The RCMP don't really take 150 days, do they?

[Marmoset 0]

Received Packet 3 from Montreal this week (yay me), so we're one step closer...

Of course, being the stressy little monkey that I am, I've decided to fixate on the 150 day turn-around estimate given on the RCMP's and Commissionaires' sites regarding the fingerprint / Canada-wide record check.

Thing is that I do have a conviction from 1992 or 1993 or sometime like that for DUI, but absolutely nothing since... Trouble with that is that I require court documents which 1) will take about two weeks to get because stuff that old is archived and 2) requires the exact date of the court appearance (contrary to what two people at the court told me when I dragged myself all the way across Toronto in a horrific ice storm to fill out the form)

Anyway.

I'm wondering if anyone's got any info about how long it realistically takes for the Commissionaires to do the check in Toronto. 150 days seems very long, but if that's what it takes then that's what it'll take. I just really don't like the idea of having to wait that long and then being told "four weeks" by Montreal and having it end up being November by the time I can go. That'd be really pushing my frustration envelope.

Edited February 17, 2006 by Marmoset

[KiminON 0]

sorry i can't help you with the time it would take, but can i ask - do you have to have a police check from the RCMP? i thought was just from where you have lived in like forever. i've lived in the same region for my entire life and i got my record check done from them...

thanks.

i'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the rcmp is a more efficient branch of the fed. gov't than that

k

[Marmoset 0]

I've only lived in Toronto and Ottawa, so it's all Ontario anyway... but Metro Toronto Police don't do fingerprinting for civil matters like visas. They have it all outsourced. And since I actually do have a conviction, I can't just get a clearance certificate -- apparently I have to get an RCMP-approved fingerprinting agency like the Commissionaires to provide me with a copy of my complete criminal record (according to the Metro Police site)

At this rate I'm going to have to get my passport renewed as well... Montreal requires a passport that's still valid for at least a year at the time of interview, and mine expires in May 2007.

Well, luckily the nearest Commissionaires' office is open until 1 pm on Saturdays, so that's where I'll be going tomorrow morning. The best I can do is to do what I can as fast as I can, and just hope that there's an Express Lane for government requests or something.

[Canuck Carrie 1]

The name check only takes 4 business days to come back in downtown TO, I can't recall what the info said about fingerprints. Bring your packet 3 stuff just in case. You don't need it if you aren't in a rush, that might help it along.

And if you were born here, you will also need your long form birth certificate. Ontario has just started doing it online which seems pretty quick.

Edited February 17, 2006 by Canuck Carrie

[charmac7 4]

I had the RCMP fingerprint check done.........it took 4 months for mine to come back...I went to my local police station had them do the fingerprints then I mailed it off with a cheque, I also included a letter telling them that it was for US Immigration - I don't know if that helped or not

here is their website

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/crimrec/finger_e.htm

Char

[daisy16 0]

I don't know whether you need the full check or not. Most people get the fast one not the 5 month one you are talking about.

I went to the commissionaire's office in scarborough, it took me 10 min and then I got the report 2 weeks later.

Another thing, you don't have to HAVE all the stuff before sending back packet 3, just have to have it by your interview. Of course it's a crapshoot. You mess up your interview if you don't have your stuff by the time of your interview.

And get your LFBC ordered ASAP. Everyone has been getting it faster by ordering online.

[Marmoset 0]

It's the Scarborough Commissionaires' office I'm going to be using, so that's nice to hear. I'm not sure what the difference between a fast one and the 5 month one is, though. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I'm hoping that the four / five month wait is for when you just send it off to the RCMP yourself. (omg so hoping)

Um, what's an LFBC? Birth certificate thingie? I have my birth certificate all snugly nestled in my Envelope o' Stuff already, so that's all fine. Assuming that's what LFBC is.

As far as having it all ready by interview time goes, I was under the impression that you don't even get an interview date until they receive the checklist completed and signed?

Edited February 18, 2006 by Marmoset

[KiminON 0]

seeing as i'm so far off from packet 3, i prolly shouldn't be stressing, but we need fingerprinting too? hmm...maybe being a civilian member of my local will help.

and thanks for the heads up on the longform bc. i'll do my applicaiton online tomorrow.

marm - here is the link http://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/4U4V5Z.htm

if you've only the wallet sized, i'm guessing you'll need the long.

k

Edited February 18, 2006 by KiminON

[Marmoset 0]

Oho! Long Form Birth Certificate, gotcha.

I was born in England, so my birth certificate is equivalent to what we call a long form here... At least, it had better be. It's the original copy of the only thing the Registrar of Births and Deaths gave my parents, nice on paper with the seal and signature and all that stuff. If they want anything longer than that, they're out of luck.

Thanks for the linkage and the explanation, though.

