Urgent: New police certificate requirement!!!

[ITMFA 241]

So: This morning I called the Commissionaires office in the city where I live, told the officer that I heard about this change in requirements, and asked about getting the fingerprint check under the Privacy Act. He said that JUST THIS MORNING they received a notice from Ottawa telling them about it, and assured me that if I go this morning to get my fingerprints done I should have the certificate by the time I leave for my interview. However, I then called the office in Vancouver (where I am for a few days because I had my medical in Surrey), and the woman there said that they also go the notice, but then were instructed NOT to provide those certificates because the new requirements are "against their better practices," and it's all under review. So basically she acknowledged that I might have to present this different certificate, but couldn't guarantee that they would process one for me until they've sorted it out. Which leaves those of us who have upcoming interviews in a bit of a fix! I'm going to try showing up to the office and see what they are willing to do, and then if they can't do it for me I'll go to the nearest RCMP and try to get it figured out. 😅

[IndigoFlowers 130]

I called the commissioners in Winnipeg a couple hours ago and the agent I talked to said that he received an email

about this a couple days ago and that their office here would refuse to do the Privacy Act request, and would continue to issue fingerprints under the “immigration intent” reason. But he was firm in saying they will NOT do finger print checks under the “Privacy Act” reason. 

 

I’m headed to the RCMP to see if they can help me! 

[R.Q. 14]

41 minutes ago, IndigoFlowers said:

I called the commissioners in Winnipeg a couple hours ago and the agent I talked to said that he received an email

about this a couple days ago and that their office here would refuse to do the Privacy Act request, and would continue to issue fingerprints under the “immigration intent” reason. But he was firm in saying they will NOT do finger print checks under the “Privacy Act” reason. 

 

I’m headed to the RCMP to see if they can help me! 

I went to Commissionaires today and my request was refused. They received a circular to NOT issue this request. It appears that the RCMP was not aware of this change until recently.

 

I went to another fingerprinting service in Toronto and had it done without any hiccups.

[Vicki Corpse 27]

57 minutes ago, R.Q. said:

I went to Commissionaires today and my request was refused. They received a circular to NOT issue this request. It appears that the RCMP was not aware of this change until recently.

 

I went to another fingerprinting service in Toronto and had it done without any hiccups.

I actually just got finished with mine in Scarborough and the gentleman was super nice about it. Not an issue at all. He actually said he received the email this morning. Lol 

[R.Q. 14]

On 9/5/2018 at 1:10 PM, TGP said:

1) Make the request under the "Privacy Act"

2) You want a "non-certified criminal information check"

3) You want the check to include the entire RCMP repository.

Thank you for this. This is what they did as the instructions on travel.state.gov are misleading. I went to Canadian Fingerprints in Toronto.

[CanadianinUSA 3]

15 minutes ago, Vicki Corpse said:

I actually just got finished with mine in Scarborough and the gentleman was super nice about it. Not an issue at all. He actually said he received the email this morning. Lol 

@Vicki Corpse I am having my wife go to the Scarborough location. Did you go to the one on Progress Road?

 

Also did you just tell him you needed a certificate of clearance with fingerprints under the privacy act?

 

Thanks!

[R.Q. 14]

13 minutes ago, Vicki Corpse said:

I actually just got finished with mine in Scarborough and the gentleman was super nice about it. Not an issue at all. He actually said he received the email this morning. Lol 

The Commissionaires in downtown Toronto was very adamant that they will not do it so I had them print a copy of the email they received, which was dated this morning. I went to a different agency: Canadian Fingerprints on College St.

[Ontarkie 14,190]

I'm going to guess that  the privacy act requirement is not legal in Canada and why some are refusing to do it. This is going to put many ppl is a bind if they don't have other options to get it. 

[Vicki Corpse 27]

26 minutes ago, CanadianinUSA said:

@Vicki Corpse I am having my wife go to the Scarborough location. Did you go to the one on Progress Road?

 

Also did you just tell him you needed a certificate of clearance with fingerprints under the privacy act?

 

Thanks!

I did go to the one on Progress Rd. 

I meantioned the privacy act and he looked rather confused so I showed him what was listed on the site and he literally read it over and said he received an email on it this morning. 

