Philippine Police Certificates

[magdasal 19]

Hey folks,

We are still struggling to get all of this DS-230 paperwork done and it's all about getting the Police certificates right.

So, wife travels far and near to get police certificates from NBI, CDO and her home town...all the places she's lived in the Philippines. They look good.

Then I stumble across the "new and improved" USEM website tonight, and they have further, specific, clarification of what they want on a police certificate. They want a certificate for my wife's maiden name and her married name. Now, my question is...for the 2 cities she's lived in...it lists her new married name. So, she has to go back and get additional certificates under her maiden name as well? If I read the embassy web site correctly, it sounds like she does.

Also, the NBI certificate she got includes her married and maiden names, but it's really complicated and uses Spanish notatation...like this:

Bismanos de Smith, Rowena y Clarita

Her maiden name (these names are totally fictitious, btw), would be Rowena Bismanos...married to me Joe Smith.

NBI seems to cover the maiden name requirement, but correct me if I'm wrong....like I said, I'm not sure about her other city police certificates. Any help would be appreciated.

[magdasal 19]

Hey folks,

We are still struggling to get all of this DS-230 paperwork done and it's all about getting the Police certificates right.

So, wife travels far and near to get police certificates from NBI, CDO and her home town...all the places she's lived in the Philippines. They look good.

Then I stumble across the "new and improved" USEM website tonight, and they have further, specific, clarification of what they want on a police certificate. They want a certificate for my wife's maiden name and her married name. Now, my question is...for the 2 cities she's lived in...it lists her new married name. So, she has to go back and get additional certificates under her maiden name as well? If I read the embassy web site correctly, it sounds like she does.

Also, the NBI certificate she got includes her married and maiden names, but it's really complicated and uses Spanish notatation...like this:

Bismanos de Smith, Rowena y Clarita

Her maiden name (these names are totally fictitious, btw), would be Rowena Bismanos...married to me Joe Smith.

NBI seems to cover the maiden name requirement, but correct me if I'm wrong....like I said, I'm not sure about her other city police certificates. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh, and there is one more question...my wifes NBI uses the magic phrase "No record on file"...meaning that they have no record of her at all in their system. If it says anything else, like "No criminal conviction" or "No derogatory record on file", she has to get a letter of explanation from them to explain why they have something on her.

But, for her CDO and hometown records, it shows "No derogatory record on file" on one and "No criminal conviction" on the other. Do they use the same system as the NBI? Does this mean they have something in their records on her or is their language different from the NBI?

[James and Cynthia 70]

I thought my fiancee only needed to get NBI clearance for the Philippines, and then Police Clearance papers for any other countries she lived in for more than 6 months. I didn't know you needed police clearance for each place she lived in the Philippines. Are you sure about this?

-James

[magdasal 19]

I thought my fiancee only needed to get NBI clearance for the Philippines, and then Police Clearance papers for any other countries she lived in for more than 6 months. I didn't know you needed police clearance for each place she lived in the Philippines. Are you sure about this?

-James

Yep...here it is:

NVC DS-230 Requirements

Note these two parts in the table...you need to obtain a police clearance if:

1) have been living in your country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months

you are 16 years old or older

2) lived in a different part of your country of nationality for more than 6 months

you are 16 years old or older

Edited January 30, 2011 by magdasal

[Atencio 43]

I believe James and Cynthia are correct. It is my understanding that NBI record is on national level, not local.

[James and Cynthia 70]

Yep...here it is:

NVC DS-230 Requirements

Note these two parts in the table...you need to obtain a police clearance if:

Are you sure that applies to the US embassy in the Philippines? I am sure I read that if she lived in another country for more than six months, she needed a police clearance. I've heard this more than once. But the link you gave says 12 months in another country. I have seen other cases where that website is wrong.

-James

[Atencio 43]

I think getting record from each place applies to areas where records are kept locally or regionally, like the United States. There is not a national database on crimes. NBI has a national database.

[magdasal 19]

Are you sure that applies to the US embassy in the Philippines? I am sure I read that if she lived in another country for more than six months, she needed a police clearance. I've heard this more than once. But the link you gave says 12 months in another country. I have seen other cases where that website is wrong.

-James

Yeah, I'm sure. That link I gave you applies to the applicant for the visa...your wife. This is in addition to the NBI clearance. Basically, anywhere your wife has lived...including in her own country, over 6 months, she needs a police clearance from the local police. I've read numerous threads about that here on VJ as well. The "country of nationality" phrase at the NVC site is pretty clear.

I think getting record from each place applies to areas where records are kept locally or regionally, like the United States. There is not a national database on crimes. NBI has a national database.

Again, read that table..."country of nationality" is not ambiguous...and read the threads here at VJ on the topic...it is required.

[James and Cynthia 70]

Yeah, I'm sure. That link I gave you applies to the applicant for the visa...your wife. This is in addition to the NBI clearance. Basically, anywhere your wife has lived...including in her own country, over 6 months, she needs a police clearance from the local police. I've read numerous threads about that here on VJ as well. The "country of nationality" phrase at the NVC site is pretty clear.

Again, read that table..."country of nationality" is not ambiguous...and read the threads here at VJ on the topic...it is required.

Can you give a link to a personal experience from someone in the Philippines that needed this? If so, I would like to read it. Thanks.

-James

[magdasal 19]

I think getting record from each place applies to areas where records are kept locally or regionally, like the United States. There is not a national database on crimes. NBI has a national database.

BTW, they keep local records in the Philippines as well...not just the US...that's why the State Department wants them. They know this. Not every crime is handled by the NBI in the Philippines. My wife obtained the certificates...that shows that they they are available and specifically available for the purpose of obtaining a visa. It says so right on the certificates she obtained.

[magdasal 19]

Can you give a link to a personal experience from someone in the Philippines that needed this? If so, I would like to read it. Thanks.

-James

Sure, how bout this:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/163126-philippines-nbi-police-certificate/

But if you read the table, it's very clear that you must provide local police certificates for anywhere your wife lived over 6 months.

[magdasal 19]

Honestly, I hope I'm wrong and both of your are right...I've read that several places for several countries. But I can't get around that State Department (NVC), table. It is as clear as day. Maybe they don't actually ask about it if you don't send it in or bring it to the interview, but based on the official site, it sure appears that they require the local police certificates for anywhere the spouse has lived in the spouse's country of nationality over 6 months

[SimplyMacy 4]

Yep...here it is:

NVC DS-230 Requirements

Note these two parts in the table...you need to obtain a police clearance if:

But NBI covers the whole Philippines.

[aurora07 6]

I did not need to submit any police clearance and i lived in makati and quezon city.

[SimplyMacy 4]

Anyway, getting a police clearance from 2 other cities she lived for over 6 months is just incase the CO will ask her during interview. That's fine! You can attach this together with NBI clearance.

Edited January 30, 2011 by SimplyMacy