Police Certificate from SYRIA will take too long..

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

My fiance has been a permenant resident exactly 1yr now. The Syria PC is in the works and hopefully will come regardless. however the one for IRAQ is not possible since she has no relatives or friends etc. I'd like to know how the consulate officser would expect her to get that.

Netguy, as was stated previously the above statement does not is not the concern of the CO. Being that your SO lived into 2 of the countries that are on Home Lands Security top list, I don't see how you are going to get around with not providing PC's from those countries. IF your SO don't have friends or family left in IRAQ, then maybe a school mate, or mutual friends thru association. You are going to have to make a better attempt at trying, then saying no family or friends left in the entire country of IRAQ.

[netguy 0]

Would coming into Canada as a Refugee make a difference on if the CO will need that IRAQ PC?

Netguy, as was stated previously the above statement does not is not the concern of the CO. Being that your SO lived into 2 of the countries that are on Home Lands Security top list, I don't see how you are going to get around with not providing PC's from those countries. IF your SO don't have friends or family left in IRAQ, then maybe a school mate, or mutual friends thru association. You are going to have to make a better attempt at trying, then saying no family or friends left in the entire country of IRAQ.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

I knew that's where you going with your thought process, but remember Canada is considered a foreign country to the US. Canada has different immigration policies than the US. Because someone has been allowed to migrate to Canada doesn't means they will be allowed to immigate to the US on the same basis.

Sorry, but you'll are going to somehow find a way to get the SO's PC from IRAQ.

[ValerieA 350]

Netguy, maybe you could contact a lawyer in Iraq and have them get the PC for you? I know this is a costly option, but if you really don't know anyone there anymore...just a thought.

[Lia792 5]

Sorry to butt in on a Canada thread, but Packet 3 from Ciudad Juarez lets people know that they don't need certain police clearances. For example, we don't have to get one from Mexico because the Department of State doesn't consider it to have them. I believe the OP may be dealing with a similar issue.

http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/root/pdfs/packet_3_complete.pdf I'm thinking it's actually not updated because it lists Syria as a country you can't get a police certificate from, whereas the DOS does.

Audy_Rob found this cool link for me related to Mexico in an earlier thread:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3586.html

You just switch it for your country. The DOS says that the place where they issued police certificates in Iraq is currently in ruins.

It says Syrian records can be obtained from the embassy, so I would definitely wait for them. I highly doubt you will have your interview before you get the police records, and if you do and they want it, you will just have to supply it when it gets there hopefully. If in doubt about the Iraqi records, I would contact the embassy where you are filing and ask if it is completely necessary. Personally, the State Department website is good enough for me.

[netguy 0]

thank you for your references. I printed out what DOS says for IRAQ. meanwhile I will just wait for the Syria police certificate to arrive.

Sorry to butt in on a Canada thread, but Packet 3 from Ciudad Juarez lets people know that they don't need certain police clearances. For example, we don't have to get one from Mexico because the Department of State doesn't consider it to have them. I believe the OP may be dealing with a similar issue.

http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/root/pdfs/packet_3_complete.pdf I'm thinking it's actually not updated because it lists Syria as a country you can't get a police certificate from, whereas the DOS does.

Audy_Rob found this cool link for me related to Mexico in an earlier thread:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3586.html

You just switch it for your country. The DOS says that the place where they issued police certificates in Iraq is currently in ruins.

It says Syrian records can be obtained from the embassy, so I would definitely wait for them. I highly doubt you will have your interview before you get the police records, and if you do and they want it, you will just have to supply it when it gets there hopefully. If in doubt about the Iraqi records, I would contact the embassy where you are filing and ask if it is completely necessary. Personally, the State Department website is good enough for me.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

thank you for your references. I printed out what DOS says for IRAQ. meanwhile I will just wait for the Syria police certificate to arrive.

You're asking a lot of what if questions and we just can't really predict what Montreal will say or do...it wouldn't be fair to you if we were wrong.

It's a long wait and it's really hard to be patient (we know) you begin to realize during this process that you don't really have control of much, they hold the cards and you get told what to do...but you will get through it, don't worry.

All you can do is be as prepared as possible....and be honest

[Darnell 8,478]

So my Fiance stopped over at the Syria Embassy to request for her Police Certificate.

They said it will take 10 WEEKS to get. Has anyone else gotten theirs from Syria and did it really take this long?

ANyone inquire about 'expedite fee'? I don't know if it's even possible, but HEI - it's worth to ask, yes?

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

And be prepare to possibly go into AP.

[netguy 0]

what usually happens in AP ?

And be prepare to possibly go into AP.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Your fiance could try contacting the Consulate/Embassy of Iraq in Canada and ask them if this is something they can help her obtain. Here is the link to their website: http://www.iraqembassy.ca/eng/index.html

[netguy 0]

yes she did call IRAQ embassy, they responded by saying that they no longer issue Police Certificates. They further told her that if my fiance wants a Police Cert, she could contact a relative\friend who can go to a police station their to obtain that on her behalf and then send it to her, however they are unable to get one for her. I don't know why a U.S. consulate would even want a Police Certificate from IRAQ. For one thing the Police their I'm told are corrupt. anyone can pay them to write good things about you. So I wonder, why on Earth would a smart USA CO want a PC from that country is beyond me.

The Syria Embassy on the other hand were very helpful, they will get my fiance a Police Cert in 10 weeks. They don't offer expedite service unfortunately. At this point we just sit and wait for that. I presume we'll need to get that Syria Police Cert translated into English too which might take 2 days no big deal.

Your fiance could try contacting the Consulate/Embassy of Iraq in Canada and ask them if this is something they can help her obtain. Here is the link to their website: http://www.iraqembassy.ca/eng/index.html

Edited April 30, 2010 by netguy

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I'm assuming you read the Reciprocity schedule based on what you said above. It says that Police Clearances in Iraq are temporarily unavailable.

Police Records

Temporarily unavailable. Certificates of Non-Conviction have previously been available via the Directorate of Criminal Identification Department in Baghdad. This office sustained heavy damage in a bomb attack and thus, it is not currently feasible to obtain a Certificate of Non-Conviction.

This is directly from the Department of State. Combine this information with the that fact you tried to obtain a clearance from the embassy with no luck, and I think you have a very good reason why you do not have a clearance from Iraq. If you can't get it, you can't get it, and just because someone answering the phones at the embassy tell you you can get a friend or family member in Iraq to go down to the local police station to get it, doesn't make it true. Given the corruption and disorganization of the country right now, any kind of clearance would be less than reliable even if you were to obtain it, as you mentioned. Logic would tell you that DOS and the Montreal Consulate cannot be ignorant to this fact. If they even try to suggest you need a clearance, perhaps you can point them to their own website which says "it is not currently feasible" to get one.

You've probably already come to this conclusion, I guess I'm just agreeing with you!

Edited April 30, 2010 by Hugglebuggles