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

[TGP 47]

1 hour ago, R.Q. said:

Thank you for this. This is what they did as the instructions on travel.state.gov are misleading. I went to Canadian Fingerprints in Toronto.

You're welcome. Good to get this done ASAP,  I have a feeling that the RCMP will be deluged with these requests very soon.

[TGP 47]

1 hour ago, Ontarkie said:

I'm going to guess that  the privacy act requirement is not legal in Canada and why some are refusing to do it. This is going to put many ppl is a bind if they don't have other options to get it. 

Bad guess. It is you as an individual who has a right to request this report under the auspices of the "privacy act". Who you share this report with is your choice.

[Ontarkie 14,190]

58 minutes ago, TGP said:

Bad guess. It is you as an individual who has a right to request this report under the auspices of the "privacy act". Who you share this report with is your choice.

As US immigration has always had access to an applicants criminal history. The term Privacy act had me thinking they wanted more then just your normal background check. Looking into it I see by telling ppl to get it with those terms is a benefit as the fingerprint fee is waived. 

 

I sure hope they get things straighten out though. Too many places in Canada do not have more then one place to go for the police checks. 

 

 

http://www.johnhoward.ab.ca/pub/A5.htm

 

Yes. Under the Privacy Act of Canada, every individual has the right to request access to their own criminal record anytime. Requests can be made informally to the RCMP or local police, or the request can be made formally under the Privacy Act. If the request is made under the Privacy Act, the costs normally associated with fingerprinting will not apply.

When individuals request copies of their own criminal record from the RCMP, they will generally receive their full criminal record. This includes stays, acquittals, etc. However, individuals can also request a portion of their record, such as convictions only. If there are no convictions, the RCMP will provide the person with a letter stating this.

If an individual finds that there are inaccuracies and errors in his/her criminal record, the person can request corrections under the Privacy Act at the local police service. For more information on how to use the Privacy Act to access and correct criminal record information, call the Privacy Commissioner at the number listed on page 26 of this document.

[darth vader 133]

I called NVC and talked to a supervisor and they confirmed to me that if your interview is after September 10, then you will need the police certificate according to the new specifications.

I also went to Commissionaires in downtown Toronto today and had similar experience where the technician told me that RCMP has asked them to not process any such requests until further notice due to it not being in line with their best practices. He also told me that RCMP is talking with U.S. embassy to clarify why they require this specific check.

[TGP 47]

52 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

As US immigration has always had access to an applicants criminal history. The term Privacy act had me thinking they wanted more then just your normal background check. Looking into it I see by telling ppl to get it with those terms is a benefit as the fingerprint fee is waived. 

 

I sure hope they get things straighten out though. Too many places in Canada do not have more then one place to go for the police checks. 

 

 

http://www.johnhoward.ab.ca/pub/A5.htm

 

Yes. Under the Privacy Act of Canada, every individual has the right to request access to their own criminal record anytime. Requests can be made informally to the RCMP or local police, or the request can be made formally under the Privacy Act. If the request is made under the Privacy Act, the costs normally associated with fingerprinting will not apply.

When individuals request copies of their own criminal record from the RCMP, they will generally receive their full criminal record. This includes stays, acquittals, etc. However, individuals can also request a portion of their record, such as convictions only. If there are no convictions, the RCMP will provide the person with a letter stating this.

If an individual finds that there are inaccuracies and errors in his/her criminal record, the person can request corrections under the Privacy Act at the local police service. For more information on how to use the Privacy Act to access and correct criminal record information, call the Privacy Commissioner at the number listed on page 26 of this document.

I do believe that there is an ethics issue here. That is why some agencies are balking at doing the search. Best not to mention anything about this being a requirement by the Embassy to whatever agency you choose to make the request through. You do have the right to ask for the background check under the reason "Privacy Act Request", just tell them it's for your own personal use.

[LaurenJSchafer 13]

7 hours ago, R.Q. said:

I went to Commissionaires today and my request was refused. They received a circular to NOT issue this request. It appears that the RCMP was not aware of this change until recently.

 

I went to another fingerprinting service in Toronto and had it done without any hiccups.

Were you given any kind of timeline on how long it would take to receive your certificate?