Obtaining UK ACRO - Police Certificate process

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi UK people. If you will just click HERE http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/ there is a list for you of things to do before NOA2. The police link changed, but it is corrected several posts down.

The list tells you

*where to get US photos or how to make your own.

*how many photos of what size

*what shots to make sure you have had

*how long the police certificate is valid and that you should start early

It answers much of what you are speculating about. Try it http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/

And scroll down to post #6 for the Packet 3 info.

[Hypnos 6,576]

I am from Birmingham England

Shout out to a fellow brummie.

Edited May 13, 2013 by Hypnos

[Portlandia 15]

Just a little advice about obtaining your police certificates!!

It is a lengthy process....so fill out your forms and send them off as soon as you get your text from the USCIS that your NOA2 has been approved, if not before because its coming up to a month and i still have not got them back.

Here is my journey to obtain one!!

18 April - Received NOA2 acceptance

19 April - I downloaded the forms and filled them out

20 April - Went to get passport photographs done

26 April - I received my Photograph Endorsement form and photograph back

27 April - Sent package off to ACRO Portsmouth

30 April - ACRO received my package

13 May - Received email saying "It will now be dealt with in accordance with the published guidelines"

So i guess they still have to do their checks and admin stuff and then send me it in the usual snail mail here in the UK, so another 5 days and it will be exactly one month till i finally get my police certificate, that's if it gets here in the 5 days!! I sent an email this morning asking what the turn a round time would be but still waiting for a reply!!

I paid £45 fee for the standard service, which they state is 10 working day turnaround, not including dates of receipt or dispatch, but that's 2 weeks once they receive it, in my case i had to wait nearly 2 weeks before they even looked at it! with getting photo endorsed, sending and receiving it wont be short of a month. This is the only document i need before phoning for my medical and sending off the forms needed by the London Embassy!!

So my suggestion to everybody is you want the certificate sooner is pay the £80 for premier service and a 2 day turn around but that's only when they start processing it not for the whole process and i guess it also depends if you have a criminal record or not!!, which i dont

I will updateand let everyone know when i actually get the certificate in my hands!!

Sounds like there is a delay there - and as they have published timeframes for responding, I'd be calling them to chase it up:

Customer Services

For enquiries relating to Police Certificates, Subject Access or International Child Protection Certificates, please contact ACRO Customer Services. The desk is open Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 23:00 United Kingdom time.

Call: 0845 60 13 999

International Callers: 0044 1962 871 111

Email: customer.services@acro.pnn.police.uk

(Mine's going in first class post tomorrow, and I will be on the phone on the 31st of May if I haven't received it back by then. And every day from then onwards until I receive it. And possibly demanding a refund if it hasn't been processed within the published timeframes (I'll only do that once I've got it in my hot little hands, obviously). Having a published timeframe and a number to call makes a change from dealing with USCIS!)

Good luck! Let us know how it goes...

[J & S Lewis 3]

I'm in the same position regarding the police certificate. I got an email 10 days after sending saying the same thing...that it will now be processed.

In the meantime I sent off all the forms except the ds2001, with a cover note saying I will send in the ds2001 once i am in receipt of the police certificate and my fiancee's documents.

I wrestled with holding off on sending the forms until i could sent everything, but after reading the official instructions about a hundred times, it does state to send stage one in asap, then stage two as soon as the documents are in hand.

I did a lot of forum searching, and found a few post whereby others have also done it this way.

[Ridcully41 1]

i might have my wires crossed, but i was told to wait till your at the NVC stage before getting the Police certificate as they are only valid for 6 months.

[EmMatt 2]

This is all great advice, thank you all for posting and contributing.

I am new to the forums, and receieved NOA1 March 25th, I am from Birmingham England and will be attending London Embassy.

Is there a list on here of everything I am required to do/prepare when NOA2 is received, we really want to get the ball rolling and be prepared as soon as NOA2 arrives!

Thank you!

Sorry just saw this, but someone else answered your question already, I've quoted it below (hopefully) if you hadn't already seen it.

Hey and Welcome!

Here is everything you will need http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/

Edited May 14, 2013 by EmMatt

[Ian and Deanna 5]

Well an update from my original post

I received an email from ACRO this morning and they said "I can confirm that the latest your application will be dispatched is the 20/05/13" which means its not a 10 working day service therefore its not worth the paper its written on, well the instructions anyway!!

