Australian police certificates.

[BFP XX 62]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding which Australian police check is required for our K-1.

My fiancé, who is currently living in Australia, is trying to get her police checks as soon as she can to avoid delays later on. She has told me that Australia offers two different types of police checks, one WITH finger prints, and one WITHOUT finger prints.

We've looked everywhere, but we can't seem to find a definitive answer.

If anyone has dealt with Australia for their K-1, or can provide solid information (e.g. official website) it would help us breathe alittle easier.

Thanks in advance,

M&A

[NikLR 13,227]

if she's never been arrested or convicted of a crime she likely does not need the one with fingerprints.

[BFP XX 62]

if she's never been arrested or convicted of a crime she likely does not need the one with fingerprints.

I thought that, but that "likely" part makes me weary... have you had experience with getting the Australian police checks?

[Tassie 11]

I got my packet 3 a few months ago (September 2013) (and received my visa today YAYAYAY) and in the packet there it said:

"Obtaining an Australian Police certificate must be based on a fingerprint check, please refer to the following website: http://canberra.usembassy.gov/obtain_police_cert.html . "

So that is as much information as I can give. Throughout this whole process its better to go too far than not far enough even if it costs a few extra dollars.

Edited January 31, 2014 by Tassie

[S-C 21]

Hey BFP,

I'm an Australian living in the UK and needed to get an Australian police check done. The check needs to be based on a name and fingerprint check. This means she will need to go to a police station and have her prints done (they have to be wet prints, not digital scans, as not every state has a database with complete digital prints).

The main thing is that the category of check is "Overseas Employment" category (Code 35). NOT the immigration/citizenship category (Code 33), as this category is for people applying to immigrate to Australia.

It only took about 5 weeks for me to get mine back, and this includes the time for me to send my prints back to Australia and then the check to be sent back.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, I'm happy to chat.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Australia regional - OP may get best answers here on topic of getting PC in Australia ~

[Ozgirl1981 78]

Hey BFP,

I'm an Australian living in the UK and needed to get an Australian police check done. The check needs to be based on a name and fingerprint check. This means she will need to go to a police station and have her prints done (they have to be wet prints, not digital scans, as not every state has a database with complete digital prints).

The main thing is that the category of check is "Overseas Employment" category (Code 35). NOT the immigration/citizenship category (Code 33), as this category is for people applying to immigrate to Australia.

It only took about 5 weeks for me to get mine back, and this includes the time for me to send my prints back to Australia and then the check to be sent back.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, I'm happy to chat.

My local Police station only has the digital prints offered. They dont have wet prints anymore where I live. So as long as they take your fingerprints, wet or dry, it shouldn't matter.

[S-C 21]

My local Police station only has the digital prints offered. They dont have wet prints anymore where I live. So as long as they take your fingerprints, wet or dry, it shouldn't matter.

That's surprising, given that there are a few states that don't have digital fingerprint technology. Oh well, clearly worked haha

[Nikki D 6]

Hello! I apologise in advance if my post is a little longwinded.

I just had my fingerprints taken two nights ago at my local police station in Inner Sydney. I agree, the instructions for police background checks in Australia for a US visa are quite vague, but as Tassie said in the above post, it's definitely better to go too far than not enough.

For this reason, I opted to get the Federal Police check with fingerprint. I downloaded the application and also the instructions. Note that in the instructions it says: "Please note that fingerprints taken using a Livescan system cannot be accepted." This means that the AFP require ink fingerprints.

Now here's where it gets tricky. Many police stations (at least, the ones in Sydney) only offer digital fingerprints, not ink. The fingerprinting facility tends to be located where the holding cell is. If the station has an offender in the holding cell, then they won't take your prints. It's best to find a station that doesn't have a holding cell so you don't have to keep phoning them over and over to check if they're free to take your prints.

Another problem I encountered is that the individual officers don't actually know much at all about police background checks, and will always tell you something different, I suspect as a deterrent and so they don't have to go out of their way to help you. I call it being a handbrake.

I rocked up to my local police station on Thursday night (fortunately, one of the few in the Inner City that doesn't have a holding cell and only offers ink prints) with all my forms filled out and required ID. I was faced with an argumentative officer who spent a lot of effort giving me the runaround and not being helpful. Had he spent as much effort just helping me and not trying to argue against me, I would not have had to be at said police station for more than an hour!

Anyhoo this officer insisted that because they were NSW police and not Federal, they couldn't do my prints and I would have to go to the Federal police, either in the CBD or at the airport, to get my digital prints.

Fortunately, I'd brought with me the printout of my instructions, which clearly states: "Where a fingerprint check is required, it is your responsibility to obtain a full set of fingerprints from your local police jurisdiction."

Also, the instructions include the list of fees, including fees for when fingerprints are processed by the AFP, and fees for when the fingerprints are supplied to the AFP on application.

