Request for Certificate of No Criminal Conviction for Hong Kong winners

[dvanxiety 1]

I am a selectee for DV2015. I am gathering my documents, one of which is the police certificate from the Hong Kong police. HK police website stated the requirement for such "c) A photocopy of a letter from the relevant Consulate / Immigration Authority / Government Authority, which contains his or her name and clearly indicates that the production of the Certificate is required."

On the May selection letter, it states the authority, my name/case, but missing the statement that "police certificate is required"

On the appointment (interview) letter, I found samples (attached) and noticed the same issue (ie missing the statement that police certificate is required on the letter)

I contacted KCC, which they said they don't provide such, and we need to contact the consulate.

I contacted Montreal, and after numerous emails, they suggested using the DV interview checklist on their website... which is great, but it's not on a letter/form with my name or case #.

I actually went and contacted consulate in Hong Kong, who is aware of this particular requirement from the HK police. It is stated on the HK consulate website that 'applicants need a letter from NVC with the checklist". However, DV applications are not processed by NVC. I sent HK CG an email, and they said they could not find my case file, speculating that my case is not ready.

>> here is what i'm concerned

1) HK police takes at least 4 weeks to process and send the certificate to the consulate

2) HK police won't process unless I get the Letter/forum stating my name and the requirement for such

3) where do I get the letter, not KCC nor Montreal consulate

4) say I go in the interview (guessing ~July/August because of my high CN and trend from 2014) with that one missing piece, I will be put on AP. And only if the CO gives me the written letter that I am missing police check from HK, then I use that letter to proceed with the request >> this may be too late as embassy won't receive it till late sept (if not past)

5) I am thinking of changing my interview location to Hong Kong, but the response I get doesn't make sense too..

>>>>my case is not ready till the cutoff is called, which means HK consulate can't locate me till May/June. HK consulate should assist by then, but knowing HK police processing time, I still have missing doc when I go for interview. So again I am put on AP, and I will be stuck in HK because I want that piece of visa printed on my passport, which leaves me stranded because I still need to go back to my job in Canada.

So in whatever scenario, I will be put on AP regardless of which consulate office I go. This is ridiculous, I have been writing to HK police, US traveldoc, Ottawa/Montreal/HK consulate, and no one is giving me any information that I don't already know.. >> ie everyone keep writing back and ask me to read their DOS/dvselectee website [sorry i'm ranting here now..]

I need advice from any (past) Hong Kong DV winners, how did you guys get your police certificate from Hong Kong police?

>> 2015 is the year that we roll out with the DS-260 online form. So in the past, applicants would mail all documents to KCC. When your case is 'ready', you'll get letter from KCC is you have any document missing. >> so i think this might be sufficient (ie your name, gov't body, case #, and stated requirement)

So what about DV winners for 2015 with the online form, how or where to get such a request form/letter to fulfill HK police requirement?

Actually I am have been looking around, and found a police request form from US consulate in Suva, to be provided to the Fiji police (see 2nd attachment).. FYI I did send this as an example to Montreal, requesting for a form similar, and they deny me too.. seriously, i am very lost

Please advise! Anybody?!?

PoliceClearanceForm2_fiji.pdf

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

I don't know what the Fiji letter has to do with your case. The other attachment is the second notification letter, which will be on the website about 6-8 weeks before your interview, and of course you will not/can not get that earlier as there will be no interview scheduled before then... This is exactly the same as the case being "ready" that you talk about above. It just does not happen sooner than that, for a number of (fairly obvious?) reasons. If KCC had to spend time getting things for people who were not even scheduled months ahead of time they would never get anything done. By the way, this is nothing to do with the DS260, I did not receive anything at all in the mail from KCC for my case in DV2013.

Will Hong Kong police not accept a copy of your selection letter, which has your case number, plus the normal list of documents required? After all your selection letter has a link to that, just make it clear?

