Dutch Police Certificate Confusion

[Neptune2011 1]

I am hoping to find someone who has been through this process recently to help with the following confusion on Police Certificates for the Netherlands.

We finally got our case number from NVC for our K-1 Visa and are currently getting all the paperwork in order while we await word from the consulate in Amsterdam.

We have a bit of conflicting information in that on the Visa Journey site it says that:

Police Certificates are not (!) available to you and will be acquired by the Consulate from the Justice Department

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Netherlands&cty=Amsterdam

And on the instruction page for the Netherlands it says the following:

POLICE RECORDS: Each applicant aged 16 years of over is required to submit a certificate from the

appropriate judicial or police authorities from the country of the applicant’s nationality or current residence where

the applicant has resided for at least six months since attaining the age of sixteen, as well as from all other

countries where the applicant has resided for twelve months or more since attaining the age of sixteen. For

countries maintaining national police records, a certificate form the national l police or judicial authorities must be

submitted. For countries not maintaining national police records, a certificate must be obtained from each locality.

A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been

arrested for any reason, regardless of the length of residence. For Dutch police certificates click on: http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=9694

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/netherlands/19452/public/Dsl1076K1PDF.pdf

We are confused now. Does he get his own certificate or does the consulate handle it? He has never been arrested so there would be nothing on his record. In following this link it talks about getting a certificate of good conduct but this isn't the same as the police certificate?

http://www.justis.nl/Producten/verklaringomtrentgedrag/index.aspx

Any help on how you handled this would be appreciated.

[SenA 10]

Hi Neptune! In the Netherlands, the consulate takes care of that for you. As long as you fill out the DS-230, the police records will be obtained for you. You don't need to sort them out yourself. If the foreign fiancé (unclear from your post if that's you) has lived in any other countries for more than 6 months since the age of 16, he/she will need to get police certificates from those countries. NL makes everything pretty easy for you. Have you gotten your packet 3 yet? Good luck!

[Babastian 0]

Hi Neptune! In the Netherlands, the consulate takes care of that for you. As long as you fill out the DS-230, the police records will be obtained for you. You don't need to sort them out yourself. If the foreign fiancé (unclear from your post if that's you) has lived in any other countries for more than 6 months since the age of 16, he/she will need to get police certificates from those countries. NL makes everything pretty easy for you. Have you gotten your packet 3 yet? Good luck!

Hi Sek, thanks for your reply. I'm Neptune's foreign fiancé. The confusion started when we looked at http://amsterdam.usconsulate.gov/iv_k1_pkt3.html.

Police clearances are required of every country where you, the fiancé(e) visa applicant have lived for one year or more, after the age of 16. To obtain these clearances you can follow the instructions in the reciprocity tables on the State Department website (www.travel.state.gov). Select the country and scroll down to 'Police Record'.

I was born and raised in the Netherlands and never lived abroad, but I obviously have lived here after the age of 16...hence my confusion. So I won't have to get a VOG? We haven't received packet 3 yet, but our case did leave the NVC, so I'm expecting something in the mail any day now.

Anyway thanks again.

[SenA 10]

Hi Sek, thanks for your reply. I'm Neptune's foreign fiancé. The confusion started when we looked at http://amsterdam.usconsulate.gov/iv_k1_pkt3.html.

Police clearances are required of every country where you, the fiancé(e) visa applicant have lived for one year or more, after the age of 16. To obtain these clearances you can follow the instructions in the reciprocity tables on the State Department website (www.travel.state.gov). Select the country and scroll down to 'Police Record'.

I was born and raised in the Netherlands and never lived abroad, but I obviously have lived here after the age of 16...hence my confusion. So I won't have to get a VOG? We haven't received packet 3 yet, but our case did leave the NVC, so I'm expecting something in the mail any day now.

Anyway thanks again.

Hi Bastian! No problem! We just went through all of this ourselves. You're correct. Not VOG needed. If it helps, here is the wording on our packet 3: "The Dutch Police Certificate will be arranged by the Consulate upon receipt of Form DS-230, part I, duly completed. Make sure to mention your current or last address in the Netherlands. (question 13/21)"

Good luck fellow NL VJer!

[Gasoline2805 2]

Sek's right, although I understand your confusion. I was confused too at first, because the official website says something different than the packet 3 letter.

