Police Reports

[JenAndBabs 1]

How recent should the police report be? My fiance's interview is in November, but he already had the police report prepared this week. Does anyone know if that will be a problem? Should we get another closer to the interview, or is 5 months okay?

-Jen and Babs

[midge and isi 8]

I believe they are good for 6months.

How much did the one from Ghana cost? Did he get it in Accra?

[Audy_Rob 26]

I checked the Department of State web site, I checked the US Embassy in Accra Ghana and I checked the web site for the US Embassy where my fiancee will interview.

I could not find it listed anywhere although I think for our Embassy in Bangkok I have read one year. The Tokyo US Embassy is one year which I got by searching Google.

It seems like it is only $7 in Accra. I think to be sure you should get one within six months but I am hoping someone has a link that states one year somewhere.

Good luck.

[JenAndBabs 1]

They tried to charge him 150 ghana cedis (about 105 dollars US)--which is ridiculous for a background check! He didn't even have that much on him so they accepted 75, and I'm hoping they don't try to get him to add to it when he goes to pick up the report tomorrow. They were padding the price because they know he needs it for immigration. The guy at the counter tried to get him to bribe him on top of that.

So I really hope we don't have to do it all again. I'm going to hope 6 months will be okay. I just don't want it to cause a delay.

-Jen and Babs

[JenAndBabs 1]

And yes, it was in Accra. They wouldn't do it in Tamale, they told him all the reports had to be done in Accra.

-Jen and Babs

[Audy_Rob 26]

I know it is good for at least 6 months. I believe it is good for one year but I cannot find the information at the moment. I read on the DOS web site it was $7. Sorry about the misinformation.

I realize now it says higher (than $7) for expedited service which could be any amount plus bribes.

This is what the DOS web site says at the following link:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3568.html

Police Records

Ghana Police Clearance Certificate: Available. Residents of Ghana should report to the headquarters branch of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Ghana Police Authority in Accra, where a fingerprint sample will be taken. Cost for preparation of the certificate is approximately $7 USD (higher for expedited service), payable in local currency, for preparation within 7 days. Non-residents should forward a letter of request for a Police Certificate for Immigration Purposes. Accompanying the letter should be a certified sample of the applicant's fingerprints and an international money order in the amount of $80 USD made out to "Commissioner of Police, Ghana." Forward these documents to the following address:

Commissioner of Police

Criminal Investigations

Department Headquarters

PO Box 505

Accra, Ghana

[Mr. K 8]

They tried to charge him 150 ghana cedis (about 105 dollars US)--which is ridiculous for a background check! He didn't even have that much on him so they accepted 75, and I'm hoping they don't try to get him to add to it when he goes to pick up the report tomorrow. They were padding the price because they know he needs it for immigration. The guy at the counter tried to get him to bribe him on top of that.

So I really hope we don't have to do it all again. I'm going to hope 6 months will be okay. I just don't want it to cause a delay.

-Jen and Babs

150 cedis?! Wow. Was this the Accra location on Ring Road in Osu?

[Zee Bee 61]

I'm not sure why the police certificate was so expensive. My husband paid I think 10 GHC and received it in 10 days. Here is the website: http://www.ghanapolice.info/cid/clearance_cert.htm

[JenAndBabs 1]

Thanks everyone!

I'll have to ask my fiance but I'm pretty sure it was the ring road location. He said there was a whole line of people waiting for the same thing for the same purpose. I don't know if they try to charge everyone like that.

But he was able to pick it up without anyone trying to charge him anything more, and the officer there also said that the timing would be okay.

-Jen and Babs

[Mr. K 8]

As a note, my fiancee went to pick up her police report last week for an interview in October, and the people at the police department told her to come back one or two months before the interview. They are saying that the embassy will say it should be closer. Now, this is what the police department person recommended, and I don't know if it is an official policy or practice with the consulate. It's what they said, so you might want to have your fiance call and see if getting his certificate when he did is ok so there won't be any issues come interview time.

Police dept also told her the cost is 20 GHC.

Edited June 30, 2010 by Mr. K