European Union Police Certificates

[aara1988 1]

Hi, fellow Europeans,

For the interview to get my K1 visa they're going to ask me (still haven't received the letter, but it'll be soon) to provide police certificates of every country I've lived in for more than 6 months. Those countries are Spain, Germany, Luxembourg and Canada.

I went to get the Spanish one yesterday and I asked about the other European ones. They assured me that, being a Spanish national, my certificate covers any other European countries. So, if I had ever committed a crime in Europe, it would show in this certificate they gave me. I asked if that could be specifically written on the document, but they said no.

Will they understand this at the consulate? Do they know the law? Will they just not belive me? Getting those country-specific certificates will be such a pain... I don't even know if I can get them by mail. What if I have to go there!

I've already paid $200 and got fingerprinted twice to get the ones from Canada (where I lived for only 8 months). Aghh... Tip: never live abroad.

Anyone knows more about this or has experience with an "European" police certificate?

Thanks

[Stressed Out 81]

I think you're talking abot the ECRIS system, which would make sense. I would email the embassy to ask if they accept that you've obtained certificates for all other non-EU countries, but that your home country is the central repository for all EU-related crimes on your record.

"The system gives judges and prosecutors easy access to comprehensive information on the offending history of any EU citizen, no matter in which EU countries that person has been convicted in the past. Through removing the possibility for offenders to escape their criminal past simply by moving from one EU country to another, the system could also serve to prevent crime."

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/criminal/european-e-justice/ecris/index_en.htm

[quimolum 12]

Hi,

I think it depends on your nationality. I didn't know about it so I took the French and the German one at my interview (I wouldn't have risked anything by only bringing one anyway)

At the end of the article, it says:

Since ECRIS concerns only EU nationals, it is currently not possible to determine whether third country nationals were previously convicted in other EU countries without consulting all of them. This is why the creation of a European index of convicted third-country nationals to supplement ECRIS is under consideration.

So if you are not from the EU you should get a police certifictae from each country.

For your information, most of the papers in Europe are easy to get. I would get all the certificates if I were you (at least, if the embassy does not answer in time)

[Stressed Out 81]

He said he was a Spanish national, though.

[aara1988 1]

Yes, I'm Spanish.

I won't write the embassy yet because my case hasn't been transfered. It's still at the NVC in the US as far as I know. But yes, that's the best solution.

I just would want to know these things in advance so I don't delay the process on my part. I guess it's best to get those certificates already, but it annoys me because I shouln't have to need them.

Thanks to all of you

[Stressed Out 81]

Well writing the embassy at this point would only prevent possible delays in the future. They don't have to have your case in order to answer your question regarding if they do or don't accept that the Spanish certificate is linked to the ECRIS system. If not, you'd regret not asking them earlier so you could've been working on gathering these documents. Hopefully they do; it'd be rather silly if not.

Edited October 31, 2014 by Stressed Out

[aara1988 1]

Well, I remember reading somewhere that they didn't like being contacted if you don't have a case number yet. But, really, the worst thing that can happen is that they don't give you an answer. So I'll try that soon.

On the other hand, I was able to figure out how to get my foreign certificates. It's really easy for Luxembourg, and not that easy for Germany. And I'll have to add the costs of the translations. But, well, let's see how this goes.

Thanks again.

[Stressed Out 81]

As far as paperwork goes, nothing is easily attainable in Germany if you don't want to drive somewhere and retrieve it. They use virtually no email system except for the most basic questions. You can't order documents over the telephone or by writing an email...it's annoying. Sure would be great if you wouldn't have to come all the way here to get a certificate that doesn't even have any entries, haha.

[aara1988 1]

Confirmed that I need the other police certificates too. Some times I wish the EU was more useful for things like this.

[Stressed Out 81]

That I do not understand. Sorry to hear that...maybe you can still at least try emailing the office of the German city you lived in to see if they can make it any easier for you, though I wouldn't put too much hope in it.

[aara1988 1]

Everything's fine. I'm already in the process of getting the one from Germany (requested by ordinary mail) and Luxembourg (by e-mail). I was just hoping that I could save some time and money handing only the one I got in Spain, since I was told that it would be valid. But it's apparently not valid for the embassy. That's alright. At least now I know.