POLICE CERTIFICATE

[Ije 8]

My spouse did her police certificate at Alagbo Lagos in July. I keep hearing that it is valid for only 3 months. Her interview is on October 31. Please I was just wondering if the police certificate is still valid by then or do she has to do another one before the interview date. Please advise.

[littoral1 15]

before the interview they will call her to bring new one

[winnie george 67]

My spouse did her police certificate at Alagbo Lagos in July. I keep hearing that it is valid for only 3 months. Her interview is on October 31. Please I was just wondering if the police certificate is still valid by then or do she has to do another one before the interview date. Please advise.

Yes she needs to get another one just incase, its better to be safe than sorry

Mine will also expire before my interview and i will get another one...

Once they say 'OHH YOUR POLICE CERTIFICATE HAS EXPIRED WE WILL NEED A NEW ONE', I will just give them the new one to avoid any delays

Edited September 26, 2012 by winnie george

[Vee&Dee 0]

If NVC has requested and received her police report within the valid 3months you have no problems.

[winnie george 67]

before the interview they will call her to bring new one

Lagos consulate wont call her to tell her that, its safer for her to get a new one even if they don't ask for it

[winnie george 67]

If NVC has requested and received her police report within the valid 3months you have no problems.

You recently had your interview, did yours expire before then? and did you get another one just incase?

[Dana and Divine 61]

Latest Interview from Lagos - SEE PASSAGE IN RED

Nigeria Reviews

Average Rating: 3.17 / 5

225 Review(s) Nigeria

Review #10483 on September 24, 2012:

yeppers

· Rating:

· 9 people found this review helpful

· Click here if you found this review helpfulReview Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa

Rarely do we post on VJ but we've both gained so much knowledge (some good, some not-so-good) that we'd like to do our part to contribute to the VJ knowledge about the CR1 interview process, particularly dealing with Lagos. It's about giving back to the wealth of knowledge that we all benefit from. To anyone that is new to the forum, our general advice to:

1. Remember every case is different so do what you feel is best for you.

2. There are some people that will tell you information matter-of-factly when you have to remember that was their experience and/or opinion. (This also goes for our post below.)

3. God is the author and finisher of all things. Pray for favor.

What those things being said, the biggest myth that we were told on VJ was that you can't add information at the NVC stage. We barely sent any information to USCIS (no photos, phone records, etc.) and were approved very quickly (though USCIS). At the NVC stage, we sent a photobook (i.e., very thin portfolio with 150 pics and tabs for organization in chronological order and a note to the CO that we want our book back), phone records (a small subset), and travel itineraries. Lots of VJers said, "Bring those things to the interview because NVC won't send them." Or they told us that NVC would delay us. We got through in less than a week after they received the documents. I wouldn't recommend sending 1000 pages but we sent roughly 100 pages (front/back).

At the interview, not only was everything there but the CO had already put the approval letter on top of everything and was hesitant to ask questions. The question period lasted less than 5 minutes. She keep flipping back through photo book, using the tabs as reference. Clearly she thought it was nice (which it was).

-Where did you first meet?

-What does your spouse do?

-How do you handle cultural differences?

-What do you enjoy doing together?

-When was the last time you've seen your spouse?

-Have your family met your spouse?

-Where did you get married? Why that city?

She asked for phone records but I said everything should be in the file but I have additional ones if you'd like. She said, no, that's fine. She said you're approved and gave us the original documents and the photobook back.

I asked her if she wanted another police report since the one that was submitted was done more than 3 months ago and she said no, they accept them up to a year. She wouldn't accept the new police report that we had already done (a waste of money but at least a piece of mind that we had it).

Interview Tips

-If your appointment is at 7am, you can join the 630 line and save time. I joined the 630 line and got the number by 7:21 (after going through security). They won't stop you if you join a slightly earlier line. If you have a 10am appt, don't try to join the 6:30 (that definitely won't work).

-Open the medical envelopes when you are standing in line.

-Bring a copy of the appointment letter because they check that.

-Avoid carrying any metal because it slows you down in the line. There are 3 security checkpoints in the embassy (1 outside, 2 inside).

-Once inside, pay attention to your name being called for the documents and look at the people that call your name (not your number at this point). They skipped people who didn't get up to submit their documents (i.e., the copy of the marriage certificate & birth certificate, police report, passport photos, passport, call number).

-They first deal with pregnant women, children, and elderly before they begin calling the numbers sequentially (i.e., for the CO interview).

-No need to carry X-rays. Collected 3 passport photographs at the door but two were returned after the interview. That could have been because we submitted 2 at the NVC stage.

-Have photo copies of birth/marriage certificate. All the originals are returned after the interview.

-Don't be nervous. One guy was asked what does he and his fiancee talk about and his response was "love." Denied. Just talk to them like they are normal people.

-Be flexible with your schedule because you never know what could happen. The embassy had an emergency shut down when I was there because of "security" reasons. Most likely having to do with the threats to the embassies from extremists in Libya. We got rescheduled for the next business day but others were rescheduled for 3 weeks later. This happened at 10:300am so I had waited for more than 3 hours inside already. And people from the previous day were NOT given priority on the next day.

Best wishes to all and thanks to everyone on VJ for sharing their invaluable experiences.

[dwheels76 5,468]

One thing I have seen with Lagos is they do Police Certificate on a case by case basis. I have known of people who had to get 2. One at interview cuz it expired at NVC. Than they had to do more paperwork that took 3 months and it expired again and they had to get another.

Some they don't ask after a year in AP. So I would lean to caution Like Winnie said and come with a new fresh one in hand.

[Vee&Dee 0]

@WinnieGeorge, I am talking out of experience. Mine had expired at the time of my interview. Per CR1, as soon as all original documents are turned in and are valid at the time NVC make request, no cause for alarm at the interview.

[winnie george 67]

@WinnieGeorge, I am talking out of experience. Mine had expired at the time of my interview. Per CR1, as soon as all original documents are turned in and are valid at the time NVC make request, no cause for alarm at the interview.

Okay cool...... Glad it worked out fine for you

I have seen where they asked for a new one from a couple though

That's why i said better safe than sorry to have a new one

[Ije 8]

I think it might be better to get it and have it handy in case they ask for it. Like Winnie George said, it is better to be on the safe side. It will take only few hours to get another certificate.

[Dana and Divine 61]

Yes, that is what we are opting to do as well.

[Aya820 33]

Yes she needs to get another one just incase, its better to be safe than sorry

Mine will also expire before my interview and i will get another one...

Once they say 'OHH YOUR POLICE CERTIFICATE HAS EXPIRED WE WILL NEED A NEW ONE', I will just give them the new one to avoid any delays

One thing I have seen with Lagos is they do Police Certificate on a case by case basis. I have known of people who had to get 2. One at interview cuz it expired at NVC. Than they had to do more paperwork that took 3 months and it expired again and they had to get another.

Some they don't ask after a year in AP. So I would lean to caution Like Winnie said and come with a new fresh one in hand.

I have read this also...

Our certificate had expired also by the time our interview came. I had my hubby get a fresh one just in case they asked...they did not, but I was glad we got it anyway...peace of mind is a wonderful thing at least in one thing in this process lol