Philippine Police Certificates

[magdasal 19]

But NBI covers the whole Philippines.

But aren't they like the FBI of the Philippines? They don't cover all law enforcement in the country. Local police handle local cases, right? Just like in the US. And both cities she lived in knew exactly what she was looking for and gave her official documents when she asked about them. Sounds to me like they provide these.

I'm not sure what to think...maybe all the embassy wants is the NBI...nobody seems sure though. And like I said...if you read the table at that link for the State Department that I posted, you would surely believe the are asking for NBI + local police certificates.

[magdasal 19]

Well, then maybe I will only send the NBI in then...and if they ask for local certificates at the interview, then those will be available. I'm still worried a bit about the wording on those certificates though.

BTW, I hate the State Department...they wrote that language on their web site and my wife had to travel all the way across Mindanao to get the certificate at CDO. They are also hanging us out to dry on the question of Singapore police certificates...they simply will not answer the question of how we can provide a police from Singapore for a Filipina when Singapore will not issue them to non-citizens anymore.

DOS are a bunch of heartless idiots.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Only NBI is needed. read this:

Police records

Available and reasonably reliable. Philippine-born immigrant visa applicants 16 years and over are required to furnish certificates issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The green NBI certificate annotated for travel abroad is the correct certificate. Other colors are for local use only. Foreign-born applicants who have resided in the Philippines for six months or more may be issued NBI clearances upon application either in person or by mail. Applicants residing outside the Philippines should send requests for certificates together with money orders or bank drafts for the fees and postage to IRD-Mailed Clearance Section, National Bureau of Investigation, Taft Avenue, Metro Manila, Philippines. Philippine Embassies abroad can assist Filipinos in obtaining NBI police clearances. The NBI has its own fingerprint charts and personal data forms that it will send to the requesting applicant for execution. Most applicants abroad find it more expeditious to have a relative or friend in the Philippines assist them in obtaining their certificates from the NBI. In that instance, a letter of authorization is required. The applicant may also submit a copy (personal copy) of a prior NBI clearance to facilitate the processing of a new clearance. Posts are advised that not all arrests and convictions occurring outside of Manila are reported to the NBI. NBIs criminal records database is not foolproof and the remarks provided on reports require explanation.*Manila and major Philippine cities have computerized records.

Fees

Application in person: 115 pesos

Application by mail: 200 pesos which must be paid through money order or bank draft (negotiable in the Philippines and payable to the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation).

Location

Applicants who prefer to secure the certificate personally must proceed to the NBI Clearance Center at:

5th Floor, Victory Central Mall

Old Victory Compound , Rizal Avenue

Monumento, Caloocan City

Or to the following Satellite Offices and Renewal Kiosks:

Satellite Offices:

Quezon City Hall Rodriguez (Rizal) Municipal Hall

Muntinlupa City Hall Marikina (Riverbanks)

Las Pinas City Hall Taytay (Rizal) Municipal Hall

Mandaluyong City Hall Los Banos (Laguna) Municipal Hall

Caloocan City Hall POEA (Ortigas)

Valenzuela City Hall

http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_4881.html?cid=3650#docs

If there is a new local police clearance thing out...that is new since last year.

Edited January 30, 2011 by Scott and Mhay

[magdasal 19]

Only NBI is needed. read this:

Hi Scott and Mhay,

You are saying what everybody else here is saying, so with this much feedback, I'm going with just the NBI. The DOS website is probably wrong anyway...it's most certainly wrong about reciprocity with Singapore, and that changed back in October of 2010. When I e-mailed then about that question, I got a form letter with a bunch of web links that had nothing to do with the question I asked them.

So, thank you all. I trust you guys much more than I trust DOS to get their story straight and give out accurate, timely, information...I'm not joking either. They are so screwed up, it's unreal. It terrifies me that my life with my wife is in their hands.

You folks make me feel much better.

