Where could my police clearance be?

[firecat 1]

Hey all. So I did the whole k1 visa for my wife, a South African. I need her original police clearance but can't find it. I don't know if it was kept during the application process (she has her green card since the end of last year). I see USCIS has a form to fill out to request original documents.

I don't know where to file it or who would have the document. Is it kept by the consulate in South Africa or would I have submitted it during the k1 adjustment phase in the USA.

I can't recall!

[NikLR 13,227]

The consulate puts the police clearance into the file which is then later sent to the USCIS with the visa package upon POE.

[firecat 1]

Thanks. Does that mean they kept it as well?

Any idea how i could go about getting it back from them or where it goes afterwards? We need the certificate now to apply for Canada and going to South Africa to get another one just isn't possible at the moment.

[NikLR 13,227]

Apply for what for Canada?

According to the NVC:

To obtain a certificate that is issued in single copy only, fingerprints must be taken by the local police in the applicant's place of residence. The South African police forwards the completed fingerprint chart and the fee to the head office in Pretoria for issuance of the police clearance certificate. If the applicant is residing in the United States, he or she should forward a bank draft in the aount of R59.00 together with a completed fingerprint chart (bearing an official signature and stamp of the local police station) to:

South African Police Service
Criminal Record Centre
Private Bang X308
Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Alternatively, he/she should authorize a friend/relative in South Africa to submit the application on behalf of the applicant.

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/SF.html

Yes the USCIS will keep the police certificate in their file.

[firecat 1]

Interesting. So I could apply for the certificate from the US? Do you think USCIS would return it? I suppose I could hedge my bets and just do both.

I'm planning on sponsoring her now for Canadian immigration. I'm a dual citizen (us/Canada) and plan on returning to Canada so want to get her paperwork done for that. It's a bit complicated because she used to be a Canadian permanent resident when she was a minor but hasn't lived there for 12 years. Technically she is still a resident so she needs to renounce her residency so she can visit with me now and then I plan on sponsoring her which I was reading could take between 4-17 months.

Alternatively I could wait for us to have been married for two years (next year April) and she would have them met her residency obligation for Canada and be ok. But we wanted to visit this year and hopefully move by September

[Confusedtinybird 41]

Firecat,

You can use a service in South Africa to get a Police Clearance in South Africa. The company will send you the PCC to the USA or any country you need it sent too.

I personally can recommend Doc Assist. But there are other companies.

http://www.docassist.co.za/

http://www.bunnyhop.co.za/

[firecat 1]

Firecat,

You can use a service in South Africa to get a Police Clearance in South Africa. The company will send you the PCC to the USA or any country you need it sent too.

I personally can recommend Doc Assist. But there are other companies.

http://www.docassist.co.za/

http://www.bunnyhop.co.za/

That's an awesome service. Would be faster than the time it will take for her to get her FBI clearance. They estimate 3 months!