Police report question

[Kaptan 0]

Hi,

Just wanted to confirm something: If you are currently living outside of your country of residence (and you are over 16), BUT have only been living in that country for less than six months, you would not need to obtain a police report from that country’s authorities ahead of your interview, correct?

We just moved to Hong Kong recently and even our interview date will only be around 3.5 months into our move, so I though we would not need this, but the following statement on the Hong Kong-specific pdf file seems to suggest otherwise, or is at least a bit vague: “If you are over 16, police certificates are required from your country of residence for the past 6 months and from all countries in which you have lived for more than 12 months after age 16."

We are writing to the consulate as well, but they usually take some time to get back. In the meantime, anyone have experience with the above? TIA.

[Britsimon 18]

Hi,

Just wanted to confirm something: If you are currently living outside of your country of residence (and you are over 16), BUT have only been living in that country for less than six months, you would not need to obtain a police report from that country’s authorities ahead of your interview, correct?

We just moved to Hong Kong recently and even our interview date will only be around 3.5 months into our move, so I though we would not need this, but the following statement on the Hong Kong-specific pdf file seems to suggest otherwise, or is at least a bit vague: “If you are over 16, police certificates are required from your country of residence for the past 6 months and from all countries in which you have lived for more than 12 months after age 16."

We are writing to the consulate as well, but they usually take some time to get back. In the meantime, anyone have experience with the above? TIA.

I don't understand what you think is vague.

Based on what you have said you will not need a police cert for Hong Kong, but you may need police certs for your home country and any other country where you lived for longer than 12 months. There are detailed instructions at the dvselectee page (link below) and you should read the reciprocity page for each country concerned.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/diversity-visa/if-you-are-selected/prepare-supporting-documents.html

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Hi,

[

We just moved to Hong Kong recently and even our interview date will only be around 3.5 months into our move, so I though we would not need this, but the following statement on the Hong Kong-specific pdf file seems to suggest otherwise, or is at least a bit vague: If you are over 16, police certificates are required from your country of residence for the past 6 months and from all countries in which you have lived for more than 12 months after age 16."

We are writing to the consulate as well, but they usually take some time to get back. In the meantime, anyone have experience with the above? TIA.

Agree there is nothing vague about this! PCC required for current country of residence if 6 months or longer there, and for all other countries you lived in for 12 months or longer, since age 16.

[Kaptan 0]

Thank you both for your responses.

This is the part I found vague: “If you are over 16, police certificates are required from your country of residence for the past 6 months..."

To me this sounds as though the applicant needs to get a police certificate going back six months from the current date, e.g. if you have been somewhere for eleven months, you would need a police certificate covering the time period b/w months 5 and 11. Am I the only one who interprets it like this? Would you not agree that this is different than saying "do not obtain a police report if you have not been in the country for at least six months?"

[aaron2020 11,651]

Thank you both for your responses.

This is the part I found vague: If you are over 16, police certificates are required from your country of residence for the past 6 months..."

To me this sounds as though the applicant needs to get a police certificate going back six months from the current date, e.g. if you have been somewhere for eleven months, you would need a police certificate covering the time period b/w months 5 and 11. Am I the only one who interprets it like this? Would you not agree that this is different than saying "do not obtain a police report if you have not been in the country for at least six months?"

Where are you getting what you quoted? It's not from the link that was provided.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Thank you both for your responses.

This is the part I found vague: If you are over 16, police certificates are required from your country of residence for the past 6 months..."

To me this sounds as though the applicant needs to get a police certificate going back six months from the current date, e.g. if you have been somewhere for eleven months, you would need a police certificate covering the time period b/w months 5 and 11. Am I the only one who interprets it like this? Would you not agree that this is different than saying "do not obtain a police report if you have not been in the country for at least six months?"

I don't know where you got that from, but the official instructions .(linked to from your selection letter) will lead you here http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/diversity-visa/if-you-are-selected/prepare-supporting-documents.html which looks pretty clear and unambiguous to me.

[Kaptan 0]

The sentence is from the Hong Kong-specific pdf file downloadable from the pull-down menu on the official instructions pages of the Department of State. It does say on the web page that the applicant should review these files as they may contain additional requirements. I was wondering if this was one of those locality-specific additional requirements or just a poorly worded sentence trying to say the same thing as the official instructions. I thought someone else might have had a similar experience in HK or somewhere else in the world.