Proof for Police Check

[Bandaria 70]

Hi, I am in the process of applying for a K1 fiancé visa.

So far we have just gotten the NOA1 for the I-129F, and we still have a couple of months to wait before the NOA2 is expected.

My situation: I lived in Vancouver for a couple of years, and am no longer there. I will need a police certificate from there, but in order to get it, one of the requirements is:

"documents from the government or an organization that clearly explains whether you require a fingerprint search".

I have read in places that a copy each of the NOA2 and the official checklist that the embassy will mail to me once the 129-F is approved, is acceptable.

However, as the process for having my police certificate made from Vancouver takes a while, I was hoping to get these things taken care of now, in advance. If I wait for the NOA2 and Official checklist being mailed, it causes a delay of 1-2 months in the whole process, which I would like to avoid.

Any suggestions of what I can alternatively use as "proof" of requirement for the certificate, would be greatly appreciated!

Edited May 14, 2014 by Bandaria

[Lenny&Sanna 114]

Well you could use the hard copy of the NOA1 you received in the mail. And you could also print out the information from the USCIS website that advises you that you will need a criminal record check to be completed for the process.

[Bandaria 70]

Thank you so much for your response!

I think I'll try that, as I really don't want to risk delaying the process by two months.

Has anybody here tried something like this before?

Also, a photocopy of the NOA1 would suffice, right? Rather than the original?

[Tina and Johan 206]

Definitely start the process of getting your police cert now. My fiance is from South Africa, and he applied for his back in late Feb/early March, and we are STILL waiting for them to arrive. it's literally the only thing keeping him from his interview right now. Good luck!

[SK2014 44]

Afternoon/morning All

At what point do we get the police check? And is it myself as the beneficiary or my Fiancé in the USA who gets it?

I have lived in Germany for 2 years, but originally from London. If it is me who needs one, do I get it from Germany or London?

I have looked but cannot see this information here.

Many thanks

Syna

[Bandaria 70]

Hello Syna

From what I understand, it is the beneficiary (you) who needs the police check.

And you need it from EVERY city you have resided in for more than 6 months, since the age of 16.

Unfortunately for me, that includes 4 different cities in my case.

[Bandaria 70]

Definitely start the process of getting your police cert now. My fiance is from South Africa, and he applied for his back in late Feb/early March, and we are STILL waiting for them to arrive. it's literally the only thing keeping him from his interview right now. Good luck!

Oh wow, that sounds awfully frustrating!

I sincerely hope you get it soon. Did you apply for it after receiving the NOA2?

It's all very frustrating for me since I need one from a country where I no longer reside, and so it's a much more complicated process.

I just wish I knew exactly what is officially acceptable as "proof" so I could get the process started!

[Bandaria 70]

Can anyone please share a link to a page on an official US immigration site, where the police check is clearly listed as a requirement for the K1 visa?

(So I can use this along with the NOA1 as "proof")

Edited May 19, 2014 by Bandaria

[Meghan&Andrey 51]

Can anyone please share a link to a page on an official US immigration site, where the police check is clearly listed as a requirement for the K1 visa?

(So I can use this along with the NOA1 as "proof")

This is on the website for the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan:

"Police Clearances: If you lived in a country other than Pakistan, Afghanistan or the U.S. for one year or more after turning 16, please submit a police clearance from that jurisdiction."

Edited May 19, 2014 by Meghan&Andrey

[Bandaria 70]

This is on the website for the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan:

"Police Clearances: If you lived in a country other than Pakistan, Afghanistan or the U.S. for one year or more after turning 16, please submit a police clearance from that jurisdiction."

Thank you so much for making the effort to find that!

It should do perfectly

[Meghan&Andrey 51]

You are very welcome (:

[Tina and Johan 206]

Oh wow, that sounds awfully frustrating!

I sincerely hope you get it soon. Did you apply for it after receiving the NOA2?

It's all very frustrating for me since I need one from a country where I no longer reside, and so it's a much more complicated process.

I just wish I knew exactly what is officially acceptable as "proof" so I could get the process started!

It's been very frustrating. He applied for these items about a month and a half BEFORE we got our NOA2. Just today, the package with the documents has been tracked from South Africa to Ireland, where he currently resides. We will finally be good to go for the interview (which is still unscheduled) once he has them delivered to his home.

Him being in another country has been the problem. he's from South Africa, but has lived in Ireland for several years. He traveled around the UK for awhile, and we debated whether he should get one from there too, but when his packet 3 arrived from Dublin embassy, it said to get one from each country you've resided in for ONE YEAR or more. We concluded that the UK police cert was unnecessary. VJ always says "6 months," but this was not our experience.

They can be gotten from other countries, where you no longer live. it's just more of a pain. there have been phone calls, emails, personal visits from his mother to the police in SA to get this done. And he's paid the fee more than once. AND had 2 separate copies also mailed to him in the hopes that copies will suffice. It's been a nightmare, but the only part of this whole process that hasn't gone well, apart from the time separated. Good luck!

[Al422 221]

Don't jump on it too fast. Some of these have expiration dates. It depends on the police department you apply to so you have to ask them what it is. If it expires before your interview it will not be good any more.

Also helps to ask the police dept what they will accept as proof. Just because their website says X does not mean they won't accept Y.

My fiance had to get COC from Hong Kong police whose website said they needed to see instruction letter issued by embassy. It turned out they accepted NVC instruction letter just fine. So if you have a substitute, email them and ask if it will be accepted. In our case it saved us a lot of time and trouble.

[Tina and Johan 206]

Don't jump on it too fast. Some of these have expiration dates.

while I agree with this in principal, if you know it'll take a long time, then be preemptive about it. we'd be waiting another month or more if we'd waited until NOA2 to get his South African police cert. I'm glad we will have it this week.

[Al422 221]

while I agree with this in principal, if you know it'll take a long time, then be preemptive about it. we'd be waiting another month or more if we'd waited until NOA2 to get his South African police cert. I'm glad we will have it this week.

But look before you leap. Don't apply for one you will get in 10 days that is good for two months 4 months before your interview. The math does not add up.