Police certificate from country that requires physical presence?

[psionyx 0]

We've just received our NOA2 and my fiancee from NZ and I are looking over the checklist from the consulate in Auckland.  She lived in Ethiopia from 2006-2007, and the checklist states that she must obtain a police certificate because she lived there for more than one year.  The problem is that the US state department web site says this about getting a police record from Ethiopia:

 

" Available only to those residing in Ethiopia. Certificates of good conduct from the police (Interpol) are available only to people 18 years or older who apply in person in Ethiopia. "

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

 

Is it possible that the consulate would waive this requirement?  We are really worried about this, as it seems it could be almost impossible to obtain within the four months required.

 

[Patient 57]

9 minutes ago, psionyx said:

We've just received our NOA2 and my fiancee from NZ and I are looking over the checklist from the consulate in Auckland.  She lived in Ethiopia from 2006-2007, and the checklist states that she must obtain a police certificate because she lived there for more than one year.  The problem is that the US state department web site says this about getting a police record from Ethiopia:

 

" Available only to those residing in Ethiopia. Certificates of good conduct from the police (Interpol) are available only to people 18 years or older who apply in person in Ethiopia. "

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

 

Is it possible that the consulate would waive this requirement?  We are really worried about this, as it seems it could be almost impossible to obtain within the four months required.

 

You should contact your local Ethiopian Embassy first, be seen trying to obtain a police certificate. 

 

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/africa/ethiopia.asp - points to there being a process and a way to get one. 

 

Then contact your local Embassy / Consulate and advise them of the issue. Good luck.

 

[psionyx 0]

Thanks for the info, that was helpful!

 

We contacted the US consulate in Auckland via email, and Elle lived up to her reputation as a friendly and responsive person, writing this:

 

"... you have to be in country to obtain an Ethiopian police certificate.  In this case, if the police certificate is not available for the applicant to obtain, the interviewing consular officer will determine only at the time of interview what other course of action is required."

 

So it sounds like we don't need to worry about it, at least up until the interview occurs (and hopefully not thereafter either!)

 

Edited August 4, 2017 by psionyx