Police Check

[amy83 0]

Hello,

Im from Canada, and my fiance is American. We are getting married next month, and then will start the CR-1 process. Is it too early for me to get my criminal record check? Does it expire?

Thanks

[Sprailenes 47]

I think it expires after a year so I would wait for a bit.. unless you have an extensive criminal background and think it will take a while.

Edited May 27, 2009 by Sprailenes

[SapphireDreams 71]

Yup, it expires after 1 year, so it's best to wait until closer to the interview.

[trailmix 77]

Hello,

Im from Canada, and my fiance is American. We are getting married next month, and then will start the CR-1 process. Is it too early for me to get my criminal record check? Does it expire?

Thanks

You will need it to send to the National Visa Center - basically the process follows this order:

1. Submit I-130 petition

2. Receive NOA1 (basically a receipt)

3. Receive NOA2 (petition to apply for a visa has been approved)

4. Case is forwarded to the National Visa Center - more money is paid, more forms are filed.

5. Case completed at NVC, file is forwarded to the U.S. consulate in Montreal where your interview will be held a few months later.

It is at the NVC stage you will need to present the original copy of a police certificate (step 4).

If you have a criminal record you will need a full fingerprint version of the police check - if that is the case, you should apply for it right after you get married. If you have no criminal record and only require a name check, I would suggest you apply for it when you receive your NOA2 - in some places you can get that name check on the spot - in other cases it only takes 7-10 days.

Edited May 27, 2009 by trailmix

[Moosker 7]

It expires within a year. I would wait, it was super easy for me to obtain one.

[SomberCat 0]

Just make sure it says CPIC was used to do the name search. Ours didn't (ours just said a "nation wide search" was done) and we got an RFE and had to get another one.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Just make sure it says CPIC was used to do the name search. Ours didn't (ours just said a "nation wide search" was done) and we got an RFE and had to get another one.

Really eh? Mind just said "national name check" or something along those lines and Montreal accepted it with no problems... Although I have heard that the NVC is a little tougher with its requirements.

It took me like 9 days to get my check. I would definitely wait!

[trailmix 77]

Just make sure it says CPIC was used to do the name search. Ours didn't (ours just said a "nation wide search" was done) and we got an RFE and had to get another one.

Really eh? Mind just said "national name check" or something along those lines and Montreal accepted it with no problems... Although I have heard that the NVC is a little tougher with its requirements.

It took me like 9 days to get my check. I would definitely wait!

NVC is tougher because they have 'rules' to follow by the book as it were, whereas the folks at the consulate can apply common sense.

You may want to check the Canada VJ wiki guide, OP, to get details of what you need to request

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...a#Police_Checks

[SomberCat 0]

Just make sure it says CPIC was used to do the name search. Ours didn't (ours just said a "nation wide search" was done) and we got an RFE and had to get another one.

Really eh? Mind just said "national name check" or something along those lines and Montreal accepted it with no problems... Although I have heard that the NVC is a little tougher with its requirements.

It took me like 9 days to get my check. I would definitely wait!

That's exactly what ours said - "a nation wide name search has been completed" and the NVC required it to say that the search was done through the CPIC. Fortunately it only took a quick call to the local police facility and they gave my husband a new one that day so it's quickly fixable, but there's no point in wasting the time if you don't have to.