requirement for the app., right?

It also asks for "list of UK residences" for last 5 years. Do you know how they cross-check this? My fiance lived with family members, his name was not on the rent agreement. Would they not be able to produce a certificate because of this?

Just trying to get some clarification before I mess anything up.

Thanks in advance

[imaisha 0]

i'm not sure how the being undocumented bit will affect things but i know some of the other answers.

yes it is his current residence they are interested in, even if it's outside the country.

as for how they check on the past addresses, you shouldn't have a problem. my husband was living with his parents for some of the time and so he also wasn't listed on anything. we didn't have any problems getting the certificate.

Edited May 27, 2009 by imaisha

[blue123 0]

Hi, hope I'm posting in the correct forum.

I have applied for the K-1 visa for my fiance who is an Albanian citizen. He has lived in the UK long enough that I need to get his police certificate. The problem is there is no record of him in the UK as he was there undocumented, and the application requires proof of residence (for ex., bills, rent agreement, which he doesn't have).

If I am reading the instructions on the application correctly, the "proof of residence" means "where you currently reside" even if it's outside the UK. So if my fiance were to prove that his current residence is Albania with a bank bill and a phone bill (from Albania) that would meet the requirement for the app., right?

The proof of residence is for where he lives now so if he has these from Albania it will be fine.

It also asks for "list of UK residences" for last 5 years. Do you know how they cross-check this? My fiance lived with family members, his name was not on the rent agreement. Would they not be able to produce a certificate because of this?

It won't matter they are just looking for criminal activies on record from that name and address, if none exists they won't be going into detail finding out who else lives there or is on any rent agreement.

Just trying to get some clarification before I mess anything up.

Thanks in advance

He should be fine.

[Marina-Del 10]

I'm in the same situation exactly! However, we do have bills from when we lived in the UK. My fiancee lived there illegally for 3 years and now we need to get the police report. However, the police report wont be a problem as (unless he got in trouble while he was there) you will just get a paper back saying "no record". At least this is what I got for myself when I was living there (legally, but still....throughout the process, which I did IN the UK, they didn't ask to see my documents!).

[Marina-Del 10]

I have a question that is very related to this, so I'll just ask it here. It says on the ARCO website that they can use the information we give them to make updates on their system. So, on his report we'll be telling them that he stayed in the UK for 3 years (because we have to put addresses) instead of the legal 6 months. When we left the UK, no one looked at his passport, so as far as they are concerned in the computers, he only stayed for 6 months. So, does this mean that they will then put a band on him entering the UK again?

I suppose even if they did it wouldn't make much of a difference. But it would still be annoying. Anyone know?

[imaisha 0]

interesting question, and i don't know the answer, but i don't think the records will say he was there for 6 months. he may have had a visa valid for six months, but that has nothing to do with how long he was actually in the country (which you obviously know). if anything i'd think that it would indicate he's still there if he wasn't inspected when he left. i'm not sure the police check is out to find formerly illegal immigrants but maybe someone else who knows more about undocumented travel will have a better idea for you.

Edited May 28, 2009 by imaisha

[Marina-Del 10]

I'm inclined to think you are correct. The police report is not designed to find people who lived in the UK illegally YEARS ago and left voluntarily on their own. I think they will just type in his name and find no record and move on, but I'm curious to know if anyone has a more detailed answer.

Oh and PS. As far as they are concerned he left the country before his 6 months was up. I've traveled to and from the UK about 25 times in the last 5 years and I have NEVER been checked when leaving the country. I have been questioned extensively on re-entery since I go in and out so much. Lots of times they want to see my boarding pass from when I left the country the last time to prove I didn't overstay my visas. But I think that was only because my visas were so close together. Del and I left the UK a year ago now, so if he tried to enter again, I doubt they would ask to see it, especially since his original visa was for 4 years ago!

Edited May 28, 2009 by Marina-Del