As far as fingerprinting goes, I'm not really sure. I seem to remember something ion the local cops' website that said a regular old Clearance Certificate (one that says you've got no criminal record etc) requires no fingerprinting -- I guess because they just wouldn't have them on file anyway so what's the use? I do however have a DUI from thirteen or fourteen years ago, and according to Metro Toronto Policeman Thing if you have any sort of record you can't just get a Clearance Certificate -- you have to get the full-on jobbie through the Commisionaires or other approved service.

To be honest, I'm not even sure of that. I'll have to ask the nice information desk person tomorrow what my options or requirements are and see if they'll put me down for Fast As Fast Can Be Please.

This whole process tends to confuse me a bit, because I'm really not used to dealing with bureaucracy, I just go where they point, fill out what they give me, and pay whatever the fee is. And then I wait.

Edited February 18, 2006 by Marmoset

[Marmoset 0]

Okay, yeah. Five months.

I cannot quantify how much that sucks, but rest assured it sucks a whole lot.

[Marmoset 0]

Oh dammit... I've just realised that's going to mean I have to get the I-129f approval extended. Has anyone had to do that? Is it simply a case of speaking to a consular officer and getting them to put a note in my file or something?

Man, this is seven kinds of stress suddenly.

(also, sorry about repeated posts)

[KiminON 0]

Okay, yeah. Five months.

I cannot quantify how much that sucks, but rest assured it sucks a whole lot.

damn...that does suck. no way to expidite it at all?? going thru another office perhaps (ie. RCMP head office??)

that's a way long time away. so sorry to hear marm.

[Marmoset 0]

Doesn't seem to be any way to expedite, no. Seems a bit ridiculous to me that it takes 150 days... Do people really have to sit around for five months before they know if they've got a job that requires an RCMP check? Something's obviously horribly broken somewhere.

I'll have to call the Consulate on Tuesday to let them know that we'll definitely be needing the I-129f approval extended, but also to see perhaps if they will take it as assumed that I'll have the certificate by the end of July and set me an interview date around then. They say there's a two to four month wait for appointments, so it's not like I'd be trying to weasel an early date. Just an earlier date than two to four months from the end of July.

And if they say no they can't do that, and I have to wait until September or November (or two to four months past whenever I actually get the RCMP certificate back) then perhaps I'll see if I can take advantage of the fact that Canadians can stay in the USA for 90 days without needing a visa. At least that way I can spend from May until my interview date with my fiancée.

Either way, 150 days is a little bit on the far side of Completely Ridiculous.

Edited February 20, 2006 by Marmoset

[zyggy 9]

Doesn't seem to be any way to expedite, no. Seems a bit ridiculous to me that it takes 150 days... Do people really have to sit around for five months before they know if they've got a job that requires an RCMP check? Something's obviously horribly broken somewhere.

I'll have to call the Consulate on Tuesday to let them know that we'll definitely be needing the I-129f approval extended, but also to see perhaps if they will take it as assumed that I'll have the certificate by the end of July and set me an interview date around then. They say there's a two to four month wait for appointments, so it's not like I'd be trying to weasel an early date. Just an earlier date than two to four months from the end of July.

And if they say no they can't do that, and I have to wait until September or November (or two to four months past whenever I actually get the RCMP certificate back) then perhaps I'll see if I can take advantage of the fact that Canadians can stay in the USA for 90 days without needing a visa. At least that way I can spend from May until my interview date with my fiancée.

Either way, 150 days is a little bit on the far side of Completely Ridiculous.

Yep with a DUI you have to get the fingerprint based check... Don't like the 150 days, call your MP and tell them to give more finding to the RCMP to staff their fingerpriting office. They're slow because they're underfunded.

[Knobby_Wheezer 0]

marmoset:

I wouldn't advise attempted travel while a K-1 visa is in progress. You are likely to be turned down for crossing because you post a risk of staying there. Here's what I read on this site (don't ask me *where* because I copied and pasted it to a notepad document and saved it to my hard drive rather than saving the page itself in My Favourites).

"A lot of people want to know, can the foreign fiancé(e) VISIT the US fiancé(e) in the US during this process?

There are no guarantees.... Many people historically been turned away at the port of entry after

starting the k-1 process. If you try to make an entry during the k-1 process you may be turned back and

sent home. If you elect to visit, be aware that the POE officer may not to allow you to enter the US and

turn you right around (at your cost). Be aware of this risk. It is not illegal to enter the US during

this process but you have to realize that there is an elevated risk that the POE officer will decide

that you are trying to bypass the fiancé(e) visa process. I would personally advise anyone considering this

to make plans for the US Citizen to travel abroad instead. Why take the risk just for a visit? Keep in

mind that if you are turned away (for any reason) this may delay your interview for the visa and result

in complicating the situation later on."

Any chance that your SO could visit you instead?