Police Checks

[AddyG 0]

Like many of you we are stuck waiting for the VSC to get back to us with our NOA2. I was just wondering if anyone can clarify something...

Previously I read that I am required to provide a police a check from my (the benificiary's) country as well as:

any country I have lived in for 6 or more months consecutively since the age of 16...

Well today I read on this site http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html#police that it is actually 12 months or more. If this is true it leaves me with a few country's less - but I want to make sure this is correct. Have they changed the requirement or has it always been this way?

Also - are the police certificates valid for 6 or 12 months after you have them or does it depend on the country they are from? Again I have read and been told different things by the RCMP who don't really seem to know.

Thanks in advance for any help! This process is slowly driving me crazy!

[AddyG 0]

Here is states 6 months and says it's valid for "12 months from the date of issuance, not six months as stated on the certificate" http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/ds2001.html#pcuk

[trailmix 77]

Like many of you we are stuck waiting for the VSC to get back to us with our NOA2. I was just wondering if anyone can clarify something...

Previously I read that I am required to provide a police a check from my (the benificiary's) country as well as:

any country I have lived in for 6 or more months consecutively since the age of 16...

Well today I read on this site http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html#police that it is actually 12 months or more. If this is true it leaves me with a few country's less - but I want to make sure this is correct. Have they changed the requirement or has it always been this way?

Also - are the police certificates valid for 6 or 12 months after you have them or does it depend on the country they are from? Again I have read and been told different things by the RCMP who don't really seem to know.

Thanks in advance for any help! This process is slowly driving me crazy!

Hi A&M,

It has always been this way, to my memory at least.

You will hear a lot of talk of the '6 months or more' because this applies to a person 'living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months' - or in another part of their country of nationality for 6 months or more.

Basically this is probably the most common certificate for everyone - as most people have lived in their country of nationality for 6 months or more after reaching age 16.

For countries, other than Canada (i'm assuming here you are Canadian born) - you will only need a certificate for them based on the 12 month rule, as stated on the DOS site you posted the link for.

You can acquire the Canadian 'Canada wide name Check' from the RCMP or, generally, you should be able to get one from your local police station. We got my Husband's from the Calgary Police Service.

It is valid for 12 months.

Edited January 2, 2009 by trailmix