[BigJohn 4]

You DEFINITELY do NOT need police clearance if you are filing DCF. You only need NBI. Can't speak for non-dcf since I didn't go that route... obviously if they are required its an NVC requirement, not USEM since they don't require it for DCF

I have heard they want both names as well. What we did was have them put her full combined name on the NBI and we did not have any problems with the embassy. Firstname middlename maidenname marriedname

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Hi Scott and Mhay,

You are saying what everybody else here is saying, so with this much feedback, I'm going with just the NBI. The DOS website is probably wrong anyway...it's most certainly wrong about reciprocity with Singapore, and that changed back in October of 2010. When I e-mailed then about that question, I got a form letter with a bunch of web links that had nothing to do with the question I asked them.

So, thank you all. I trust you guys much more than I trust DOS to get their story straight and give out accurate, timely, information...I'm not joking either. They are so screwed up, it's unreal. It terrifies me that my life with my wife is in their hands.

You folks make me feel much better.

That quote was from the department of state website.

[magdasal 19]

You DEFINITELY do NOT need police clearance if you are filing DCF. You only need NBI. Can't speak for non-dcf since I didn't go that route... obviously if they are required its an NVC requirement, not USEM since they don't require it for DCF

I have heard they want both names as well. What we did was have them put her full combined name on the NBI and we did not have any problems with the embassy. Firstname middlename maidenname marriedname

Hi BigJohn...you are most certainly right. Again, I apologize for reading the DOS website as being accurate in any way. I know what it said...it's black and white, right there...and I'm now sure it's totally wrong too.

And thank you for confirming the NBI names issue. I thought that should cover it...it's pretty clear that all the names are there, but with this DOS bunch, who knows.

Again, thanks so much to everybody that replied. What a big help you all were. I hope I didn't sound too confrontational in my responses...but when you read the 'official government site', you tend to believe that first...and the lesson here is that you shouldn't. Better info here, by far.

[magdasal 19]

That quote was from the department of state website.

Yes, but did you see this one? Or am I the only who is seeing this...or am I missing something:

Police Certificates

Who needs to submit a police certificate?

Each visa applicant aged 16 years or older must submit police certificates.

What should I send?

You must submit police certificates which:

Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area

Have been issued by the appropriate police authority

Include all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each recorded case.

How do I obtain a police certificate?

Determine the countries from which a police certificate is required. Refer to the table below.

Note: Present and former residents of the United States need NOT obtain any U.S. police certificates

Contact the appropriate police authorities. Additional information on how to obtain a police certificate can be found on the Reciprocity by Country page.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - ABOUT POLICE CERTIFICATES: Some countries require a specific Police Certificate Request form to properly request and obtain Police Certificate(s).The Reciprocity by Country page indicates those countries.

Police certificates from certain countries are unavailable.

More specific information is available from NVC, the nearest United States immigrant visa processing post, or online at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3272.html.

An applicant must obtain a police certificate from the local police authority:

IF you…

AND…

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

you are 16 years old or older

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

you were 16 years or older at that time

lived in a different country for more than 12 months

you were 16 years or older at that time

were arrested for any reason

you were any age at the time of the arrest

Back to Top

Did I miss something there? What was it?

Edited January 30, 2011 by magdasal

[krissyjoe 3]

me too they never asked for any police clearance from me and I lived in Marikina when I turned 17 and moved to Naga when I was 21...I also had the same dilemma with regards to that question so I asked our hired attorney to explain it to me but he said that I only need an NBI clearance since I didn't leave the country since I turned 16...I actually tried to get a police clearance and the police man that I spoke too was just confused why I still need to get a police clearance if I already have an NBI clearance...he said "it's not making any sense at all" and about the term "no derogatory file" "no criminal conviction" no record on file" don't worry they're all the same I regularly get my NBI clearance and those phrase appear in each of those and I can assure you that I haven't commit any crimes or what so ever:P it just mean that she hasn't been sue or convicted with any case...so your wife is fine

[magdasal 19]

That quote was from the department of state website.

Well, depends on what the word local means in this context...and clearly, it means NBI...not local as in hometown. I think that is the difference and source of confusion for me.

Your post and the USEM post jibe totally...it's only the DOS website that talks about 'local police' certificate. Bad choice of words it seems.

