Police Clearance from other countries you worked in???

[lierre 224]

when my wife was going through all that, she had lived in Indonesia for just under a year. I called the US Embassy explaining to them that Indonesia requires one to appear in person to get that clearance. I asked them what to do...

Did she work in Indonesia? Live there? Or was she just on a tourist visa?

[Hank_ 9,174]

How is this applicable to being a tourist for more than 6 months in one country? Still need to get clearance?

While a tourist did you LIVE in another country for 6 months or more?? Pretty straight forward simple to figure out.

Edited June 8, 2012 by Hank_Amy

[lierre 224]

While a tourist did you LIVE in another country for 6 months or more?? Pretty straight forward simple to figure out.

the term "live" is so general for me. i wouldn't have bothered asking if it was "pretty straight forward simple to figure out"

is this a forum or not??

my question just warrants a simple yes or no. does being a tourist qualify as "living in a different country"? if that's too much of a bother, i'd rather not get cryptic responses.

Edited June 8, 2012 by ivyanddan

[JoBri 547]

If she LIVED in another country more than 6 months, then yes, she has to have the police clearance! It is simple and straight-forward. If she was a tourist there more than 6 months, she lived there. if she worked there more than 6 months, then she lived there. If she got lost when visiting there and couldn't find her way home again more than 6 months then she lived there. If she visited and then got sick there and couldn't leave for more than 6 months then she lived there. If she got in a coma and was hospitalized and did not wake up again until after 6 months, then she lived there. What cant you understand about "lived" there? If she DIED there, then you wouldnt be getting married. So she didn't die there. She lived there. She ate there, she drank there, she walked there, she breathed there, she LEFT there after 6 months. She LIVED there! Move on....

[Hank_ 9,174]

the term "live" is so general for me. i wouldn't have bothered asking if it was "pretty straight forward simple to figure out"

is this a forum or not??

my question just warrants a simple yes or no. does being a tourist qualify as "living in a different country"? if that's too much of a bother, i'd rather not get cryptic responses.

yup its a forum and LIVING some where is a pretty simple concept, and the embassy is pretty clear.... if you LIVED there for 6 months or more, whether you arrived on a work visa or tourist visa doesn't matter... did you eat, sleep, and reside there?

If you have issue with my response... other posters don't understand your not comprehending what lives means also:

If she LIVED in another country more than 6 months, then yes, she has to have the police clearance! It is simple and straight-forward. If she was a tourist there more than 6 months, she lived there. if she worked there more than 6 months, then she lived there. If she got lost when visiting there and couldn't find her way home again more than 6 months then she lived there. If she visited and then got sick there and couldn't leave for more than 6 months then she lived there. If she got in a coma and was hospitalized and did not wake up again until after 6 months, then she lived there. What cant you understand about "lived" there? If she DIED there, then you wouldnt be getting married. So she didn't die there. She lived there. She ate there, she drank there, she walked there, she breathed there, she LEFT there after 6 months. She LIVED there! Move on....

Edited June 8, 2012 by Hank_Amy

[lierre 224]

FINALLY!!!!

The responses I've been asking for... For a while there, I thought I stumbled into a Contest for Best Cryptic Response.

Thank you very much.

If she LIVED in another country more than 6 months, then yes, she has to have the police clearance! It is simple and straight-forward. If she was a tourist there more than 6 months, she lived there. if she worked there more than 6 months, then she lived there. If she got lost when visiting there and couldn't find her way home again more than 6 months then she lived there. If she visited and then got sick there and couldn't leave for more than 6 months then she lived there. If she got in a coma and was hospitalized and did not wake up again until after 6 months, then she lived there. What cant you understand about "lived" there? If she DIED there, then you wouldnt be getting married. So she didn't die there. She lived there. She ate there, she drank there, she walked there, she breathed there, she LEFT there after 6 months. She LIVED there! Move on....

yup its a forum and LIVING some where is a pretty simple concept, and the embassy is pretty clear.... if you LIVED there for 6 months or more, whether you arrived on a work visa or tourist visa doesn't matter... did you eat, sleep, and reside there?

If you have issue with my response... other posters don't understand your not comprehending what lives means also:

[southcalhog 43]

Yes you do need a police Clearance from any Country you lived in for more than 6 Months. However if you ever lived/worked in the UAE{Dubai, Kuwait, Arab Countrys) you do not need a Police certificate. My Fiancee just had her Interview 2 Months ago and she worked in Dubai for 10 Months in 2005.the LAdy CO never asked her for it neither the Filipina Pre screener. WWW.Travel.State.Gov

[beejay 123]

the term "live" is so general for me. i wouldn't have bothered asking if it was "pretty straight forward simple to figure out"

is this a forum or not??

my question just warrants a simple yes or no. does being a tourist qualify as "living in a different country"? if that's too much of a bother, i'd rather not get cryptic responses.