Updated:

18 April - Received NOA2 acceptance

19 April - I downloaded the forms and filled them out

20 April - Went to get passport photographs done

26 April - I received my Photograph Endorsement form and photograph back

27 April - Sent package off to ACRO Portsmouth

30 April - ACRO received my package

13 May - Received email saying "It will now be dealt with in accordance with the published guidelines

14 May - Received another email saying "I can confirm that the latest your application will be dispatched is the 20/05/13.

The police certificate is valid for 1 year so order it well before you get your NOA2 else it will cause a delay in your process, this will enable you to be ready when you come to book your medical for which the Police Certificate is needed. Also you need a UK passport size photograph not the US size......US sizes are 2"x 2" and the UK are 1.38" x 1.77"

Also if you are only a few months into the process go to your doctors and get your vaccinations that you require cause the knights bridge doctors do charge a lot for these especially when they are free on the NHS, i got all mine done free of charge:

I got the following vaccinations done:

Hepatitus A&B combined

TDP - Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio

MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella

Influenza - if you are in the risk group i believe its 50 and over and in flu season

Varicella - not needed if you have not had chicken pox

But these all depends on your age so check out going for your medical forum, all the info is there

Also as EmMatt said get your fiance to gather the required documents needed to support the new Affidavit of Support I-134, we went for overkill on the supportive documents, don't want to take any chances we missed anything out!!

A new Letter of Intent from US petitioner only

New Affidavit of Support I-134

Letter from their employer stating their job title, start date, salary, and whether its a full time position

A bank managers letter, stating how long you had the account and what you have deposited over the last 2 years

Depending what you put in the Affidavit of Support I-134, we had a copy of her stocks and bonds, listed all the assets and values to match the I-134, and even her last 3 years IRS statements, even though i believe we didn't need it.

And ongoing relationship supportive documents since we sent in the original petition...her flight tickets and boarding passes of a recent visit.

Like i said this we went for over kill but its up to the individuals to decide how much over the minimum criteria they want to include. We just dont want to leave anything out if they do ask for it

And to all the brummies im from Birmingham too

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

In the meantime I sent off all the forms except the ds2001, with a cover note saying I will send in the ds2001 once i am in receipt of the police certificate and my fiancee's documents.

I wrestled with holding off on sending the forms until i could sent everything, but after reading the official instructions about a hundred times, it does state to send stage one in asap, then stage two as soon as the documents are in hand.

I did a lot of forum searching, and found a few post whereby others have also done it this way.

You did it exactly as London prefers.

Get your forms in immediately.

Gather your interview documents and have the medical.

Send the DS-2001 to let them know you are ready to interview because you have all documents in hand.

Edited May 14, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[J & S Lewis 3]

You did it exactly as London prefers.

Get your forms in immediately.

Gather your interview documents and have the medical.

Send the DS-2001 to let them know you are ready to interview because you have all documents in hand.

Thank you for the confirmation! I read so many posts saying such conflicting information, like sending all forms together, and bringing the ds160 to interview etc,

I'm so glad to know i've done it correctly, thank you.

Also, as a stroke of luck, my police certificate arrived this morning just after I posted here!!

I was beginning to worry about delays, but I got mine today after being received on the 30th april.

I went ahead and booked my medical, and was surprised to get an appointment so quickly for next thursday!

It's so refreshing for everything to now be moving ahead after such long delays for the noa2.

Thanks again

[J & S Lewis 3]

Hi, I also got my confirmation email saying it was received the on 30th april, and my certificate arrived this morning! I was also expecting a delay, so hopefully yours will arrive very soon.

Just a little advice about obtaining your police certificates!!

It is a lengthy process....so fill out your forms and send them off as soon as you get your text from the USCIS that your NOA2 has been approved, if not before because its coming up to a month and i still have not got them back.

Here is my journey to obtain one!!

18 April - Received NOA2 acceptance

19 April - I downloaded the forms and filled them out

20 April - Went to get passport photographs done

26 April - I received my Photograph Endorsement form and photograph back

27 April - Sent package off to ACRO Portsmouth

30 April - ACRO received my package

13 May - Received email saying "It will now be dealt with in accordance with the published guidelines"

So i guess they still have to do their checks and admin stuff and then send me it in the usual snail mail here in the UK, so another 5 days and it will be exactly one month till i finally get my police certificate, that's if it gets here in the 5 days!! I sent an email this morning asking what the turn a round time would be but still waiting for a reply!!