[magdasal 19]

me too they never asked for any police clearance from me and I lived in Marikina when I turned 17 and moved to Naga when I was 21...I also had the same dilemma with regards to that question so I asked our hired attorney to explain it to me but he said that I only need an NBI clearance since I didn't leave the country since I turned 16...I actually tried to get a police clearance and the police man that I spoke too was just confused why I still need to get a police clearance if I already have an NBI clearance...he said "it's not making any sense at all" and about the term "no derogatory file" "no criminal conviction" no record on file" don't worry they're all the same I regularly get my NBI clearance and those phrase appear in each of those and I can assure you that I haven't commit any crimes or what so ever:P it just mean that she hasn't been sue or convicted with any case...so your wife is fine

Thank you krissyjoe...clearly it means NBI. My wife didn't mention and issue getting the certificates from the local police...but then again...she may have just not mentioned any funny looks she got when she asked for them...but God bless her, she got the certificates and sent them to me anyway.

I will say the the phrasing on the NBI certificate does make a difference. Here is what USEM says about that (of course, this could be wrong too...with this, in probably is):

. NBI CLEARANCE: Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Clearances should be in the applicant’s current name, birth certificate name, maiden name, married name, and any aliases or nicknames ever used, including different spellings of all names ever used. An official letter of explanation from the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record”, "No pending criminal case” or “With derogatory record.” For immigration purposes, an NBI clearance is considered valid only for one year from the date it is issued. The NBI Clearance Center is located at 5th Floor, Victory Central Mall, Old Victory Compound, Rizal Avenue, Monumento, Caloocan City. You may contact NBI at (632) 523-82-31 to 38. The NBI web site is http://www.nbi.gov.ph.

Edited January 30, 2011 by magdasal

[Tahoma 2,292]

Sure, how bout this:

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

Interestingly, no one in that thread said that the Embassy required them to submit a local police clearance.

[krissyjoe 3]

Thank you krissyjoe...clearly it means NBI. My wife didn't mention and issue getting the certificates from the local police...but then again...she may have just not mentioned any funny looks she got when she asked for them...but God bless her, she got the certificates and sent them to me anyway.

I will say the the phrasing on the NBI certificate does make a difference. Here is what USEM says about that (of course, this could be wrong too...with this, in probably is):

Can I ask what is the "exact phrase" that the NBI people put on her clearance?

[magdasal 19]

Interestingly, no one in that thread said that the Embassy required them to submit a local police clearance.

Agreed...it wasn't answered definitively one way or the other...some thought it was required and others didn't. Not an iron-clad case, for sure...but other countries seem to think that requirement holds as well...India seems to need these.

Apparently the word 'local' is, as far as the Philippines is concerned, the NBI...even though local police keep records and they are available.

I'm not unhappy to hear this at all...very happy I don't have to submit these..since they don't seem to meet the requirements anyway...but based on the website I read, it looked like DOS meant local as in local town...not local as in your country.

In India, based on what I've read here at VJ, for example, local really does seem to mean local police.

Can I ask what is the "exact phrase" that the NBI people put on her clearance?

Of course...on her NBI certificate they put 'No record on file'...meaning she's never had any encounter with the NBI at all.

[krissyjoe 3]

gotcha!!! that's the exact phrase I submitted for the USEM so you won't be needing any letter of explanation at all the two other phrase on my NBI clearance are " No criminal record on file" and "no derogatory record" and I haven't encountered any problems using those certificates at all " no record on file" in here means the person hasn't commit any crimes at all not because they can't locate her name in their system. I'll give you an example if your wife commits a crime it will appear on her record because they gather all the datas from every precinct it will appear " with pending criminal case" or "with derogatory record"... I'm not entirely sure if they still use this terms now a days I just learned it way back in my law subject and they will not let you leave the office until you talk to someone and get the required waiver or letter stating this case, they normally call someone's attention for this...if your wife has the same name with other person and with criminal record they would ask her to go back to the NBI after 7 working days so they can verify this. It's not because your wife doesn't appear in their system it's simply means she hasn't done anything against the law so you'll be fine my friend Best of luck to both of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad to hear we helped you in our own little way