Also, to state the obvious, if the PC arrives at the consulate before your case file does they won't know what to do with it. And be sure you know when it expires even if you can order it advance so you don't have to end up doing it all over again.

Edited July 29, 2014 by SusieQQQ

[dvanxiety 1]

I don't know what the Fiji letter has to do with your case. The other attachment is the second notification letter, which will be on the website about 6-8 weeks before your interview, and of course you will not/can not get that earlier as there will be no interview scheduled before then... This is exactly the same as the case being "ready" that you talk about above. It just does not happen sooner than that, for a number of (fairly obvious?) reasons. If KCC had to spend time getting things for people who were not even scheduled months ahead of time they would never get anything done. By the way, this is nothing to do with the DS260, I did not receive anything at all in the mail from KCC for my case in DV2013.

Will Hong Kong police not accept a copy of your selection letter, which has your case number, plus the normal list of documents required? After all your selection letter has a link to that, just make it clear?

Also, to state the obvious, if the PC arrives at the consulate before your case file does they won't know what to do with it. And be sure you know when it expires even if you can order it advance so you don't have to end up doing it all over again.

you've made a good point!

the Hong Kong consulate is advising on their website - Please note that failure to apply for a police certificate at least 6 weeks before the scheduled interview date may result in a delay with processing the visa application.

So I'm concerned about the timing, the time from appointment letter to interview is not enough time for HK police to process.

I'm hoping to find means of getting a request form (of some sort from consulate hopefully). I am not looking to submit police check now, i will send request to HK police about 2 months prior (around April 2015), so my consulate will receive my certificate when my case is ready, the timing will be just right and I won't be put on AP due to missing police check.

As for the validity period, HK police said there's no expiration date, which mean it'll just be 1 year (as per US rule).

Also, I am contacting HK police now to see if the selection letter+checklist is sufficient for their processing.. [keeping my fingers crossed]

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

The time from notification to interview is exactly enough time to process in fact and worst case you end up on AP for a week or two. Unless your interview is in the last week of September you are worrying yourself silly over nothing.

[dvanxiety 1]

hmm.........I would agree if I reside in HK.

There are other "hidden time" such as:

1. Bank draft clearing time ( Foreign bank draft to be cleared by HK police)
2. Mailing time, note the Hong Kong police do not mail the cert to applicant but the Embassy or CG (air mail mailing time from HK to north america is about 2 weeks)
3. And......like you said worry silly over nothing......local police could mess up your fingerprint, then Hong Kong police will contact you to have another set done

Given point 3 is quite an over-worry, it's the number one failing issue according to the officer I talked to over the phone

Anyway, I really appreciate your reply and effort to look into my question. Thanks Susie!

[dinachuck 0]

you've made a good point!

the Hong Kong consulate is advising on their website - Please note that failure to apply for a police certificate at least 6 weeks before the scheduled interview date may result in a delay with processing the visa application.

So I'm concerned about the timing, the time from appointment letter to interview is not enough time for HK police to process.

I'm hoping to find means of getting a request form (of some sort from consulate hopefully). I am not looking to submit police check now, i will send request to HK police about 2 months prior (around April 2015), so my consulate will receive my certificate when my case is ready, the timing will be just right and I won't be put on AP due to missing police check.

As for the validity period, HK police said there's no expiration date, which mean it'll just be 1 year (as per US rule).

Also, I am contacting HK police now to see if the selection letter+checklist is sufficient for their processing.. [keeping my fingers crossed]

i emailed the hong kong police on 12/9/2014 here is their response on this issue

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Thank you for your email.

Please understand that a referral letter issued from relevant consulate or

government authority to support the purpose of application is our

fundamental requirement. Without that letter, we cannot process any

applications. Therefore, please provide with us a letter from government

authorities stating the production of the Certificate is required and the

reason. The letter should contain the applicant's full name and preferably

the case number given.

Thank you.

Regards,

TSANG Chi Wilson

Officer-in-Charge

Certificate of No Criminal Conviction Office

Hong Kong Police Force