Japan Police Certificate Problem

[-Shana- 152]

So I've just made what could potentially be a huge mistake. Today I received my police certificate from Japan, the main thing I was worried about was needing the document translated. I opened it up and sure enough it was in English. However I just looked at the envelope and it said not to be opened by anyone other than the person addressed. At first I thought "ok, that's me" but then I realised it said that it was for the authorities of the US. So now, I'm kinda freaking out, have I just made it invalid? I'm worried I'll go to the interview and they'll expect to see it in an envelope and send me away.

[Maria4Garrett 5]

Embassy won't accept unsealed police clearance .

Japanese police clearance is translated in 5 different languages as what they told me when I took mine last Tuesday so there's no need for any translation at all

[Ryan H 3,812]

They won't send you away but will have the discretion to delay issuing the visa until they receive a new police clearance in a sealed envelope.

[-Shana- 152]

Well, I suppose all I can do now is go to the interview and see what happens. I feel like a complete idiot...I've contacted the consulate again to see if there's any way to receive a new copy without having to go through the entire process (getting fingerprints done for £79 and the travel to Scotland) and I'll have to wait until Monday to see what they say.

Edited January 24, 2015 by shana.mike

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I would go to the interview and see what happens. It is better to ask for forgiveness than for permission. I would not even tip them off that you did anything wrong.

And think about it-- London accepts your ACPO unsealed, and any number of other police certificates. Right? They aren't the ones requiring sealed police reports. So it sounds like it is the Japanese government that is pedantic here in not wanting it opened. And really, could you alter your police report in five different languages?

Relax and fix it later if you need to. That's just my positive spin on it.

[E-N 48]

Nick-Nick that is what I was wondering that would be rather odd for them to deny a person when our consulate requires us to take the reports to our medicals now therefore the doctor would need to open them and 'see' that there is no drug history correct? I think what was stated above was invalid and perhaps only pertinent to other consulates

[-Shana- 152]

I would go to the interview and see what happens. It is better to ask for forgiveness than for permission. I would not even tip them off that you did anything wrong.

And think about it-- London accepts your ACPO unsealed, and any number of other police certificates. Right? They aren't the ones requiring sealed police reports. So it sounds like it is the Japanese government that is pedantic here in not wanting it opened. And really, could you alter your police report in five different languages?

Relax and fix it later if you need to. That's just my positive spin on it.

Nick-Nick that is what I was wondering that would be rather odd for them to deny a person when our consulate requires us to take the reports to our medicals now therefore the doctor would need to open them and 'see' that there is no drug history correct? I think what was stated above was invalid and perhaps only pertinent to other consulates

Thanks guys, after sitting on it for a while (and going on a run to clear my head!) I'm feeling a little better about it all. Worse case scenario is I have to go through the entire police certificate process again, but if it's what I have to do then I'll just have to get on with it. Would be a huge blow to my savings since it was £79 just to get fingerprints done

Nich-Nick, I plan to do what you suggested, go and see what happens without raising any alarms. If they question why it's unsealed, I'll apologise profusely, say it was a genuine mistake since I was checking the language and didn't realise it wasn't supposed to be opened. On the up side, I've completed my readiness form so hopefully the interview will be sometime next month. So I'll still be a step closer to finishing this process either way! I'll keep the thread updated for anyone looking at this in the future for reference.

[E-N 48]

at you medical shana.mike did the doctor not have to see both police certificates with his/her own eyes?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I think the medical people have been fine in the past with only the UK certificate. How would they know where the person has lived anyway? I guess of their passport was from another country it would be obvious.

[E-N 48]

got ya. nick-nick- need advice. see my topic I just posted about taxes

[-Shana- 152]

at you medical shana.mike did the doctor not have to see both police certificates with his/her own eyes?

I e-mailed Knightsbridge to ask them if they needed to see any documentation since I had to declare on the medical questionnaire I had been to Japan. They replied and said no, they just needed everything that they requested in the confirmation email.

[E-N 48]

oh ok. My fiancé was told he could not do his medical unless they had all police certificates from every country he has lived in so, I told him to bring his UK and Ghana one but ensure they give them back to him and to NOT leave that building without them as someone I know they forgot to give her fiancé's certificate back to him then subsequently it was lost by Knightsbridge... smh!

[-Shana- 152]

oh ok. My fiancé was told he could not do his medical unless they had all police certificates from every country he has lived in so, I told him to bring his UK and Ghana one but ensure they give them back to him and to NOT leave that building without them as someone I know they forgot to give her fiancé's certificate back to him then subsequently it was lost by Knightsbridge... smh!

That's strange! Who told him that? I guess if they ask for my other police certificate I can point them to the email I was sent. Did his Ghana police certificate come in a sealed envelope? I'm starting to think is this just a Japanese policy or do all foreign police certificates need to be sealed?

[E-N 48]

I know it is... but, I guess things have changed you know since they now require four photos ect. whomever he spoke with in December told him that at knightsbridge. the Ghana certificate is a card . I dunno.. hope all is well for his medical

[Leeds333 1]

The medical didnt ask for my french police certificate only the english one, also fyi the french certificate dont come in a sealed letter so mine is open and i will bring it at my interview