Privacy Act or Visa Application?

[MariahK 16]

I am feeling frustrated because I emailed the Montreal Consulate and they told me to request a criminal record under the Canadian Privacy Act and NOT to state that it is for a "visa application" and to specifically request the record that includes "RCMP National Repository entire holdings" (whatever that even means). However, I emailed Gambit ID a company that helps process fingerprints, and they told me that doing the Privacy Act is non-certified and goes through the FBI and can not be used for any official purposes and that I should state that my fingerprints are for a visa application.  😓

 

So, for those of you who did the fingerprint check what did you state the purpose was on your application? 

Edited August 22, 2018 by MariahK

[Rusty72 68]

1 hour ago, MariahK said:

I am feeling frustrated because I emailed the Montreal Consulate and they told me to request a criminal record under the Canadian Privacy Act and NOT to state that it is for a "visa application" and to specifically request the record that includes "RCMP National Repository entire holdings" (whatever that even means). However, I emailed Gambit ID a company that helps process fingerprints, and they told me that doing the Privacy Act is non-certified and goes through the FBI and can not be used for any official purposes and that I should state that my fingerprints are for a visa application.  😓

 

So, for those of you who did the fingerprint check what did you state the purpose was on your application? 

Did they change something? All i needed to do was goto the local police station ask for my records and they gave me then with a stamp. I have no criminal records so was just a sheet of paper that said no records found....

[MariahK 16]

27 minutes ago, Rusty72 said:

Did they change something? All i needed to do was goto the local police station ask for my records and they gave me then with a stamp. I have no criminal records so was just a sheet of paper that said no records found....

Yeah, I guess something must have changed within the last couple of months.  On the government website it states it don't need the fingerprint check unless you've been convicted of a crime. So who knows lol I am getting different answers from everyone. 

[darth vader 133]

8 minutes ago, MariahK said:

Yeah, I guess something must have changed within the last couple of months.  On the government website it states it don't need the fingerprint check unless you've been convicted of a crime. So who knows lol I am getting different answers from everyone. 

So, now a fingerprint check is required instead of a name check?

[MariahK 16]

50 minutes ago, darth vader said:

So, now a fingerprint check is required instead of a name check?

This is what I asked the Montreal Consulate and this was their reply. Which doesn't make sense. I'm going to check mark visa application on the fingerprint forms and we will see what happens. 

[NikLR 13,227]

visa application makes it seem like you're applying for a visa within Canada which isn't the case.  You are applying for a visa for a country outside of Canada. 

 

I would follow their directions. 

[darth vader 133]

13 minutes ago, NikLR said:

visa application makes it seem like you're applying for a visa within Canada which isn't the case.  You are applying for a visa for a country outside of Canada. 

 

I would follow their directions. 

This isn't necessarily true. My Canadian fingerprint police certificate says that it is for visa/work/travel etc. for the U.S. 

Edited August 22, 2018 by darth vader

[darth vader 133]

51 minutes ago, MariahK said:

This is what I asked the Montreal Consulate and this was their reply. Which doesn't make sense. I'm going to check mark visa application on the fingerprint forms and we will see what happens. 

The information you have been provided contradicts DOS document reciprocity as listed on their website. I would quote the website to them and ask for further clarification.

I think they might be referring to this: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/making-requests-the-privacy-act
 

[NikLR 13,227]

1 hour ago, darth vader said:

This isn't necessarily true. My Canadian fingerprint police certificate says that it is for visa/work/travel etc. for the U.S. 

But they arent asking the OP for this in particular.  I didn't state why I needed my name check.  Either.  They're specifically requesting the OP do something.  Why there is even a question to do something other than exactly as requested doesnt make sense to me.  

[darth vader 133]

7 minutes ago, NikLR said:

But they arent asking the OP for this in particular.  I didn't state why I needed my name check.  Either.  They're specifically requesting the OP do something.  Why there is even a question to do something other than exactly as requested doesnt make sense to me.  

I agree. OP needs to follow the instructions. However, I would encourage OP to double check with them before they set about getting new police check. What they are being asked is very specific and is only usually required when you have a prior criminal record. 

Edited August 22, 2018 by darth vader

[MariahK 16]

On 8/22/2018 at 2:04 PM, darth vader said:

I agree. OP needs to follow the instructions. However, I would encourage OP to double check with them before they set about getting new police check. What they are being asked is very specific and is only usually required when you have a prior criminal record. 

Someone made a comment, but it's not showing up here for some reason. It said "The second part of that is about full disclosure of your criminal record. If you do not have one then you follow the first link they gave you."  which makes sense. I did email the fingerprinting company and they said that the privacy act doesn't give you a certified check. Regardless, I will have all three freaking police checks when I go to the interview 😪. My friend literally had her interview a couple of months ago and did the fingerprint check and on it said it said "visa...etc" 

[Ontarkie 14,226]

I removed my post as after reading multiple times I confused myself

[MariahK 16]

On 8/24/2018 at 1:35 AM, Ontarkie said:

I removed my post as after reading multiple times I confused myself

OH lol! Well it made sense to me hahah! I was wondering where it went lol! I still haven't heard back from the Consulate, but when I do I will post here. 

[darth vader 133]

On 8/27/2018 at 9:11 AM, MariahK said:

OH lol! Well it made sense to me hahah! I was wondering where it went lol! I still haven't heard back from the Consulate, but when I do I will post here. 

I am curious if you ended up ordering you information under Privacy Act? If so, what was the process like?

 

 

 

[MariahK 16]

16 hours ago, darth vader said:

I am curious if you ended up ordering you information under Privacy Act? If so, what was the process like?

 

 

 

I did not, I went with my gut feeling and did the fingerprints under the visa application. I got a response back from Montreal and this was their reply in the screenshot. I had asked them to clarify which police check documents where needed and under what reason. Literally everyone I've talked to who had their fingerprints done wrote visa application for the reason. I've never heard of someone using the Privacy Act as a reason for the k1 Visa. So we will see what happens at the interview (I will have the name based, vulnerable sector that I had done for work, and the fingerprints). If it ends up they won't accept the fingerprints because of the "visa application" reason I will just have to redo the prints and submit to the RCMP again...really hoping it all works out. I will update again after the interview.