Police certificate unavailable

[Raoul20 3]

Hi,

My wife went in for her interview today at the Paris Embassy. She had all her documents except the consular officer wanted to see a police certificate for Senegal where she lived as a student for 3 years. 

During our submission of civil documents at the NVC this came up, but we were unable to obtain the document because you cannot obtain a police certificate from Senegal if you reside outside the country. The request has to be made in person.  The state department's website states this as well. I emailed the consulate with the reasons why we cannot obtain the document.

Just wondering if anyone else dealt with this before, and how to resolve it.  Any help will be appreciated. 

 

Procedure for Obtaining:

• Applicants inside Senegal – Application should be submitted to the civil court in the region of birth. Fees may be paid in person. They cannot be mailed. The courts are located in the following regional capitals: Dakar, Diourbel, Kaolack, Fatick, Kolda, Louga, St. Louis, Tambacounda, Thies and Ziguinchor, and Matam (which is operational). Records are normally processed in 24 hours.
• Applicants outside Senegal - Unavailable

 

 

[Timona 4,208]

Well, she'll have to go in person if that's the requirement. 

[Chancy 6,243]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Progress Reports to IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures ***

 

[pushbrk 13,117]

21 hours ago, Timona said:

Well, she'll have to go in person if that's the requirement. 

No, she does not.  If the certificate is truly unobtainable from outside the country, then the Consular Officer was wrong to insist on it.  Human's make mistakes.  

 

To the OP.  Was the visa denied, and she was given a paper with instructions for submitting it?  If so, the appropriate response is to refer the Consulate to the page where this wording is found.

 

Procedure for Obtaining:

• Applicants inside Senegal – Application should be submitted to the civil court in the region of birth. Fees may be paid in person. They cannot be mailed. The courts are located in the following regional capitals: Dakar, Diourbel, Kaolack, Fatick, Kolda, Louga, St. Louis, Tambacounda, Thies and Ziguinchor, and Matam (which is operational). Records are normally processed in 24 hours.
• Applicants outside Senegal - Unavailable

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

[Raoul20 3]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

No, she does not.  If the certificate is truly unobtainable from outside the country, then the Consular Officer was wrong to insist on it.  Human's make mistakes.  

 

To the OP.  Was the visa denied, and she was given a paper with instructions for submitting it?  If so, the appropriate response is to refer the Consulate to the page where this wording is found.

 

Procedure for Obtaining:

• Applicants inside Senegal – Application should be submitted to the civil court in the region of birth. Fees may be paid in person. They cannot be mailed. The courts are located in the following regional capitals: Dakar, Diourbel, Kaolack, Fatick, Kolda, Louga, St. Louis, Tambacounda, Thies and Ziguinchor, and Matam (which is operational). Records are normally processed in 24 hours.
• Applicants outside Senegal - Unavailable

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

No, visa was not denied. She was just told to submit the police certificate to an email and the visa will be issued. Yes, I did submit an email referring them to that wording, just awaiting response. 

[pushbrk 13,117]

59 minutes ago, Raoul20 said:

No, visa was not denied. She was just told to submit the police certificate to an email and the visa will be issued. Yes, I did submit an email referring them to that wording, just awaiting response. 

OK, that's a temporary denial.  Hopefully, your email will overcome it.  Something actually not available, is ultimately "not required".  Officer just didn't know and didn't check.  Curious if she told him it was not available.  That might have prompted them to check.

 

[Timona 4,208]

2 hours ago, pushbrk said:

 

• Applicants outside Senegal - Unavailable

 

Help us understand this means 

[pushbrk 13,117]

19 minutes ago, Timona said:

 

Help us understand this means 

It means unless you are actually IN Senegal, you cannot get the report.  Therefore, it is NOT REQUIRED.  If you live there, you can get it and it's required.  Other countries have the same issue.

 

[Raoul20 3]

10 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

OK, that's a temporary denial.  Hopefully, your email will overcome it.  Something actually not available, is ultimately "not required".  Officer just didn't know and didn't check.  Curious if she told him it was not available.  That might have prompted them to check.

 

No, she didn't tell them that it was not available. That was our mistake, she should have printed and brought a copy of the wording with her.