Police certificate, UK (via Croatia) to US

[IvanJ 0]

Just getting started on the K1 visa process (UK-US) and we have questions! Specifically, we are wondering about the police certificate. My fiance is a British citizen (in the UK for 7 years), but originally from Croatia. When he moved from Croatia to the UK, he had to obtain two certificates, one from the ministry of Justice, the other from the court in Croatia.  We are wondering if he needs both again even though it's been 7 years since he's lived in Croatia?  

[doggieandsam 765]

your fiance will need police certificates from his native country plus all countries he lived in for 6 months or more from age 16. so yes, he will need police certificates from the UK and from croatia. I just dont know though if for croatia, he needs both ministry of justice and court versions.

[SabRob 154]

Here's some information on DHS' website that might help. 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Croatia.html (Police, Court and Prison records section)

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/UnitedKingdom.html

 

Apparently he will need both of those documents that you mentioned from both Croatia and the equivalent police certificate from the UK - the rule is that every applicant older than 16 needs a police certificate from their country of current
residence and countries of previous residence. 

[JFH 12,191]

I think the OP is aware that the fiancé will need a Croatian police certificate, but the question is whether his existing one is valid for this purpose. 

 

Since he he has not lived in Croatia after the date the police certificate was issued, it will be acceptable for this process. The U.K. one will need to be up-to-date. 

[SabRob 154]

On 12/8/2017 at 11:01 PM, JFH said:

I think the OP is aware that the fiancé will need a Croatian police certificate, but the question is whether his existing one is valid for this purpose. 

 

Since he he has not lived in Croatia after the date the police certificate was issued, it will be acceptable for this process. The U.K. one will need to be up-to-date. 

Police certificates are only valid for 1 year or so. He's going to need a new one for the process + UK one. 

[JFH 12,191]

5 hours ago, SabRob said:Police certificates are only valid for 1 year or so. He's going to need a new one for the process + UK one. 

Not if you don't live there anymore.

 

I went through the London embassy last year but lived in Germany for 13 years so had to supply a German one. Fortunately I had one from 2008 from when I applied to be a foster parent in the U.K. and the social services needed one from every place I lived as an adult. I used that one because I last lived in Germany in 1999. No problem at the NVC or London embassy. Only your current county of residence certificate needs to be less than a year old. 

 

See this quote from the NVC website:

 

important: Police certificates expire after one year, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued.