Police Certificate - When is the best time to apply [merged threads]

[Jweldon08 8]

Hi everyone, 

 

I have done all this before for my first green card however it was direct with London consulate so very different! 
 

I am preparing for NVC stage which is all new to me, here in the U.K. the police certificate (like everything) seems to have delays. So I want to get onto this and get it ordered in readiness, however I appreciate it is only valid for a year. My questions: 

 

Does the police cert get sent to NVC or just presented at interview? 
 

Being valid for a year is that from date of issue to your interview date? 
 

I am trying to best understand when best to order it, without it delaying us being able to submit to NVC. Thank you 

[BLC 112]

I know you need  your police cert for the medical exam —I believe there is one other portion you need to submit, but not entirely sure when. We ordered two, just in case (for the UK it was only an extra £6, so figured might as well!). 
 

 We just got our petition approved a few days ago, so still learning about this stage. We ordered our ACRO around early May so we could have it ready to go for NVC. I was expecting it to take a lot longer than it did, but it was only a couple weeks (and that was when they were doing the applications via email due to the security breach). 

[Jweldon08 8]

Hi Guys, 

 

Applying for spousal green card, London consulate. 

 

Submitted our I30Jan 2023 expecting it to be looked at in around 3 months time. We want to have everything ready to go at NVC stage. Is now a good time to apply for my police cert? 

 

I have read it has a 12 month validity, but then also read somewhere about it cannot be older than 6 months for your interview. 

 

Also we are due to move into temporary accommodation in 2 weeks as we have sold our house. So the address on the form will not be our current address once we get to interview stage. 

 

Any advice appreciated 

Edited September 13, 2023 by Jweldon08

[Mike E 11,739]

Once I-130 is approved, get the police certificates.

[Jweldon08 8]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

Once I-130 is approved, get the police certificates.

With the Certificate taking a minimum 30 days, I am assuming it is needed at NVC stage, will this not delay us a further month?

[Mike E 11,739]

4 minutes ago, Jweldon08 said:

With the Certificate taking a minimum 30 days, I am assuming it is needed at NVC stage, will this not delay us a further month?

It will take several weeks to move the case from USCIS to NVC.

 

If you get the certificates now, you run the risk that they will expire (depending on the country) and then you have to replace them.

[Jweldon08 8]

13 minutes ago, Mike E said:

It will take several weeks to move the case from USCIS to NVC.

 

If you get the certificates now, you run the risk that they will expire (depending on the country) and then you have to replace them.

Fair point, thank you 

[pushbrk 12,806]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

Once I-130 is approved, get the police certificates.

"Certificates"?  Any certificate needed for any country other than the current country of residence, can be gotten any time.  If it is "certificate" (singular) get it around the time you expect your I-130 to be approved, OR as soon as it is approved, if it can be obtained quickly.

[Jweldon08 8]

3 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

"Certificates"?  Any certificate needed for any country other than the current country of residence, can be gotten any time.  If it is "certificate" (singular) get it around the time you expect your I-130 to be approved, OR as soon as it is approved, if it can be obtained quickly.

Thank you. I did live in the USA for 2 years within the last 10 years on a previous Green Card, however I believe I am right in saying you do not need a police certificate for time spent in the USA?

[Mike E 11,739]

5 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

"Certificates"?

Yeah. I do not know OP’s life history.

5 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Any certificate needed for any country other than the current country of residence, can be gotten any time.

 

It was OP who stated certs expire, so take it up with Op.

 

But according to DoS, you are incorrect:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-5-collect-financial-evidence-and-other-supporting-documents/step-7-collect-civil-documents.html/
 

Important: Police certificates expire after two years, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued.

 

Hence my suggestion to wait until approval as I

 

* do not expect it to take 2 years beyond I-130 to have the interview

 

* am attempting to address OP’s desire to optimize.

 

5 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

If it is "certificate" (singular) get it around the time you expect your I-130 to be approved, OR as soon as it is approved, if it can be obtained quickly.

Yes that is what I wrote. My advice was complete and correct, I stand by it, and I am not dissuaded.

 

 I’ve contributed all I can, and I don’t wish to argue or bicker, so I won’t post more in this thread. 

 

 

[TexasRafael 127]

13 hours ago, Jweldon08 said:

Hi Guys, 

 

Applying for spousal green card, London consulate. 

 

Submitted our I30Jan 2023 expecting it to be looked at in around 3 months time. We want to have everything ready to go at NVC stage. Is now a good time to apply for my police cert? 

 

I have read it has a 12 month validity, but then also read somewhere about it cannot be older than 6 months for your interview. 

 

Also we are due to move into temporary accommodation in 2 weeks as we have sold our house. So the address on the form will not be our current address once we get to interview stage. 

 

Any advice appreciated 

Once I received notice that the 130 was approved and being sent to NVC, my spouse applied for the Police Certificate, took about one hour at the police station in his city in Indonesia and paid a small fee.  It was in English and Bahasa so we did not have to get in translated.  Our approval was March 31st and the interview July 7th.

[pushbrk 12,806]

11 hours ago, Mike E said:

Yeah. I do not know OP’s life history.

It was OP who stated certs expire, so take it up with Op.

 

But according to DoS, you are incorrect:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-5-collect-financial-evidence-and-other-supporting-documents/step-7-collect-civil-documents.html/
 

Important: Police certificates expire after two years, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued.

 

Hence my suggestion to wait until approval as I

 

* do not expect it to take 2 years beyond I-130 to have the interview

 

* am attempting to address OP’s desire to optimize.

 

Yes that is what I wrote. My advice was complete and correct, I stand by it, and I am not dissuaded.

 

 I’ve contributed all I can, and I don’t wish to argue or bicker, so I won’t post more in this thread. 

 

 

No.  I was not wrong.  I'm helping and clarifying.  I have no personal bone to pick with you.  See large bold above.

11 hours ago, Jweldon08 said:

Thank you. I did live in the USA for 2 years within the last 10 years on a previous Green Card, however I believe I am right in saying you do not need a police certificate for time spent in the USA?

Correct.

[pushbrk 12,806]

To be clear for readers...

 

1.  Expiration dates that appear on police reports are not important to Consular Officers.  They only care about the issue date being no older than their current standard.  That has changed over time from six, to 12, and now to 24 months.

 

2.  For countries of FORMER residence, not returned to since ceasing residence there, the police reports can be obtained at any time.  As long as it is the correct document, they are not considered "expired" no matter how old they are.

 

3.  Police reports are NEVER needed for the USA.

Edited September 13, 2023 by pushbrk

[Chancy 6,241]

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