Background checks post-interview

[Becca Edgerton 1]

Hi guys!

So today my Fiancé had his K1 visa interview at the London embassy. Everything went great, but he found out that because he had spent more than 6 months in Australia a couple of years ago he has to get a background check from there. We had read online that you only had to do this if you spent more than 1 year in a different country, but they said they had made some recent changes. This is a heads up to anyone else who is waiting for their interview to make sure you have all your background checks done if you spent more than 6 months in another country! And also, has anyone had to get a background check from Australia from a foreign country? Any idea how long this will take? Thanks! 

[pushbrk 13,181]

3 hours ago, Becca Edgerton said:

Hi guys!

So today my Fiancé had his K1 visa interview at the London embassy. Everything went great, but he found out that because he had spent more than 6 months in Australia a couple of years ago he has to get a background check from there. We had read online that you only had to do this if you spent more than 1 year in a different country, but they said they had made some recent changes. This is a heads up to anyone else who is waiting for their interview to make sure you have all your background checks done if you spent more than 6 months in another country! And also, has anyone had to get a background check from Australia from a foreign country? Any idea how long this will take? Thanks! 

He was not told to get a background check.  He was told to get a police report.  Words mean things.  Find instructions here.  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/aus-csi.html

[NikLR 13,232]

K1 has always had to get police certs for 6m stays in countries.  Cr1/IR1 varies.  

Edited June 16, 2018 by NikLR
Autocorrect sucks

[Wuozopo 4,293]

5 hours ago, NikLR said:

K1 has always had to get police certs for 6m stays in countries.  Cr1/IR1 varies.  

Not K1s in London. It still said 12 months on their website instructions until about a week ago. 

[NikLR 13,232]

Well then like manilla they're not following DOS policy.  Check the NVC website.

 

[pushbrk 13,181]

7 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Not K1s in London. It still said 12 months on their website instructions until about a week ago. 

Websites do not always reflect actual practice.

[kemm360 144]

But was he approved? 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

Probably not if they asked him to come back with a police certificate from Aussie.

[Becca Edgerton 1]

They said once he mails them the police report he will be approved, they have his passport and everything and are just waiting to put the visa in until they have the police report 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

12 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Websites do not always reflect actual practice.

Ok, let's say...Not K1s in London. It still said 12 months on their website instructions and was their actual practice until about a week or so ago.  

 

The OP unfortunately got caught in a change that is going to delay them a bit. 

[NikLR 13,232]

8 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

Ok, let's say...Not K1s in London. It still said 12 months on their website instructions and was their actual practice until about a week or so ago.  

 

The OP unfortunately got caught in a change that is going to delay them a bit. 

So you're saying 1 week ago the US Embassy in London updated their website? Maybe you are mistaken due to the fact that police certificates are VALID for 12 months? Because since I started my journey, 2012, the NVC website has said for interview, for K1 visas, the beneficiary must have a police certificate for every country they have lived for 6 months or more.  The reason I remember this is because I often have to correct K1 posters in the IR1/CR1 process forums because the requirements are different. 

Regardless of what the embassy website has said, or even if the COs were accepting something else, the requirement is, and has been, a police certificate if someone has lived in a country for 6 months, if they're seeking a K1 Visa.  

[Wuozopo 4,293]

15 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Maybe you are mistaken due to the fact that police certificates are VALID for 12 months? Because since I started my journey, 2012, the NVC website has said for interview, for K1 visas, the beneficiary must have a police certificate for every country they have lived for 6 months or more.

I started in early 2008 and am positive UK K1s have been held to this policy:

 

• Police Certificates:  Required for all countries where you have lived for more than 12 months since the age of 16 and any country where you have been arrested, even if you were not resident there.  U.S. police certificates are not required.  Police certificates from certain countries are unavailable or are obtained directly by this office.  Fingerprints are required for certain countries. A list of UK police stations who can provide fingerprinting services is available from the Embassy website, here (PDF – 337kb).  Foreign police certificates are valid indefinitely, unless you have returned to reside in that country or has been arrested since the issuance of the certificate;

[pushbrk 13,181]

8 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

I started in early 2008 and am positive UK K1s have been held to this policy:

 

• Police Certificates:  Required for all countries where you have lived for more than 12 months since the age of 16 and any country where you have been arrested, even if you were not resident there.  U.S. police certificates are not required.  Police certificates from certain countries are unavailable or are obtained directly by this office.  Fingerprints are required for certain countries. A list of UK police stations who can provide fingerprinting services is available from the Embassy website, here (PDF – 337kb).  Foreign police certificates are valid indefinitely, unless you have returned to reside in that country or has been arrested since the issuance of the certificate;

Please provide the link for context.  Again, website information has not always reflected actual practice.  Websites are designed and updated by imperfect humans.

[danjor 10]

I spent 6 months in Australia and got my police record through possibly 2 weeks after I applied for it. They email it to you and also send a hard copy. just google afp national police certificate. costs around 45 au dollars. I have only ever read rule stating  residing over 6 months in other countries, i've never seen it written as a year.

Edited July 24, 2018 by danjor