Question for Frankfurters!

[Candace 2]

When I started the process back in April and imagined it would be a little quicker than it has been, I didn't consider needing a Police Certificate from Germany as I had been living here only since January, and Police certificates for country of residence are not required if you have been living in the country less than six months. However, at the time of my interview I will have been here for over six months and therefore I think I should obtain a German police certificate.

I believe I need to get a residency permit first (I'm a British Citizen) and had not got this before because I was told by the US Military that I didn't need one as I am a dependent US military spouse.

Apologies for the rambling, but my questions are these: Do I need the residency permit to get a Police certificate? If so, does anyone know how to get one? Is it from the Rathaus? And secondly, how do I apply for a Police certificate in Germany?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

(and woohoo! I got Packet 3 today!)

~Candace

[SuzyBandseer 0]

Hi Candace,

Congrats & we got our packet 3 today too! They must have processed a big bunch this week.

Getting the police clearance from Germany is supposed to be relatively quick (compared to England anyway), more like a week, if that. According to this website you can go to your local KVR and ask for it. I am not sure if you have to have your residence permit but I would guess you would need to have at least registered in that district. I would ask them first about the police certificate before you bother asking about the residence permit or else they may tell you need a residence permit when you really might not (seems to be the way things work around here sometimes).

My husband will be getting his this week too. Good luck!

[Candace 2]

Thanks Suzy

[zauberblume 0]

Candace,

I would ask the Consulate first if you need a residence permit or if the police certificate will be required in your case. They should be able to give you an answer. They're very helpful.

In our case, it took longer than a week for us to get his police certificate. I think it took at least two weeks. His birth certificates arrived rather quickly.

Congrats on receiving Packet 3! Almost there...

[nane1104 146]

When I started the process back in April and imagined it would be a little quicker than it has been, I didn't consider needing a Police Certificate from Germany as I had been living here only since January, and Police certificates for country of residence are not required if you have been living in the country less than six months. However, at the time of my interview I will have been here for over six months and therefore I think I should obtain a German police certificate.

I believe I need to get a residency permit first (I'm a British Citizen) and had not got this before because I was told by the US Military that I didn't need one as I am a dependent US military spouse.

Apologies for the rambling, but my questions are these: Do I need the residency permit to get a Police certificate? If so, does anyone know how to get one? Is it from the Rathaus? And secondly, how do I apply for a Police certificate in Germany?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

(and woohoo! I got Packet 3 today!)

~Candace

Hi Candace, congrats for making it that far already!

To your questions: I am not sure if you have to have a residency permit in order to get a police certificate, specially since you are a military dependent, you are on your hubbies orders. I think all you need is to be registered at some address in Germany, so that you are somewhere in the german system.

You were right, you can apply for the police cert. at the local Rathaus (city hall). You just go there and tell them you need it for a visa and they should already know, what kind you need (there are two different ones and this is the basic one).

The fee is EUR 13 and I had it in the mail in only a week.

I hope, this will help, I just went through the whole thing in Frankfurt, so if you have any further ? please don't hesitate to ask...

[Candace 2]

Thank you ever so much for all the answers - Zauber I shall ask the consulate I think as all this being here on orders etc is very confusing stuff.. how best did you contact the consulate? By email? I am sure I have this information somewhere but do you have the email address you used? Thanks!

[zauberblume 0]

Candace,

You can email them, but they take at least two or three days to respond. At least that's how it has been in my experience. That email address is: FrankfurtSpecialNIV@state.gov

I would suggest that you actually phone them during their telephone hours, which are usually daily from 2:00 to 4:00. It's best to call at the start of the phone hours. The number I called is 06973532270. Keep calling back if you can't get through. They'll pick up eventually.

Also, you don't need to notarize the I-864 as far as I know. I'm also using the new form and if you have a straightforward case, I'd recommend filling out the I-864EZ.

-Z

[Candace 2]

Thanks ever so much, Zauber, I'll try to call them this afternoon or tomorrow. And thanks for the note re the I-864EZ - I downloaded one from the website and shall use that.

Using this new version of the form seems to have a different way of calculating the household size - they're not asking for 'anyone related to you by birth, marriage or adoption living in the same house' to be included, just the person being sponsored, the spouse, any previous people you've sponsored plus any actual dependents as per the tax return. So the fact we're probably going to be staying with Chris's parents for a while once we go back doesn't seem to be such a huge problem now (he earns enough for a household of 2 but not 4.) Am I right?

[zauberblume 0]

Thanks ever so much, Zauber, I'll try to call them this afternoon or tomorrow. And thanks for the note re the I-864EZ - I downloaded one from the website and shall use that.

Using this new version of the form seems to have a different way of calculating the household size - they're not asking for 'anyone related to you by birth, marriage or adoption living in the same house' to be included, just the person being sponsored, the spouse, any previous people you've sponsored plus any actual dependents as per the tax return. So the fact we're probably going to be staying with Chris's parents for a while once we go back doesn't seem to be such a huge problem now (he earns enough for a household of 2 but not 4.) Am I right?

Candace,

That's my impression. Because you do not live in their household now, then you can't be counted as part of their household yet. To say it another way, they can't count you in their household yet. Yodrak brought up the idea that if you use that address as your mailing address for all formal documents, then perhaps you are a household member. But... That doesn't quite work, in my opinion. You can't live there since you are currently resident somewhere else. (In my case, I have a residence permit as well as proof that I haven't been to America in the last year.) That's the way I understand it and that's how I'm filling out the Affidavit of Support. I'll let you know what the CO has to say if anything.

[Candace 2]

Thanks Z, it would be great to know what the CO says, if anything.

It seems the newer I-864EZ makes it clearer than the old one that it's okay to do it the way we're doing it. Chris hardly earns the 100% of the poverty line for two of us, never mind four! Luckily my Parents-in-law will co-sponsor if we need it, I just don't see any logic behind their doing it just because we're going to stay in their house for a while, and I'd rather stick with the current straightforward plan!

[SuzyBandseer 0]

We got my husband's police certificate on July 21st and he requested it in person on July 5th. The certificate was actually dated July 11th but somehow the house number got dropped off the mailing label so it took more than a week to get routed in the mail system (we live on a long street!).

Candace, did you end up needing a residence permit to get your police certificate? (I saw you got it ). I think we will be faxing our checklist on Monday!

Edited July 22, 2006 by SuzyBandseer

[Candace 2]

We got my husband's police certificate on July 21st and he requested it in person on July 5th. The certificate was actually dated July 11th but somehow the house number got dropped off the mailing label so it took more than a week to get routed in the mail system (we live on a long street!).

Candace, did you end up needing a residence permit to get your police certificate? (I saw you got it ). I think we will be faxing our checklist on Monday!

Nope, no need for a residence permit. I went along to the Rathaus and asked for it, and as the guy was completing the form he said "You're not registered here?" as if that was quite normal (and it probably is seeing as we live in a military town) and that was that. Perfect!

We now have everything we need to fax off the checklist but am holding off for a couple of weeks while we decide what's what with entering the US to have the visa validated, seeing as the visa is only valid for six months and we don't expect to be going until early next year. In any case I think I'm going to fly over and get it done as it starts the clock ticking for citizenship (being based here with an Active Duty military spouse counts as being domiciled in the US, so I may as well get that green card sooner rather than later!)

Good luck with your submission!