Getting a police Certificate from another country

[sukottokun 0]

My girlfriend is coming from Japan to the US. We are in the process of getting the material for the DS230. In 1996, she lived for 363 days (barely less than one year) in Australia.

1. Should she worry about getting a police cert. from Australia? (It's so close to a year, technically it's 11/96-11/97, even thought < 1 year).
2. If we do attempt to get the cert., can the fingerprinting required be done at a local police station in Japan?

I assume the answer to the second question is yes, but possibly at a larger branch. However, she is concerned that anything she receives will be in Japanese, and unreadable to Australian authorities.

This site is a gift. Thanks in advance!!

Scott

[Otto 83]

My girlfriend is coming from Japan to the US. We are in the process of getting the material for the DS230. In 1996, she lived for 363 days (barely less than one year) in Australia.

1. Should she worry about getting a police cert. from Australia? (It's so close to a year, technically it's 11/96-11/97, even thought < 1 year). Yes
2. If we do attempt to get the cert., can the fingerprinting required be done at a local police station in Japan?

I assume the answer to the second question is yes, but possibly at a larger branch. However, she is concerned that anything she receives will be in Japanese, and unreadable to Australian authorities.

This site is a gift. Thanks in advance!!

Scott

Police Certification/Clearance is required for places the beneficiary has lived (since the age of 16) for 6-months or more. I can't peak to any kind of fingerprint requirements (wasn't aware this is required for police clearance).

[trailmix 77]

It's not unusual to require the fingerprint version if you live outside the country and it is a year - it's a tough call though as your girlfriend just squeaks in under the 1 year mark. Hard to say whether they will ask for it or not.

Reciprocity tables:

Police Certificates - All Australia

If you reside outside Australia

Applicants who live overseas should refer requests to the Australian Federal Police. Applicants are required to apply for a police certificate based on a name and fingerprint check. Police clearances issued on the basis of only a name check will not be accepted. More information is available on their website at: http://www.afp.gov.au/ or via e-mail at vetting@afp.gov.au.

Instructions for Immigrant

IF the applicant is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months

AND is 16 years old or older

THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

IF the applicant lived in a different part of their country of nationality for more than 6 months

AND was 16 years or older at that time

THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

IF the applicant lived in a different country for more than 12 months

AND was 16 years or older at that time

THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

[Slightly Bonkers 0]

Police Certification/Clearance is required for places the beneficiary has lived (since the age of 16) for 6-months or more. I can't peak to any kind of fingerprint requirements (wasn't aware this is required for police clearance).

A police report is required for places the beneficiary has lived for 1 year or more.

The language is a little confusing but I know it is definitely 1 year or more. I did not supply a police report for my 8 month abroad, asked the consulate about it and was told I did not need one. I did need one for my year and a half in Japan.

ETA: I'm looking for the exact wording now.

Edited March 2, 2009 by Slightly Bonkers

[Slightly Bonkers 0]

Sorry to beat a dead horse on this one, but I was told lots of different things when I was applying so want to back up what I said.

From this site ...

IF the applicant is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months

AND is 16 years old or older

THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

IF the applicant lived in a different country for more than 12 months

AND was 16 years or older at that time

THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

Edited March 2, 2009 by Slightly Bonkers

[trailmix 77]

Sorry to beat a dead horse on this one, but I was told lots of different things when I was applying so want to back up what I said.

From this site ...

IF the applicant is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months

AND is 16 years old or older

THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

IF the applicant lived in a different country for more than 12 months

AND was 16 years or older at that time

THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

I don't mean to be rude, but if you had read the other posts you would see that I already posted that information.

[Slightly Bonkers 0]

I know! I was mortified when I saw that! Really sorry!

I just know I had a lot of trouble when I asked that question last year and jumped in a little too soon.

Forgive me!?!

[KimandRuss 0]

Just want to point out that even though it claims you only need a PC if you've lived in another Country for over a year, the CO in NZ told us that Russell should have had one even though he only lived in Australia for 7 months.

We did double check before his interview and the Consulate staff did tell us we didn't need one. We kept the email and so she let us through.

I would venture to guess that your best bet is to call the Embassy and ask....twice. I know there is much talk about how to go about getting this in the Australian Regional forum so you may want to ask there.

[trailmix 77]

I know! I was mortified when I saw that! Really sorry!

I just know I had a lot of trouble when I asked that question last year and jumped in a little too soon.

Forgive me!?!

No need to apologize! I think it's great that you took the time to look up the correct info for the original poster.

Cheers!

I also think it is a good idea to email the embassy where you will interview - ask the question - then you have their reply in writing.

Edited March 2, 2009 by trailmix

[KimandRuss 0]

No need to apologize! I think it's great that you took the time to look up the correct info for the original poster.

Cheers!

I wish more people would!

[sukottokun 0]

Thanks everyone for the info. She emailed them and they basically copied and pasted the above text as their answer. Which I am interpreting as one year=365 days. But it is good advice to bring that email anyway.

My girlfriend will be checking again, and doing the initial legwork to get the Australian Police Certificate, just in case they decide to ask for it anyway.

Anyway, thanks again, all.

[AlanLN 0]

Thanks everyone for the info. She emailed them and they basically copied and pasted the above text as their answer. Which I am interpreting as one year=365 days. But it is good advice to bring that email anyway.

My girlfriend will be checking again, and doing the initial legwork to get the Australian Police Certificate, just in case they decide to ask for it anyway.

Anyway, thanks again, all.

........we just went thru the interview in Manila during the second week of Feb. My Finacee spent 9 months in Canada on a tourist visa, visting an aunt back in 1991. The consular was very pleasant, but insisted we have a police certificate from Canada before issueing a visa. I dont recall the requirements being this; from the Manila Embassy website "A police certificate is required from a country in which the applicant lived for more than one year (six months if you are applying for a K visa) after turning 16 years of age." When I filed the I-129f I seem to recall the reuirement only going back 10 years? Last summer/fall we discussed getting the police certificate from Canada but didnt think it was nessecery. Now, she has to have the local police take her finger prints and then she sends those with her info to Canada. And their website says it may take 120 days to process the request. So, now what we thought would be just a couple of weeks to wait for the visa could now

be 4 or 5 more months of waiting!

So if there is any doubt or possibility a police certif. will be needed I would spend the few dollars ( $25 Canadian dollars in our case ) just for insurance.

[Elghazi2008 4]

She should definitely try to get ahold of a police record and court record from Australia because they want those documents for anywhere she may have lived for 6 months or more since the age of 16 or so. Hopefully, they will not be TOO difficult to obtain...

[payxibka 10,047]

police report is a consulate issue... moving