prior DUI and immigration approval

[bellsbells 3]

I just realized my French husband's police report which is required for the IV will show his arrest for DUI about 8 years ago. He spent the night in jail, had his license temporarily revoked, and was fined. He learned his lesson and has never driven under the influence since, luckily! But will this have an affect on our application?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

No.

[bellsbells 3]

Thanks, that's good to hear!

[Laure&Colin 558]

Did you actually see the police report?

France is very strict on releasing confidential personal information and only major convictions appear on the police report a citizen can order for themselves: "bulletin n°3" only lists sentences of 2 years or more in prison, unless the court ordered a shorter sentence to be mentioned.

From what I understand, DUI is not reported on bulletin n°3, but only on bulletins n°1&2 which are both restricted and not available to a citizen (even for themselves) or a foreign embassy.

[bellsbells 3]

Laure&Colin, thank you! It's great to hear from someone else who seems to be in our exact same situation! Congrats on your upcoming interview date.

So my husband just needs to ask for the "bulletin n°3"? And, if you don't mind my asking, did you hire a translator or do the translation yourself?

[KevinF 3]

Yes, you need "casier judicaire" no. 3. Don't worry. You should be fine.

[Laure&Colin 558]

If your husband is going to interview in Paris, you don't need to translate it. The NVC accepts documents in English and in the official language of the country where the interview will take place.

So no, I didn't translate my record at all.

Your husband can order his police record online here: https://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20

Don't order it for him, requesting a record for another person, even with their consent, is a felony here.

It comes in the mail really fast, less than a week (in France). If it's empty, your receive it in the regular mail. In case there was any conviction listed, then it's has to be signed for by the recipient.

[bellsbells 3]

If your husband is going to interview in Paris, you don't need to translate it. The NVC accepts documents in English and in the official language of the country where the interview will take place.

So no, I didn't translate my record at all.

Your husband can order his police record online here: https://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20

Don't order it for him, requesting a record for another person, even with their consent, is a felony here.

It comes in the mail really fast, less than a week (in France). If it's empty, your receive it in the regular mail. In case there was any conviction listed, then it's has to be signed for by the recipient.

Awesome, thanks for the link, my husband has already ordered his casier.

Regarding translation: so you are saying that I can just send birth and marriage certificates, as well as the casier, to the NVC in the original French, with no accompanying translation, for my IV application? Seems quite surprising! How will they be able to review everything if they can't read French?

[Laure&Colin 558]

Awesome, thanks for the link, my husband has already ordered his casier.

Regarding translation: so you are saying that I can just send birth and marriage certificates, as well as the casier, to the NVC in the original French, with no accompanying translation, for my IV application? Seems quite surprising! How will they be able to review everything if they can't read French?

Absolutely. Well, it's their problem, right! I guess they have "example" certificates to compare the documents too. They also go by the description on DOS website. And they're mostly just looking for names and dates.

I did NOT translate my birth certificate, marriage certificate nor police record, and had no problem with the NVC. See this statement on DOS website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html

"Translation Requirements

All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC."

Meaning that documents in English or official language of the country need NOT be translated.

It seems that documents written in a different alphabet need to be translated despite this statement, but you'll have absolutely no problem with your civil documents in French.

[Laure&Colin 558]

Oh yes, one thing I forgot: for the birth and marriage certificates, the NVC wants "extrait d'acte de naissance (avec filiation)/mariage", while the embassy wants "copie intégrale d'acte de naissance/mariage".

So to be certain everyone would be happy, I sent both types of certificates. I suggest you do the same (someone got slowed down at the NVC for sending just a Copie Intégrale, because the reviewer did not recognize the document).

However you have to be warned that you will need to bring new Copies Intégrales AND Extrait de Casier Judiciaire on the day of the interview, because the IV unit in Paris wants all civil documents to be less than 3 months old.

[bellsbells 3]

Thanks SO much for taking the time to give me this very helpful info! I was going to give "copie integrale" versions of all documents, so I'm glad you mentioned that the NVC wants the "extrait avec filiation" versions. I have just ordered copies of both online, and am crossing my fingers that it won't be more than 3 months before we get the interview!

I'm preparing to send the AOS package on Monday and in the meantime am waiting to have my DS-3032 approved and to receive the invoice for the IV!

[bellsbells 3]

It's me again, the original poster... I'm now helping DS fill out the DS-230 and we are wondering about question #41, "Have you even been charged, arrested or convicted of any offense or crime?" His official police record is blank (the DUI arrest has been wiped from his record), but is he still required to mention it here?

[Laure&Colin 558]

Well, was he arrested, charged or convicted?

[bellsbells 3]

He was arrested and had to pay a fine, which I suppose must mean he was also charged and convicted. He didn't keep a record of the details, nor even the exact date, and since it doesn't appear on his police record we don't even know how to find out.

[kzielu 1,153]

He was arrested and had to pay a fine, which I suppose must mean he was also charged and convicted. He didn't keep a record of the details, nor even the exact date, and since it doesn't appear on his police record we don't even know how to find out.

Answer to Laurie&Colin's question is your answer to question #41. What is on the police report is totally irrelevant - they don't ask about Police reports, they ask if something like that happened.