Criminal Record Check - Canada

[Care & Izzy 0]

Hi All - I want to say thank you to everyone who posts on this site. The information provided is priceless and has helped me work through this process over the last year.

I have my interview scheduled at the Montreal Consulate on December 3rd and am just trying to put the finishing touches on everything.

I have two questions:

When I sent in Packet 3 I included the signed and sealed copy of my Criminal Record Check. I kept a photocopy for myself but see it on the list of documents to bring to the interview as well. Do you think that I need to get another copy from the police that is also sealed? Will they have my packet 3 there with the original?

Second question - for the Packet 3 it indicated that I needed police certificate for any country that I lived for more then 1 year. On the interview appointment confirmation list it doesn't list the 1 year part, it just says for any country I have lived since age 16. In 2002, I lived in England for 9 months.....do you know how I would find out if I need this forsure. It takes a bit of time to get the police certificate from England and I worry that I can't have it in time for my interview.

Thoughts??

[bsd058 296]

Hi All - I want to say thank you to everyone who posts on this site. The information provided is priceless and has helped me work through this process over the last year.

I have my interview scheduled at the Montreal Consulate on December 3rd and am just trying to put the finishing touches on everything.

I have two questions:

When I sent in Packet 3 I included the signed and sealed copy of my Criminal Record Check. I kept a photocopy for myself but see it on the list of documents to bring to the interview as well. Do you think that I need to get another copy from the police that is also sealed? Will they have my packet 3 there with the original?

Second question - for the Packet 3 it indicated that I needed police certificate for any country that I lived for more then 1 year. On the interview appointment confirmation list it doesn't list the 1 year part, it just says for any country I have lived since age 16. In 2002, I lived in England for 9 months.....do you know how I would find out if I need this forsure. It takes a bit of time to get the police certificate from England and I worry that I can't have it in time for my interview.

Thoughts??

You can email the consulate to find out for sure. They take only a few days to respond. Not that long. though I thought it was supposed to be any country you've lived in for longer than 6 months.

I could be interpreting incorrectly. See here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html#police

Now that I've re-read it, yes it should only be for 12 months. I would double check with the consulate though.

They probably won't require you to bring it, but contact them to make sure. Their email is: Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov

THEY ARE VERY QUICK TO GET BACK TO YOU. 3 days usually.

Edited November 16, 2012 by bsd058

[Minith8 0]

How did you get police certificate in Canada? I got one without the fingerprints..Do I need the one with fingerprints?

[pocheros 101]

How did you get police certificate in Canada? I got one without the fingerprints..Do I need the one with fingerprints?

A fingerprint check is not necessary so long as you don't have a criminal record. So long as your certificate indicates that your name and date of birth was searched in the national records repository or CPIC and you don't have a criminal record your certificate should be fine.

[pocheros 101]

Hi All - I want to say thank you to everyone who posts on this site. The information provided is priceless and has helped me work through this process over the last year.

I have my interview scheduled at the Montreal Consulate on December 3rd and am just trying to put the finishing touches on everything.

I have two questions:

When I sent in Packet 3 I included the signed and sealed copy of my Criminal Record Check. I kept a photocopy for myself but see it on the list of documents to bring to the interview as well. Do you think that I need to get another copy from the police that is also sealed? Will they have my packet 3 there with the original?

Second question - for the Packet 3 it indicated that I needed police certificate for any country that I lived for more then 1 year. On the interview appointment confirmation list it doesn't list the 1 year part, it just says for any country I have lived since age 16. In 2002, I lived in England for 9 months.....do you know how I would find out if I need this forsure. It takes a bit of time to get the police certificate from England and I worry that I can't have it in time for my interview.

Thoughts??

Seconding Bsd's suggestion to e-mail Montreal. Make sure to include your case number and keep your question brief for a quicker response.

Here are the instructions from Montreal's packet 4: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/canada/303578/montreal/packet4-montreal.pdf

Each visa applicant aged 16 years or older must submit a police certificate from every country where he/she resided for at least 6 months after the age of 16.

From Montreal's packet 3: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/canada/303578/montreal/packet3-k1-mtl.pdf

Police certificates from each country in which the applicant has resided for one year or longer. The certificate(s) must be issued within one year of the date of the visa appointment. NOTE: An applicant must present a police certificate from his/her country of current residence and country of nationality, if residence in such country exceeds 6 months

It does look contradictory, but that page of packet 4 might be addressing immigrant visa applicants/spouses (K1 is not an immigrant visa) so you might be safe? I'm basing that on the fact that it lists the I-864 right after it, which is not required for K1s (scroll down further in packet 4 and it'll says K1s bring the I-134).

Edited November 17, 2012 by pocheros

[pocheros 101]

I'm not sure if I'm interpreting this right, but I -think- if you've been residing in your current country of residence for more than 6 months then you must provide a certificate for that country. If you've previously resided in any other countries for a year or more then you must present a certificate from that country as well. If my interpretation is correct then you wouldn't need a certificate from England.

But I'm not entirely sure- your best bet is to e-mail Montreal.

Edited November 17, 2012 by pocheros

[Care & Izzy 0]

Thanks! I just e-mailed the consulate and hopefully they will be able to provide clarification!

[kholland 0]

Thanks! I just e-mailed the consulate and hopefully they will be able to provide clarification!

Please let us know what they say. I lived in Scotland for 10 months and was wondering the same thing!

[AnnieandJ 0]

I am also curious about this. I lived in Australia for three years and already got my good conduct certificate ready (After three typos of my DOB from their end)... But it is name and DOB check only. Do I need to get one done with fingerprints or no?

[kholland 0]

any word on if it is 6 months, or one year??