Also, the first part of the application has space for the police officer who took your prints to write their details - it says nothing about them having to be a federal officer.

It was by arguing these points, and also because one of the officers on duty phoned another police station for clarification, that they figured out they could in fact take my prints, for a $42 fee that I was more than happy to pay. It was only then that they begrudgingly helped me, grumbling that they had more important things to do.

Because you must leave your envelope containing the application for police check and copies of ID at the police station for them to post on your behalf along with your fingerprints, I suggest getting a receipt for the $42. I have a sneaking suspicion that the cops I dealt with are in no hurry to post the envelope off Canberra.

I hope my post helps you with some clarity. Again, I apologise if it was a little long.

[Tassie 11]

That is a pretty ordinary experience with fingerprints. Mine was the complete opposite.

With mine I didn't make an appointment or call but it was a quiet outer suburban station with no cells. I rocked up with the paperwork, which was out of date on the website so obtained an up to date one at the station. I filled that out and had my ink prints done, dunno if they even offer digital ones in Tasmania. After that I paid, got a receipt and left it there for them to post, the only downside was they only had water to wash off my hands, so I had to go home with a large portion of ink on my hands, a SMALL price to pay.

The police were really quite helpful for me and had my results back in four business days.

[Sukie 1,454]

Any Aussies from QLD out there? When I go to the Police Certificate site for Queensland, it says that the police report is delivered directly to the US Consulate. Therefore, my spouse will not be able to turn it in with her IV documents. May I assume that NVC will know this, and not hold us up waiting for a police certificate that will never be sent to NVC?

The Australian Federal Police site says that QLD police send the prints directly to the US Consulate in Sydney. Guess that means we have to get our NVC number so that it can be married up at the Consulate, right?

Who has gone through this? Any hints?

Thanks!

Sukie

[Kiwinyc 62]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding which Australian police check is required for our K-1.

My fiancé, who is currently living in Australia, is trying to get her police checks as soon as she can to avoid delays later on. She has told me that Australia offers two different types of police checks, one WITH finger prints, and one WITHOUT finger prints.

We've looked everywhere, but we can't seem to find a definitive answer.

If anyone has dealt with Australia for their K-1, or can provide solid information (e.g. official website) it would help us breathe alittle easier.

Thanks in advance,

M&A

You should get the one WITH fingerprints. I got my K1 through London but needed an Australian Police Certificate as I'd resided there for over 2 yrs. I had to get my fingerprints taken at Scotland Yard and mailed them with the application down to Canberra, who then mailed my Police Certificate back. Aside from the extra hassle of getting prints taken, its straightforward.

[sweetswinks 400]

This might be off topic, but if the police check with fingerprints is valid for 12 months, could I get it now while i'm waiting for NOA2?

[Sukie 1,454]

This might be off topic, but if the police check with fingerprints is valid for 12 months, could I get it now while i'm waiting for NOA2?

It's not off topic. The answer is: it depends.

If you live in Queensland or New South Wales, you need to wait until you have a case number from NVC - because QLD and NSW send your Police Certificate directly to the Consulate, and you need that case number. If you are not in Australia or live in other states/territories, you may be able to go ahead and get them done and sent to you.

Sweetswinks, I'm sorry - I can't see if you are a K-1 or IR-1 from this reply page. Right now, the K-1 is taking about 5-6 months from start-to-finish and the IR-1/CR-1 is taking 11 to 14 months. If you are an IR-1/CR-1, I suggest you wait until you KNOW your case is at the NVC. It's taking 4 to 6 weeks from the time the NVC gets your file until you get a case number.

Sukie

[sleepless in lond 0]

Hey BFP,

I'm an Australian living in the UK and needed to get an Australian police check done. The check needs to be based on a name and fingerprint check. This means she will need to go to a police station and have her prints done (they have to be wet prints, not digital scans, as not every state has a database with complete digital prints).

The main thing is that the category of check is "Overseas Employment" category (Code 35). NOT the immigration/citizenship category (Code 33), as this category is for people applying to immigrate to Australia.

It only took about 5 weeks for me to get mine back, and this includes the time for me to send my prints back to Australia and then the check to be sent back.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, I'm happy to chat.

Hi s-c,

I am in the same boat as an Australian living in London. I got a name check as i followed the instructions on the AFP website and nowhere there or on the NVC guidelines does it note that fingerprints are required... So, i had thought all was in hand for weeks, only to stumble across something somewhere suggesting that for Aus it must be a fingerprint check.

I rushed to get fingerprints done here, couriered them to the AFP, and have been calling emailing them to explain i urgently need my fingerprint form... So far, there has been nothing from them to say it will be done quickly

So, i am wondering: have you had your interview in London already? Did they really specifically say that you must produce an Aus Police Cert with fingerprints?

Any news on recent experiences in London would be unbelievably helpful.