Saudi won't give police certificate

[payxibka 10,045]

2 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Why can't the P3 letter where it states the required police certificate is required. It's normally official as it contains the embassy seal. Thoughts?

This might be why:

 

In order to obtain the police certificate for immigration purposes, applicants will need to obtain a request letter addressed to the Saudi authorities from the U.S. Embassy 

 

P3 is not addressed as such

[Greenbaum 12,259]

3 minutes ago, payxibka said:

This might be why:

 

In order to obtain the police certificate for immigration purposes, applicants will need to obtain a request letter addressed to the Saudi authorities from the U.S. Embassy 

 

P3 is not addressed as such

I know that such a letter exist from the PI embassy, USEM. I'm surprised that one is not available in Jordan.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, Greenbaum said:

I know that such a letter exist from the PI embassy, USEM. I'm surprised that one is not available in Jordan.

In P3?

[Greenbaum 12,259]

3 minutes ago, payxibka said:

In P3?

No separate from P3. Here is what I have. The link is dead now as this was captured in 2015.

 

Did you go to Window 38 at the US embassy in Manila and ask for the consulate letter requesting the PC if not, then email:
 IVMANILAREPLIES@STATE.GOV
 
***Request for the consulate to issue a letter officially requesting the Singapore Police Force to release a COC or certificate of Clearance. Make sure that the letter states that "A STATUTE OF DECLARATION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
 
The US embassy can send this to you by Mail or by email
 

[Kuttai & Kuttapi 0]

I’m applicant for CR1 Visa and my case at NVC and I’m indian citizen but staying in kuwait since.  4 years so I got PCC from kuwait police department..I think this way u can get PCC from Saudi,First I sent one request email to kuwait US Embassy they give me a letter for requesting to be give PCC so I submit that letter in kuwait police department and after 1 week they issue me Kuwait PCC so same ways u can also get..U should sent a request email to US Embassy and they will give a letter ok 

[ValUs9517 5]

9 hours ago, Sandy05 said:

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has run into this problem before. My fiance is a Jordanian national, living in Jordan, with an active residency in Saudi Arabia. His interview for the K1 is in two weeks. We have tried to no avail to get the required police certificate from Saudi but they have given us a hard time. At first the Saudi embassy told us they do not give this document out. We checked with the US embassy and they told us that he does need it because his resident status there is still active. We went back and forth with the Saudi embassy and even showed them the email from the US embassy. We were told they want an official letter from the US embassy requesting it before they will give us the police certificate. We again tried contacting the US embassy and have yet to hear back. Interview date is approaching, I can't push back the interview as the NOA2 expires early January and the next available date for an interview is in February. I called the customer service number to try to get some help with no luck. The lady told me to wait until I hear back via email. Has anyone gone to the interview without one of the required documents? Will this cause the visa to get denied? We have a couple of days left before we have to send in his packet to the US embassy. What should we do?

 

 

 

 

 

He should not need it. Saudi arabia will not issue this for non saudi citizens who are not residing in the country. The embassy should be aware of this. My husband is from pakistan and he lived in Saudi for 4 years, when NVC asked for police certificate he stated this and had no problems with this at NVC stage or his interview.

 

[SMR&JDR 6]

22 hours ago, Sandy05 said:

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has run into this problem before. My fiance is a Jordanian national, living in Jordan, with an active residency in Saudi Arabia. His interview for the K1 is in two weeks. We have tried to no avail to get the required police certificate from Saudi but they have given us a hard time. At first the Saudi embassy told us they do not give this document out. We checked with the US embassy and they told us that he does need it because his resident status there is still active. We went back and forth with the Saudi embassy and even showed them the email from the US embassy. We were told they want an official letter from the US embassy requesting it before they will give us the police certificate. We again tried contacting the US embassy and have yet to hear back. Interview date is approaching, I can't push back the interview as the NOA2 expires early January and the next available date for an interview is in February. I called the customer service number to try to get some help with no luck. The lady told me to wait until I hear back via email. Has anyone gone to the interview without one of the required documents? Will this cause the visa to get denied? We have a couple of days left before we have to send in his packet to the US embassy. What should we do?

 

 

 

 

 

If he has lived in Saudi for at least 6 months, then he NEEDS to get a police clearance from there. If you read the K1 instructions thoroughly, you'll find that police clearances are needed from countries one has lived in for at least 6 months.

 

What I think could work is have him try and contact the US embassy in Saudi if they can help sort this out by giving him an official letter stating why it's required so that he can take it straight to the MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to get it authorized and then to any police department to get his clearance.

[Limey 551]

16 minutes ago, SMK&JDR said:

If he has lived in Saudi for at least 6 months, then he NEEDS to get a police clearance from there. If you read the K1 instructions thoroughly, you'll find that police clearances are needed from countries one has lived in for at least 6 months.

 

That's the general rule. This requirement is often waived for some countries (mainly in the Gulf) that make it impossible or very difficult for non-residents to obtain certificates.

