Police Certificate from Canada & I-129F expiration

[sam.luns 0]

Hi all. This is my second post to seek some advice from you.

My fiance in the U.S. filed I-129 petition on February 22, 2011 and received NOA1 letter on March 5 from Vermont SC. As I did not expect the petition would proceed as quick (approved on April 4) I’m not sure if I can collect all the supporting documents before the expiration date, which is August 4.

As I lived in Canada for a while I need my police certificate from RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). Since my application reached there by registered mail on April 25 I’ve been waiting for almost 2 months now. According to their website approximate wait time is 12 weeks so I may have to wait another month or so but I thought it would be nice if any of you could tell me your experience with RCMP, e.g. how long it took for you to obtain your police certificate from Canada.

Also I don’t think I will be able to have my interview in London before the I-129 expiration date (August 4). What should I do? Should I ask London to extend the petition? If so how can I do it? How far in advance should I do it?

I am getting worried now as I have just been waiting for the police certificate before sending the form DS2001. My medical is done also.

Would you please give me some advice on the expiration date and extension of the petition, and also what I can do while I wait.

Thank you so very much for your help in advance.

[Inky 1,110]

Police cert is good for 6 months from the date of issue.

Its a shame you couldn't go in to get it in person, I walked out with mine same day.

Embassy extends the petition automatically once they have it.

[sam.luns 0]

Police cert is good for 6 months from the date of issue.

Its a shame you couldn't go in to get it in person, I walked out with mine same day.

Embassy extends the petition automatically once they have it.

Inky,

Thank you very much for your reply.

Can I ask you again to make sure when Embassy extends the petition automatically? Do they extend it automatically as long as I send out DS-2001 to let them know that I am ready for an interview before the expiration date? If I didn't receive the police cert before the expiration I would have to ask for extension in advance. Am I correct?

[thursdayschild 0]

Something to consider here is the Canada Post strike. There's been limited mail circulation for more than 3 weeks, 2 of those just government Pension/Social Assistance cheques have been delivered. If your police certificate is being mailed, expect delays on top of what they initially told you. The strike is supposed to end "soon" but that's been said for a while and I assume things will be backlogged for weeks after that. Not to be a debbie downer, but it's probably important to know.

[sam.luns 0]

Something to consider here is the Canada Post strike. There's been limited mail circulation for more than 3 weeks, 2 of those just government Pension/Social Assistance cheques have been delivered. If your police certificate is being mailed, expect delays on top of what they initially told you. The strike is supposed to end "soon" but that's been said for a while and I assume things will be backlogged for weeks after that. Not to be a debbie downer, but it's probably important to know.

Hi there. Thank you for your reply. Yes. I've heard of the postal strike. It was regional but it didn't matter because Canada Post locked out all its workers 2 weeks ago. So, there was zero mail since June 14 throughout the entire country! But it's over now, isn't it? Hopefully, they get the backlog completed soon!

[Inky 1,110]

Hi there. Thank you for your reply. Yes. I've heard of the postal strike. It was regional but it didn't matter because Canada Post locked out all its workers 2 weeks ago. So, there was zero mail since June 14 throughout the entire country! But it's over now, isn't it? Hopefully, they get the backlog completed soon!

Yes my mother is getting mail since yesterday at her home in Canada.

[sam.luns 0]

Let me add one more post.

I received my police cert from Canada 1 week after the postal strike was over. It appears the police posted the latter a day before the mailing service was suspended. I was one of the victims. I could have received it 2 weeks sooner! That means it only took 8 weeks for the cert to get delivered as opposed to 12 weeks stated on the RCMP website. This 8 weeks sounds to me about right because I've read blogs quite a few people saying it took about 2 months for Canadian police certificates - unless you are recorded!

Also my fiance in the U.S. called DOS to enquire about expiration date of the petition. He was told that as London had already received my DS-230 form the petition had been extended. I've recognised that as long as I do something between NOA2 and the expiry date the petition is automatically extended.

Hope this information helps some of you.