Ghana Police Report

[aba anoma 0]

While we are waiting for the NOA2 for the I-130, my husband is preparing the documents for the next step in this process. He lives in Cape Coast, Ghana and the police there told him he would have to get the certificate in Accra. The State Department website (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3568.html#docs) says the same thing- that you apply for the certificate in Accra for about $7 and it takes about a week.

I just wanted to check in with other Ghanaian petitioners to see if 1. it really only cost about $7 and 2. it was processed in a week's time. Given my two years in Ghana, these both seem a bit unlikely. Also, does he need to bring anything besides ID with him to apply? I'm a bit confused about the report coming from Accra as I can't imagine they would have any current information on everyday residents of Cape Coast.

Thanks for your help!!

[Zee Bee 61]

My husband said he paid about 12 Ghana cedis (he is sure it is not more than that) and he had it in a week.

FYI: He applied for his around New Years and he got it that quick

Edited August 23, 2008 by ZeeNusah

[akatagirl 0]

I don't remember exactly how many cedis it was back then in 2007 when we were getting our police report. My brother in law was the one who actually retrieved it for us. I think my husband did have to submit a passport photo ( am not sure if it was 1 or 2). A birth certificate may also be helpful just in case...Sorry I don't rememeber exactly what my brother brought along for us in Accra. My husband did not grow up in Accra but near your hubby in Takoradi but he too had to retrieve the police report in Accra. It took my brother in law just a few days to retrieve it but no longer than a week of waiting time. Good luck on the rest of your visa journey and hope your interview date is not scheduled too far out!

[aba anoma 0]

thank you both! i'll tell him to bring along some passport photos and his birth certificate just in case. he's about to finish a course at UCC and then he'll head to accra for the report.

zee- your wedding photos are beautiful! and i've already read through your report on doing the medical exam- thanks for being so thorough!

akatagirl- thanks for the info! fyi takoradi is one of my most favorite places in ghana. i also hope the interview date isn't too far out!! i had noticed that ghana interview dates are often months after the embassy received the petition...

[All4Kweku 0]

he doesnt need the passport pictures and if he takes them, they will not be accepted. ghana police services does their own photos for the police reports....

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

While we are waiting for the NOA2 for the I-130, my husband is preparing the documents for the next step in this process. He lives in Cape Coast, Ghana and the police there told him he would have to get the certificate in Accra. The State Department website (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3568.html#docs) says the same thing- that you apply for the certificate in Accra for about $7 and it takes about a week.

I just wanted to check in with other Ghanaian petitioners to see if 1. it really only cost about $7 and 2. it was processed in a week's time. Given my two years in Ghana, these both seem a bit unlikely. Also, does he need to bring anything besides ID with him to apply? I'm a bit confused about the report coming from Accra as I can't imagine they would have any current information on everyday residents of Cape Coast.

Thanks for your help!!

If you don't have NOA2 yet, I wouldn't do the police report yet because it's only good for 3-6 months. So he'd have to do it over by the time he got to interview. He has to go to the central police bureau in Osu for his police report. He doesn't have to bring anything with him. They take their own photos and won't accept photos if you bring them. They look you up in the system and then when you return they ask you a few questions before they give you the certificate. It really was quick and painless and only about $7 US. Bassi got his within a week. I think it was the easiest part of the process.

[aba anoma 0]

"If you don't have NOA2 yet, I wouldn't do the police report yet because it's only good for 3-6 months. So he'd have to do it over by the time he got to interview."

Okay, thanks for the advice. I'm a bit confused though- don't I need to send in the police certificate to the NVC? We are doing IR-1. I'm (perhaps too optimistically) hoping we'll get the NOA2 in the next few months (it's been about one month so far), given that people are getting approvals from May, June and I even saw one from July.

[Zee Bee 61]

"If you don't have NOA2 yet, I wouldn't do the police report yet because it's only good for 3-6 months. So he'd have to do it over by the time he got to interview."

Okay, thanks for the advice. I'm a bit confused though- don't I need to send in the police certificate to the NVC? We are doing IR-1. I'm (perhaps too optimistically) hoping we'll get the NOA2 in the next few months (it's been about one month so far), given that people are getting approvals from May, June and I even saw one from July.

I believe the police certificate is sent to the interview (at least according to VJ guidelines) so he will not need it for a bit.

[aba anoma 0]

I was reading here, where it says:

"For certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates General, the National Visa Center (NVC) provides additional document collection and review, and schedules the cases for interview. The Department of State refers to these embassies and consulates as Appointment Posts.

For immigrant visa cases assigned to an Appointment Post, the NVC will collect the fees, affidavit of support, civil documents and police certificates, as required."

How do you know if your embassy is an "appointment post"?

And if we don't have to send in his police certificate (and the other documents listed) to the NVC, what do we have to send? Just DS-230 and I-864 etc? I was under the impression we would be sending in my husband's birth certificate, police certificate, and our marriage certificate as well... Thanks!

[aba anoma 0]

Sorry, it looks like my hyperlinks aren't working but VJ won't let me edit my post.

The two links I referenced are:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3190.html

and

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html