Police Clearance at Interview - Original or Copy

[Lena and Igor 5]

Not sure if an original or copy of a police clearance is required at the interview? Background: the record is from a country in Africa and the person acquiring it will undoubtedly prefer to fax it to my fiance in Ukraine. Since we haven't yet received our NOA-1 (filed K-1 December, 2010) my thoughts are that the document should be faxed, emailed and the original sent to her via the mail.

[slim 1,525]

Why not just snail mail it to her? They should have plenty of time to send her the original.

Fax it, copy it, email it too - just in case - but send it by mail so she has the original for the interview.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Thanks Slim. Yeah, plenty of time to prepare for her eventual interview. In our situation, time is on side.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks Slim. Yeah, plenty of time to prepare for her eventual interview. In our situation, time is on side.

We took the original and a copy of ALL documents. In the case of the police certificate, they kept the original and returned the copy.

I do not trust the mail in Ukraine AT ALL. Certainly not for anything important. Spend the extra money and have it sent DHL or Fedex for STATION pickup in Ukraine.

The police certificates are valid at the consulate for ONE YEAR from issuance date, regardless if the certificate itself says something else.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Will do. Thanks for your insight. I'm sure that I speak for many who are new Ukraine filers, your help and experience is appreciated. I certainly appreciate it.

[LvivLovers 39]

I was paranoid and we got at least 2 originals of just about every document and many notarized copies w/ translations after that. It makes it really nice though...I've got a big black binder with plastic sleeves for all her original documents along with ready to go copies. The police reports were probably the hardest to get though...they said they were almost out of the official paper in her oblast and didn't even want to give her one. Like most things though, she got it done!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I was paranoid and we got at least 2 originals of just about every document and many notarized copies w/ translations after that. It makes it really nice though...I've got a big black binder with plastic sleeves for all her original documents along with ready to go copies. The police reports were probably the hardest to get though...they said they were almost out of the official paper in her oblast and didn't even want to give her one. Like most things though, she got it done!

They seem to have an ongoing problem of being "out of official paper" That was a problem when Sergey got his passport.

[LvivLovers 39]

Yeah...they told me wife at the time they only had like 50 sheets left for the entire oblast and weren't expecting any more for several months. lol

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yeah...they told me wife at the time they only had like 50 sheets left for the entire oblast and weren't expecting any more for several months. lol

Who would have expected such honesty in the FSU? We know the "political officers" all lost their jobs.

[Nikolaib 12]

I think you can get their "official paper" if you give then another official paper, preferably with a 20 on it

[SMR 368]

We took the original and a copy of ALL documents. In the case of the police certificate, they kept the original and returned the copy.

I do not trust the mail in Ukraine AT ALL. Certainly not for anything important. Spend the extra money and have it sent DHL or Fedex for STATION pickup in Ukraine.

The police certificates are valid at the consulate for ONE YEAR from issuance date, regardless if the certificate itself says something else.

In general and for future reference, as Gary suggests, I think the answer is always bring the original and at least 1 copy (of any document you think you will need). No reason not to and it works out nicely.

Edited February 14, 2011 by SMR

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

In general and for future reference, as Gary suggests, I think the answer is always bring the original and at least 1 copy (of any document you think you will need). No reason not to and it works out nicely.

I think they have no copy paper at the consulate.

And yes, often the "There is only 50 sheets of official paper left in the Oblast" story simply means "Give me a reason to give one of them to you" The number "20" does seem to hold a magical influence on such clerks.

Kiev is an easy consulate to deal with compared to some, but they are sticklers for documents. Do not try to "go light" on the documentation. If they say you should present "one of the four following items" present 5 of of them. Let them decide what they do not need. I brought a huge amount of stuff, documentation and they looked at almost nothing. I then carried all that other stuff back out, back home, and took it to the AOS interview where they looked at NONE of it and I took it back home. Smiling all the way.

Edited February 14, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[LvivLovers 39]

My wife could barely carry all of our documentation! Seriously! It was a stack about a foot tall...they even sent someone out to take it from her rather than trying to have her pass it through the window. I left nothing to chance...it the "shock and awe" approach. Oleksandra said there were all these people there at the embassy holding 2-3 sheets of paper and looking at her stack with eyes wide. A few asked what kind of visa she was applying for. In my defense, we never got an RFE and they have never even bothered to ask her any questions at any interview!