NVC asking us to bring original police reports to interview... but they have them!

[spousevisaUSA 1]

Hi everyone!

My husband just got his interview date at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid! Along with the date confirmation, we received an email from NVC with all the documents that he needs to bring with him to the interview. Everything looks good except that regarding his Spanish and Portugese criminal reports they say, "The NVC only received a photocopy of the document. You must present the original document at the time of your interview." The thing is, we DID send the originals of both criminal reports to the NVC. Is this one of their "false checklists"? I'm concerned because his interview is in about a month and it takes over a month to ask for a Portugese criminal report from abroad. Help!

Thanks!

https://spousevisausa.wordpress.com

[Jnsr 10]

The letter sometimes gives false information (personal experience mine says I submitted the original birth certificate well I haven't). Still just to make sure they(NVC) didn't lose them give them a call and ask them to check. Carry the xeroxed PCC to the interview. congrats and Good Luck.

Edited March 4, 2015 by Jnsr

[nereyda212003 3]

The problem is that the criminal report expires 3 months after you get it. Even do you sent the original you will need to get a new one to take on the time of the interview. Just call them to confirm. I have to take mine husband at the time of the interview and my interview is in Dominican Republic. Good luck.

[cloclo2 3]

The problem is that the criminal report expires 3 months after you get it. Even do you sent the original you will need to get a new one to take on the time of the interview. Just call them to confirm. I have to take mine husband at the time of the interview and my interview is in Dominican Republic. Good luck.

This actually depends on the country. From what I understand, most expire after 6 months or 1 year.

[nereyda212003 3]

The problem is that the criminal report expires 3 months after you get it. Even do you sent the original you will need to get a new one to take on the time of the interview. Just call them to confirm. I have to take mine husband at the time of the interview and my interview is in Dominican Republic. Good luck.

[Younes-Maria 20]

The problem is that the criminal report expires 3 months after you get it. Even do you sent the original you will need to get a new one to take on the time of the interview. Just call them to confirm. I have to take mine husband at the time of the interview and my interview is in Dominican Republic. Good luck.

In Spain it is 6 months validity .

POLICE CERTIFICATES (original): Every visa applicant 16 years or over is required to submit a police certificate from the country of the applicant's nationality and current residence if the applicant has resided for at least six months since attaining the age of sixteen. Police certificates are also required from all other countries where the applicant has resided for one year or longer. 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 how long he or she lived there. Police certificates must cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that specific country. The certificate from your current country of residence must be of recent date (not older than 6 months) when presented to the consular officer.

The term "police certificate" as used in this paragraph means a certification by appropriate police authorities stating what their records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, and the reasons for the arrests. The Spanish police certificate is known as “Certificado de Antecedentes Penales”. Police certificates from certain countries are considered unobtainable. More specific information is available from the nearest U.S. immigrant visa processing post, or on line at: http://travel.state....ountry_pick.htm.

Present and former residents of the United States should not obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the USA.

[nereyda212003 3]

This actually depends on the country. From what I understand, most expire after 6 months or 1 year.

Yes you right that's why is better for her / he to call nvc and ask them or maybe someone from her country could give her a better advise.

[spousevisaUSA 1]

Hi everyone, thanks to those of you who replied!

The police certificates are still valid since I requested the Spanish report in December of 2014 and my husband hasn't been back to Portugal since we started our application with NVC.

Anyway, I just got off the phone with the NVC. They told me that if I sent the originals, they will send them to the U.S. Embassy in Madrid. I told them that I felt a bit uneasy, seeing that the email confirmation they sent me yesterday specifically said that I hadn't sent the original. The agent told me that, "you'll just have to trust us". Which again, didn't instill me with lot of confidence. Should I trust the email you sent me yesterday or what your telling me now on the phone, which directly contradicts the email?

I think I may just apply for new Spanish and Portugese police certificates (hopefully we'll receive the later in time!) and have my husband bring those originals with him to Madrid. It might be overdoing it a bit but I honestly don't think you can be too careful in this process!

Thanks again for all your advice. I'll keep you updated with any developments!

https://spousevisausa.wordpress.com

[CowBoE 429]

Hi everyone, thanks to those of you who replied!

The police certificates are still valid since I requested the Spanish report in December of 2014 and my husband hasn't been back to Portugal since we started our application with NVC.

Anyway, I just got off the phone with the NVC. They told me that if I sent the originals, they will send them to the U.S. Embassy in Madrid. I told them that I felt a bit uneasy, seeing that the email confirmation they sent me yesterday specifically said that I hadn't sent the original. The agent told me that, "you'll just have to trust us". Which again, didn't instill me with lot of confidence. Should I trust the email you sent me yesterday or what your telling me now on the phone, which directly contradicts the email?

I think I may just apply for new Spanish and Portugese police certificates (hopefully we'll receive the later in time!) and have my husband bring those originals with him to Madrid. It might be overdoing it a bit but I honestly don't think you can be too careful in this process!

Thanks again for all your advice. I'll keep you updated with any developments!

https://spousevisausa.wordpress.com

Yeah, don't count on them to get and do things right...especially when you receive such misleading email.

I think it's a good idea to get new police certificates (minimally as a back up).

In the good case, either you will receive them before the interview,

or they actually have the original that you sent earlier.

In the worst case, after the interview, they may still approve you pending

submitting the originals.

[CowBoE 429]

The problem is that the criminal report expires 3 months after you get it. Even do you sent the original you will need to get a new one to take on the time of the interview. Just call them to confirm. I have to take mine husband at the time of the interview and my interview is in Dominican Republic. Good luck.

Hmm...I generally saw at least 6 months...which country's police certificate does this apply to?

Or did you find some official information on some web site on this?