Police Certificates from Canada and Japan Q's

[Buzz15 3]

Hi,

My lady is a Japanese native who lived in Canada for more than 6 months. A few questions...

1. How exactly would she obtain a Canadian police certificate from overseas (she lives in Japan) for a US K-1 visa? All the literature I am seeing regarding CA police certificates pertains to those looking to become residents of Canada.

2. Does anybody happen to know the typical processing time for police certificates in both Japan and Canada? This could cause delays if she has to submit something by mail for Canada in particular.

3. It sounds to me like in order to obtain any police certificate the US Embassy needs to provide a written letter that she needs to show the law enforcement offices. Is this true? So I can't have her try to get them in advance to save processing time?

Appreciate any help. Thanks.

[PeachesMagee 62]

Is she a Japanese citizen? Or, is she a PR of Canada?

If she only visited Canada, I don't think it's possible to get one from Canada. She'll need to get one from where she lives.

[teeak 224]

She only needs a police certificate from Canada if she resided there for more than 1 year since it is a country of previous residence.

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Supporting_documents.html

Edited July 28, 2016 by teeak

[Buzz15 3]

Is she a Japanese citizen? Or, is she a PR of Canada?

If she only visited Canada, I don't think it's possible to get one from Canada. She'll need to get one from where she lives.

Yes, she is a Japanese citizen and currently living in Japan. She lived in Canada never as a permanent resident for less than 2 years. I believe she stayed under a language school student or visitor visa. Do you think this still qualifies her as a "visitor" as opposed to a "resident"? Thanks.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Yes, she is a Japanese citizen and currently living in Japan. She lived in Canada never as a permanent resident for less than 2 years. I believe she stayed under a language school student or visitor visa. Do you think this still qualifies her as a "visitor" as opposed to a "resident"? Thanks.

She needs the police report since she lived in Canada for more than 6 months.

It doesn't matter what her legal status was. She lived there for more than 6 months.

[Buzz15 3]

Can anybody help me with questions #2 and #3? Thanks.

[DavidandJen 15]

My Japanese police certificate had a 6-8 week processing time and took exactly eight weeks to arrive. I was applying for it from the UK though, through the Japanese embassy, so it might be quicker if she's applying in Japan. Maybe not.

I didn't need a letter confirming my need for a Japanese police certificate as the embassy was familiar with the requirements for a US K-1 fiancé visa, but if it had been unusual I probaly would have.

Some Googling makes it look like your fiancée can apply to the RCMP for a criminal record check from overseas: http://www.rcmp.gc.ca/en/steps-obtain-certified-criminal-record-or-vulnerable-sector-vs-check

Edited July 29, 2016 by DavidandJen

[Buzz15 3]

My Japanese police certificate had a 6-8 week processing time and took exactly eight weeks to arrive. I was applying for it from the UK though, through the Japanese embassy, so it might be quicker if she's applying in Japan. Maybe not.

I didn't need a letter confirming my need for a Japanese police certificate as the embassy was familiar with the requirements for a US K-1 fiancé visa, but if it had been unusual I probaly would have.

Some Googling makes it look like your fiancée can apply to the RCMP for a criminal record check from overseas: http://www.rcmp.gc.ca/en/steps-obtain-certified-criminal-record-or-vulnerable-sector-vs-check

Very helpful. I'm glad to hear that you didn't need a letter beforehand to request the police certs.

Did you have to get any fingerprinting done locally and sent that to the Japanese embassy?

Thanks.

[DavidandJen 15]

Very helpful. I'm glad to hear that you didn't need a letter beforehand to request the police certs.

Did you have to get any fingerprinting done locally and sent that to the Japanese embassy?

Thanks.

Yes, first I wrote to the Japanese embassy requesting their official fingerprint form, then I made an appointment with my local police department for the fingerprinting, which I then had to submit in person at the embassy.

The procedure is probably a little different if you're applying from within Japan - some more Googling of English-language sites suggests that your fiancee will need to apply for her police certificate through her Prefectural Police Headquarters. They'll probably have a website with her prefecture's specific requirements and procedures.