My own experience was in the UAE. I was aware that the requirement for the police certificate might be waived, but I went through the process to obtain one anyway, since I had months of time waiting for k1 to be processed. As with most Gulf countries, it was extremely bureaucratic, and frequently my friend who was obtaining it for me (since I was not in the country) was refused by officials who didn't know their own guidelines and rules. He'd have to revisit when other staff were on duty, and hope they didn't make up excuses to process it.

I feel for original poster. Dealing with such bureaucracy is frustrating and demoralizing. Its definitely good to get any refusal in writing, so this can be used as evidence to request a waiver.

[SMR&JDR 6]

9 minutes ago, Limey said:

That's the general rule. This requirement is often waived for some countries (mainly in the Gulf) that make it impossible or very difficult for non-residents to obtain certificates.

My own experience was in the UAE. I was aware that the requirement for the police certificate might be waived, but I went through the process to obtain one anyway, since I had months of time waiting for k1 to be processed. As with most Gulf countries, it was extremely bureaucratic, and frequently my friend who was obtaining it for me (since I was not in the country) was refused by officials who didn't know their own guidelines and rules. He'd have to revisit when other staff were on duty, and hope they didn't make up excuses to process it.

I feel for original poster. Dealing with such bureaucracy is frustrating and demoralizing. Its definitely good to get any refusal in writing, so this can be used as evidence to request a waiver.

I'm assuming you were able to get it waived? It's sad how they can't just do their jobs right.

 

Hopefully @Sandy05 could get it sorted out just like you did.

[Sandra G. 5,048]

He needs to obtain  from the U.S embassy "a letter of endorsement" addressed to Saudi Police, the Embassy will give the letter, after obtaining the letter bring the letter to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign affairs for authentication, tell him to take his iqama and it will take one week to get the police clearance.

 

 

Edited December 5, 2018 by sandranj

[Limey 551]

On 12/5/2018 at 1:46 PM, SMK&JDR said:

I'm assuming you were able to get it waived? It's sad how they can't just do their jobs right.

 

Hopefully @Sandy05 could get it sorted out just like you did.

I didn't need a waiver as I was able to get the certificate. But it was a real struggle, so I can see why its commonly waived for the UAE.

 

Getting a UK one was incredibly easy and quick - filled in a form (no fingerprints etc), paid the money, and a few days later I had my certificate. No need to request letters from the US asking for it, or notarized and legalized finger prints etc - just apply - they don't care why you want it.

It seems so pointless for these countries to make it difficult. You'd think that if they've given you a criminal record in their country, they'd want to further punish you by making that information affect your future life, like applying for US visas. Instead their actions have meant that ex-residents with convictions (even serious ones) could conceal those from the US (that would be lying to US immigration of course, hence illegal and risking lengthy bans, but there is a reason the US requests police certificates rather than taking applicants at their word)

Edited December 6, 2018 by Limey

[geowrian 22,337]

1 hour ago, Limey said:

It seems so pointless for these countries to make it difficult.

Agreed. But it's out of the US's hands. While not too common with KSA specifically, these type of PCC issues can be the cause for extended delays for background checks.

That said, KSA isn't exactly known for being open and upfront...journalist or not.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

If a PCC is needed from UAE and because UAE requires you to be in country then print off the verbiage which states this from the link below. During the interview when it is asked for then present the printed copy from the link. Most who I recommend this to have no problems once the CO is "educated".

 

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

[Limey 551]

17 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

If a PCC is needed from UAE and because UAE requires you to be in country then print off the verbiage which states this from the link below. During the interview when it is asked for then present the printed copy from the link. Most who I recommend this to have no problems once the CO is "educated".

 

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

I was aware it was frequently waived. I had a friend who was Bangladeshi but spent most of his adult life in UAE. In his case they would not waive it - presumably since he'd spent such a large part of his life there. Since I knew I had many months to wait for my NOA2 I figured I may as well try (one less thing to worry about).

 

Despite what the US site stays, it IS possible to get the UAE certificate from outside the UAE (I did it). But its difficult and you'll need someone in the UAE to do some running around on your behalf. Even better if they speak Arabic. And if you can't get it, fingers crossed they'll give you the waiver (its only "recommended").

[Sandy05 24]

Thank you everyone for all of your responses! We appreciate it more than you know. This was such a stressful time for us and it helped having so many kind people offering different ideas to help us.

 

Just to update everyone in case someone goes through this too and wants to know the outcome. We asked at the embassy when my fiance dropped off the packet about the police clearance from Saudi. He was told the embassy is aware and not to worry about it. We had emailed the US and Saudi embassies, they never replied by email. The US embassy called my fiance before the interview and told him they were aware getting it was an issue and that they were going to work on it...They never followed up about it. It was not brought up at the interview and no additional documents were requested. Thankfully we were approved, the happiest day of our lives. Good luck to everyone going through this process. It is long, difficult, and requires a lot of patience but it is so worth it to finally get to start our lives together!