Greek Penal record for Judicial Purposes

[beachboy95 9]

Hello,

 

Currently me and my wife have our case at the National Visa Center. As with every application, We need to get police certificates from every country she has lived ( Greece , USA, and UK). Unfortunately, the process to get the penal certificate for judicial use from Greece is EXTREMELY complicated. She tried to get it from Greece ( to send to the US Embassy in Athens) but was told she had to apply through an Embassy. I called the Greek Embassy in the US and they told me it had to be done through Greece ( but also said it was able to be done online) I am confused and unsure how to proceed being that our NVC application cannot proceed without this important document , but we cannot seem to be able to get our hands on it. I called the NVC three times and got two different answers;

 

1. You dont need the document until the interview, the US gov knows about the circumstances in Greece,

 

2. You need a receipt saying that you applied for the penal record to be sent to the US Embassy in order to apply.

 

 

Being that my wife currently resides in London and not Athens it makes things much more complicated. Looking for some help from anyone who has been through this before. Thanks

Edited July 11, 2018 by beachboy95
spelling

[nelmagriffin 148]

Greetings!

This link might help you.

Reference:

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

Police Records

Available

Fees: There are no fees

Document Name:  Penal Record for Judicial Use (Ποινικό Μητρώο για Δικαστική Χρήση, or Piniko Mitro yia Dikastiki Xhrisi)

Issuing Authority: Ministry of Justice, Department of Criminal Records

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Bears a round seal of the Greek State and a signature

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title

Registration Criteria: Apply for a Penal Record for Judicial Use at the Bureau of Penal

Procedure for Obtaining: The Greek authorities will not provide a Penal Record for Judicial Use to applicants directly. Rather, they will forward any such police certificate to the U.S. Embassy in Athens.  The following information must be included in the application for a Penal Record for Judicial Use for immigration purposes:

Type of Copy: Check the box for Judicial Use.
Reason for Issue: Write “Request for a Visa”
Description: Write “Request for a Visa from the U.S. Embassy, Athens”

Greeks born and/or residing in Athens can apply for a Penal Record for Judicial Use at the Bureau of Penal Records (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou) of the Ministry of Justice, Leoforos Alexandras & Degleri 2, Athens or through KEP (Center of Citizen Information Service). Greeks born and residing in Greece, but outside of Athens, should apply for a Penal Record for Judicial at the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Εισαγγελία - Isangelia) of the appropriate district administration.

Non-Greek applicants residing in Greece and foreign-born Greek applicants should apply in person for a Penal Record for Judicial Use to the Bureau of Penal Records for Foreigners (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου Αλλοδαπών - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou Allodapon), at Mesogion 96, 101 79 Athens, Greece.

Non-Greek citizens residing abroad cannot apply for a Penal Record at a Greek embassy or consulate overseas. Such applicants will need to authorize a representative to apply on their behalf.  Authorizations must be notarized at a Greek embassy or consulate overseas.  Representatives for non-Greek citizens residing overseas can apply for in person at the Bureau of Penal Records for Foreigners (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου Αλλοδαπών - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou allodapon), Mesogion 96, 101 79

Certified Copies: Certified copies are not available.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: None

Comments: Police certificates have a validity of 12 months from the date of issuance

Not accepted: Penal Record for General Use (Ποινικό Μητρώο για Γενική Χρήση, or Piniko Mitro yia Geniki Chrisi)

 

2. UK

Reference:

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

Police Records

Available. Immigrant visa applicants who have resided in the United Kingdom for six months or more since the age of sixteen are required to obtain a Police Certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office (ACRO). Applicants will find further guidance and application forms here.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 enables some criminal convictions to become 'spent', or ignored, after a set length of time from the date of conviction. After this period, with certain exceptions, an ex-offender is not normally obliged to mention their conviction when applying for a job or obtaining insurance, or when involved in criminal or civil proceedings. The "No Live Trace" or "Further Information Stepped Down" response indicates that information is available relating to a 'spent' conviction. A "No Trace" response indicates a clean police record.

Applicants presenting “No Live Trace” or “Further Information Stepped Down” police records are encouraged to request and submit their Subject Access Record to facilitate visa processing.  Applicants are legally entitled to gain access to this information about themselves under Section 7 of the British Data Protection Act, 1998.

Prison Records

Unavailable.

Court Records

Available. Applicants may obtain court records (usually called "Memorandum of Conviction" in the United Kingdom), by writing to the Clerk of Court of the court (or courts) in which he or she was tried. This request must include as precise a date and place as possible.

 

 

[Ryan H 3,812]

3 hours ago, beachboy95 said:

We need to get police certificates from every country she has lived ( Greece , USA, and UK).

 

No USA police certificate needed, immigration personnel can obtain the necessary records on their own for any immigrant visa applicant who has resided in the USA in their past.

[beachboy95 9]

2 hours ago, Ryan H said:

 

No USA police certificate needed, immigration personnel can obtain the necessary records on their own for any immigrant visa applicant who has resided in the USA in their past.

Ok thank you. Very good to know.

[beachboy95 9]

5 hours ago, nelmagriffin said:

Greetings!

This link might help you.