However, the information on the letter is right. The consulate will take care of it for you, so you don't have to worry about the police certificate yourself.

[Roos26 0]

Hi Neptune, After I send back the checklist I got an email from the embassy saying I have to get the VOG!! Now it will take me two extra weeks to get one! and at first the checklist does says that the embassy will provide the police records but I think they changed the proces?

THis is the link I got from them

instructions attached for Dutch police certificate click on: http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=9694#docs

good luck!

[Roos26 0]

oh now I see u already have interview date! DId u had to get the VOG too or no?

[Neptune2011 1]

Sorry for the late response Roos, I just saw your post.

My fiance' is Dutch and he did have his interview yesterday at the consulate in Amsterdam. He didn't get a vog and he was approved. WOO-HOO!

One thing that did change from his instructions is the stamps that you're told to bring. His letter said to bring a certain amount (I forget the exact amount, but he got exactly what the letter stated to bring) and it ended up that he needed a registered mail stamp so he had to run out after the interview and get that and bring it back to the embassy. He did say that the embassy could sell him the stamp but he left his wallet and cell phone in the car since he didn't want any trouble getting through security. The embassy needs to change their instructions...but all's well that end's well.

We are now waiting for the visa to be issued, I was checking and noticed that they usually issue the visa within two to three days which is quite fast so I hope ours goes that fast too

He's going to add a review to our timeline after he gets the visa so we can say accurately how long the visa took.

Best of luck to you!

[Babastian 0]

Sorry for the late response Roos, I just saw your post.

My fiance' is Dutch and he did have his interview yesterday at the consulate in Amsterdam. He didn't get a vog and he was approved. WOO-HOO!

One thing that did change from his instructions is the stamps that you're told to bring. His letter said to bring a certain amount (I forget the exact amount, but he got exactly what the letter stated to bring) and it ended up that he needed a registered mail stamp so he had to run out after the interview and get that and bring it back to the embassy. He did say that the embassy could sell him the stamp but he left his wallet and cell phone in the car since he didn't want any trouble getting through security. The embassy needs to change their instructions...but all's well that end's well.

We are now waiting for the visa to be issued, I was checking and noticed that they usually issue the visa within two to three days which is quite fast so I hope ours goes that fast too

He's going to add a review to our timeline after he gets the visa so we can say accurately how long the visa took.

Best of luck to you!

Unless you've lived in another country for six months or longer, I don't believe you need any police records. Like the lovely Neptune said, I didn't get a VOG and they didn't ask me for one either. The appointment letter states "police certificate(s)" IF applicable, etc. As for the stamps, the appointment letter doesn't specify that you need to get a registered mail stamp (€7.70)...but you do and they don't sell them at the consulate. My passport pictures weren't the right size, so had to have some new ones made, there is a photo booth at the consulate... Aside from my own errors in judgement (pictures) and the problem with the stamps my interview went very smoothly and my visa was issued today and I expect it to be here in a day or two.

[Sarah---Nichelle 1]

Unless you've lived in another country for six months or longer, I don't believe you need any police records. Like the lovely Neptune said, I didn't get a VOG and they didn't ask me for one either. The appointment letter states "police certificate(s)" IF applicable, etc.

Really? On the website for Packet 3 now - it says the following:

Police clearances are required of every country where you, the fiancé(e) visa applicant have lived for one year or more, after the age of 16. To obtain these clearances you can follow the instructions in the reciprocity tables on the State Department website (www.travel.state.gov)

Then on that site:

Available. You need to apply for a certificate of good conduct or Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag (VOG) via the Centraal Orgaan Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag (COVOG), an office within the Dutch Ministry of Justice.

In order to apply, you should visit the Ministry's and download the application form: www.justis.nl/vog.

Please note, all applicants will need to submit:

• a completed application form; and
• a copy of the supporting letter for Dutch VOG application(pdf 64KB) confirming you require a certificate of good conduct for the purpose of applying for visa to the United States.

Technically you're supposed to get all of that stuff and then send in your checklist confirmation in order to receive your appointment letter - Seems strange that they would then tell you afterwards that you don't NEED the police record if you have nothing on it.

Maybe they have just changed it? Or am I getting this confused?