OP - I am sorry that you got dumped on for having an honest question and then got the run around and a bunch of non answers in your responses.

This forum is about helping others not making someone feel bad if they don't understand something the way you do. Cut the guy a break. Not everything was so obvious when we were all starting out. I also don't think his question warranted such *duh* responses. If I spent 6 months on vacation someplace I wouldn't tell people I had 'lived' there. If you are not in a USCIS mindset it could be a confusing question. Not to mention that some people cannot get police clearances if they did not have resident status in a country (Malaysia for ex.) which can make the requirement seem confusing.

Yes you do need a police Clearance from any Country you lived in for more than 6 Months. However if you ever lived/worked in the UAE{Dubai, Kuwait, Arab Countrys) you do not need a Police certificate. My Fiancee just had her Interview 2 Months ago and she worked in Dubai for 10 Months in 2005.the LAdy CO never asked her for it neither the Filipina Pre screener. WWW.Travel.State.Gov

Just to clarify former residents of UAE, Kuwait and KSA have the police clearance requirement waived but other GCC countries like Qatar and Bahrain do not waive the requirement. It is best to check the reciprocity table for your specific country before proceeding and not to assume all Arab countries are waived from the police requirement. Requirements also change over time and a few years ago you did need a clearance from UAE.

[southcalhog 43]

OP - I am sorry that you got dumped on for having an honest question and then got the run around and a bunch of non answers in your responses.

This forum is about helping others not making someone feel bad if they don't understand something the way you do. Cut the guy a break. Not everything was so obvious when we were all starting out. I also don't think his question warranted such *duh* responses. If I spent 6 months on vacation someplace I wouldn't tell people I had 'lived' there. If you are not in a USCIS mindset it could be a confusing question. Not to mention that some people cannot get police clearances if they did not have resident status in a country (Malaysia for ex.) which can make the requirement seem confusing.

Just to clarify former residents of UAE, Kuwait and KSA have the police clearance requirement waived but other GCC countries like Qatar and Bahrain do not waive the requirement. It is best to check the reciprocity table for your specific country before proceeding and not to assume all Arab countries are waived from the police requirement. Requirements also change over time and a few years ago you did need a clearance from UAE.

Thanks for the Clarification Beejay!

[azar 0]

Well, we received out Police clearance from Japan...sent with 2go to teh Embassy.... its been 3 weeks and waiting !!

anyone have an idea how long it could take???

[Mogambi 96]

The reciprocity tables help, but there appear to be countries that are still ambiguous, There was a thread recently about Jordan. The table states that police reports are available for resident foreigners. The question was, what if someone left the country. The table says there are no established paths to get it from outside the country. Is that saying there are NO ways? So I wish there was a USCIS or NVC website that would list the countries you need it from, and the paths to get it!

My fiancé lived in Kuwait and Thailand. It took me months to get the answer that she would be waived from the Kuwait one. At least in the table Kuwait clearly states that she is not entitled to get a police report.

So anyway, yes, any country you lived in, no matter what the circumstances, you must either get a police report, or make sure it's a country that is waved.

[archy219 2]

The reciprocity tables help, but there appear to be countries that are still ambiguous, There was a thread recently about Jordan. The table states that police reports are available for resident foreigners. The question was, what if someone left the country. The table says there are no established paths to get it from outside the country. Is that saying there are NO ways? So I wish there was a USCIS or NVC website that would list the countries you need it from, and the paths to get it!

My fiancé lived in Kuwait and Thailand. It took me months to get the answer that she would be waived from the Kuwait one. At least in the table Kuwait clearly states that she is not entitled to get a police report.

So anyway, yes, any country you lived in, no matter what the circumstances, you must either get a police report, or make sure it's a country that is waved.

Correct. This happened to me. I managed to get a certificate from GID in Jordan as I have worked and lived there for four years. The interviewer asked for it and I am glad to have it. Better to research on how to obtain it than getting a 221G or getting delayed.

[bebe13 4]

I hope i will not get any 221G for this police certificate

I worked in japan for 5 months and 4 days (4/16/08-10/13/08).. some said that the CO still consider it as 6 mons and still have to get the police cert, some said i dont have to and its obviously less than 6 mons.. i still applied at the japan embassy and they said it will take 2-3mons huhuhu.. ill be having my interview next week

[Mogambi 96]

The rules say 6 months! If they ask for it, I would stand firm and not even tell them at first that you have applied for it. If they find out, they will probably wait to issue your visa.

If they ask, so you weren't in Japan for six months, so you don't need one!

6 months is 6 months, that's why they state that. They shouldn't require one from you, as you were clearly there only five months!

[bebe13 4]

oh sorry i miscalculate it.. i was there 5 months and 27 days,

thanks Mogambi. i renewed my passport just last mon, but i can show them the one with my entry pass to japan that shows the exact date. yeah i will not tell them that i applied for police cert.. i will wait them to ask.