I paid £45 fee for the standard service, which they state is 10 working day turnaround, not including dates of receipt or dispatch, but that's 2 weeks once they receive it, in my case i had to wait nearly 2 weeks before they even looked at it! with getting photo endorsed, sending and receiving it wont be short of a month. This is the only document i need before phoning for my medical and sending off the forms needed by the London Embassy!!

So my suggestion to everybody is you want the certificate sooner is pay the £80 for premier service and a 2 day turn around but that's only when they start processing it not for the whole process and i guess it also depends if you have a criminal record or not!!, which i dont

I will updateand let everyone know when i actually get the certificate in my hands!!

[J & S Lewis 3]

i might have my wires crossed, but i was told to wait till your at the NVC stage before getting the Police certificate as they are only valid for 6 months.

I believe it is a year

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Also if you are only a few months into the process go to your doctors and get your vaccinations that you require cause the knights bridge doctors do charge a lot for these especially when they are free on the NHS, i got all mine done free of charge:

I got the following vaccinations done:

Hepatitus A&B combined

TDP - Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio

MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella

Influenza - if you are in the risk group i believe its 50 and over and in flu season

Varicella - not needed if you have not had chicken pox

But these all depends on your age so check out going for your medical forum, all the info is there

If you are no longer a teen, then Hepatitis is not required. Influenza statement is outdated info.

Heres the shots needed for 19 through 59 years of age:

Td or Tdap - Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis (not polio). You may get DT, DTP or DtaP and it will be accepted for AOS. Must be no longer than 10 years ago or get a booster.

MMR (if born in 1957 or later) Two doses are required. If you had only one as a child, you may need #2.

Varicella Not routinely given in the UK ; a history of having chickenpox excuses you from the shot. They take your word for it at the visa medical exam.

Influenza - During flu season only, October 1 through March 31. This was a new recommendation dated November 2010 for all ages over 6 months. Older lists will say flu shots for over age 50. It changed.

[Anna Grant 169]

You did it exactly as London prefers.

Get your forms in immediately.

Gather your interview documents and have the medical.

Send the DS-2001 to let them know you are ready to interview because you have all documents in hand.

Nich-Nick - just a quick question.

I am about to send all my completed forms to London but I will not be having the medical until 29 May when I return to the UK. I have all the documents in hand for the interview.

Should I be sending the completed forms now and the DS-2001 when I've had the medical? Or can I send all of the forms now including the DS-2001? If the latter, should I say in my covering letter that I have scheduled my medical for 29 May? I realize that London will not schedule an interview for me until they have the results of the medical.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Nich-Nick - just a quick question.

I am about to send all my completed forms to London but I will not be having the medical until 29 May when I return to the UK. I have all the documents in hand for the interview.

Should I be sending the completed forms now and the DS-2001 when I've had the medical? Or can I send all of the forms now including the DS-2001? If the latter, should I say in my covering letter that I have scheduled my medical for 29 May? I realize that London will not schedule an interview for me until they have the results of the medical.

Yes, it's okay to do that because you have all the documents in hand. Yes, include the medical date in the cover letter. They are specific about what info goes in a cover letter with the DS-2001. Go back and review the instruction page for it.

The other comment was to the person who thought about waiting to send the forms until they had all the interview documents too. London doesn't expect that. They instruct to get the forms in so they can start processing them, but they know it may take some time to gather documents (especially if you didn't read ahead and their letter was your first clue of what happens next.). So they say send the DS-2001 when you have gathered your docs and arranged a medical. Either way is okay. A few years ago, when they actually sent a paper packet of forms and instructions, there was a "checklist" included of the documents needed. You literally put checkmarks on the paper list and mailed it back when you had all of them. At the bottom of the checklist were places to fill in date of medical, date of wedding, date of intended travel, etc. The newer form DS-2001 just has a place to sign that you are ready, so they ask for a cover letter to tell the other Info they use for scheduling.

Here's a post in the London K1 thread where I kinda elaborated more on the topic if you want to read it. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/?p=5312728

[Jo Amelia Finlay 20]

I've just sent mine off (on Friday 17th May) and now I am especially glad that we're a way off getting our NOA2 etc yet, given the slow turnaround for these police certs! It'll be one less thing to scramble around to get when the time comes.