Reference:

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

Police Records

Available

Fees: There are no fees

Document Name:  Penal Record for Judicial Use (Ποινικό Μητρώο για Δικαστική Χρήση, or Piniko Mitro yia Dikastiki Xhrisi)

Issuing Authority: Ministry of Justice, Department of Criminal Records

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Bears a round seal of the Greek State and a signature

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: There is no issuing authority personnel title

Registration Criteria: Apply for a Penal Record for Judicial Use at the Bureau of Penal

Procedure for Obtaining: The Greek authorities will not provide a Penal Record for Judicial Use to applicants directly. Rather, they will forward any such police certificate to the U.S. Embassy in Athens.  The following information must be included in the application for a Penal Record for Judicial Use for immigration purposes:

Type of Copy: Check the box for Judicial Use.
Reason for Issue: Write “Request for a Visa”
Description: Write “Request for a Visa from the U.S. Embassy, Athens”

Greeks born and/or residing in Athens can apply for a Penal Record for Judicial Use at the Bureau of Penal Records (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou) of the Ministry of Justice, Leoforos Alexandras & Degleri 2, Athens or through KEP (Center of Citizen Information Service). Greeks born and residing in Greece, but outside of Athens, should apply for a Penal Record for Judicial at the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Εισαγγελία - Isangelia) of the appropriate district administration.

Non-Greek applicants residing in Greece and foreign-born Greek applicants should apply in person for a Penal Record for Judicial Use to the Bureau of Penal Records for Foreigners (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου Αλλοδαπών - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou Allodapon), at Mesogion 96, 101 79 Athens, Greece.

Non-Greek citizens residing abroad cannot apply for a Penal Record at a Greek embassy or consulate overseas. Such applicants will need to authorize a representative to apply on their behalf.  Authorizations must be notarized at a Greek embassy or consulate overseas.  Representatives for non-Greek citizens residing overseas can apply for in person at the Bureau of Penal Records for Foreigners (Υπηρεσία Ποινικού Μητρώου Αλλοδαπών - Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou allodapon), Mesogion 96, 101 79

Certified Copies: Certified copies are not available.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: None

Comments: Police certificates have a validity of 12 months from the date of issuance

Not accepted: Penal Record for General Use (Ποινικό Μητρώο για Γενική Χρήση, or Piniko Mitro yia Geniki Chrisi)

 

2. UK

Reference:

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

Police Records

Available. Immigrant visa applicants who have resided in the United Kingdom for six months or more since the age of sixteen are required to obtain a Police Certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office (ACRO). Applicants will find further guidance and application forms here.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 enables some criminal convictions to become 'spent', or ignored, after a set length of time from the date of conviction. After this period, with certain exceptions, an ex-offender is not normally obliged to mention their conviction when applying for a job or obtaining insurance, or when involved in criminal or civil proceedings. The "No Live Trace" or "Further Information Stepped Down" response indicates that information is available relating to a 'spent' conviction. A "No Trace" response indicates a clean police record.

Applicants presenting “No Live Trace” or “Further Information Stepped Down” police records are encouraged to request and submit their Subject Access Record to facilitate visa processing.  Applicants are legally entitled to gain access to this information about themselves under Section 7 of the British Data Protection Act, 1998.

Prison Records

Unavailable.

Court Records

Available. Applicants may obtain court records (usually called "Memorandum of Conviction" in the United Kingdom), by writing to the Clerk of Court of the court (or courts) in which he or she was tried. This request must include as precise a date and place as possible.

 

 

Yes we saw that. The problem is we already tried doing that in Greece but it didn't work. It is much more complicated. After speaking to the Greek embassy they suggested filing online. 

[girlonfire 52]

14 hours ago, beachboy95 said:

Yes we saw that. The problem is we already tried doing that in Greece but it didn't work. It is much more complicated. After speaking to the Greek embassy they suggested filing online. 

What is the process for filing online? Currently have a similar situation as my husband worked in Greece for about 8 months or so. Spoke to an NVC agent to ask if we really needed it because the website says only if they lived there for more than 12 months and they said to send in a letter stating why we don't need one in its place. Still haven't heard anything since I submitted a few days ago so I'm waiting to see if they'll accept it. 

[beachboy95 9]

On 7/12/2018 at 12:56 PM, girlonfire said:

What is the process for filing online? Currently have a similar situation as my husband worked in Greece for about 8 months or so. Spoke to an NVC agent to ask if we really needed it because the website says only if they lived there for more than 12 months and they said to send in a letter stating why we don't need one in its place. Still haven't heard anything since I submitted a few days ago so I'm waiting to see if they'll accept it. 

Hello,

 

We ended up getting lucky and found an embassy which allowed us to file. At first we filed the wrong document, but were eventually able to have the Judicial purposes penal record sent. The embassies say that you cannot request penal records from them, but if you ask nicely in person they should be able to give it to you. If you asked the NVC then they would probably be best at telling you what you need. Best of luck

[girlonfire 52]

1 minute ago, beachboy95 said:

Hello,

 

We ended up getting lucky and found an embassy which allowed us to file. At first we filed the wrong document, but were eventually able to have the Judicial purposes penal record sent. The embassies say that you cannot request penal records from them, but if you ask nicely in person they should be able to give it to you. If you asked the NVC then they would probably be best at telling you what you need. Best of luck

Thank you for your response. We ended up not needing it! 

[beachboy95 9]

2 minutes ago, girlonfire said:

Thank you for your response. We ended up not needing it! 

Great, I'm glad to hear it!

[Dor85 0]

Hello 

I have the same problem. We leave in United States. My husband used to live in Greece and we need penal record from Greece to be sent to embassy of us in Albania, that is we’re the interviw will take place. However we are having a difficult time getting the penal record mailed. Please help with any advice 

[TBoneTX 45,309]

Old thread is now closed to further comment.  The most recent poster's query is in a new thread in this forum:  "How to get Greek penal record when in the U.S.?  [split topic]."