UK police certificates

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Just a quickie here -- Bruce has received a letter from Scotland Yard returning his docs we submitted for the police certificate and stating the certificate will be with him in 40 days (as we all know!). However, and I am probably being a bit thick here, I am a little confused whether this is 40 business days or 40 calendar days. Can anyone shine some light on this?

And yes, like others have already said, although it's not an NOA2 or anything, just knowing SOMETHING is moving SOMEWHERE feels like a little victory!

[TracyTN 237]

I always thought it was calendar days, but I may be very wrong.

My fiance's surprisingly took 10 calendar days!

[Dawny&Tommy 0]

I went into my local Police station here in the Isle of Man last week, with my filled in form, my 10 pounds and ID. The policeman at the counter said "40 days?! It's like a 10 min job" I hope i'm going to get the right information! =/

Dawn.

[no name 1]

For most UKers it has taken 30-40 calendar days. No less.

[Mags 112]

Okay, the 40 days starts from the moment the police force gets your application. This CAN be up to two weeks after you send it off. So, I'd allow at LEAST 6 weeks in total for your application. You'll also get a receipt, that'll tell you the date they started processing it. Start counting down from that.

Whether it is working days or calendar days...I know for a fact it is calendar days. When I phoned up the help line, as my certificate was well overdue, the woman did a count on the telephone to see how long it had been and it included weekends.

Hope that helps!

Edited March 29, 2007 by mags

[Aniomaman 0]

For most UKers it has taken 30-40 calendar days. No less.

Must one go into the police station?, I did not see that on the MET POLICE site. I sent mine with the proofs and check but it's almost 2 weeks and the check has not been cashed. Please how long did it take ur checks to get cashed??

Thanks

[TracyTN 237]

You don't HAVE to go to the police station. The form says you can either take it or mail it in.

We just thought it was easier so you didn't have to mail in your proof of identity. I'm not sure if there's anyone else here who did it by mail, though, to tell you how long it took to cash the check.

[no name 1]

For most UKers it has taken 30-40 calendar days. No less.

Must one go into the police station?, I did not see that on the MET POLICE site. I sent mine with the proofs and check but it's almost 2 weeks and the check has not been cashed. Please how long did it take ur checks to get cashed??

Thanks

From http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/inde...amp;cty=London:

To obtain a Police Certificate in the UK, go to your local police station and request a form called "Subject Access". Send send this with the £10 fee to the Data Protection Officer of the police force for the area you are resident in. This form is then sent by the police to Scotland Yard and the results are supplied to the individual requesting them within a statutory 40 day time limit. If you're waiting for your certificate try 0207-230-3751 to see where it is.

U.K. police certificates are considered valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

[TracyTN 237]

Stoopid site made me double post.

Edited March 29, 2007 by TracyTN

[Mags 112]

You don't HAVE to go to the police station. The form says you can either take it or mail it in.

We just thought it was easier so you didn't have to mail in your proof of identity. I'm not sure if there's anyone else here who did it by mail, though, to tell you how long it took to cash the check.

I did mine via mail but used a postal order to pay. It took nearly three weeks for me to receive my receipt saying they were about to process it and, if I recall correctly, Feather and Flutter also waited about that amount of time. Perhaps one of them used a cheque and will be able to help more.

I really wouldn't worry too much just yet. Give it another week and, if you've not heard anything by then, give them a call and see if they have any records of receiving your request.

[TracyTN 237]

I didn't know you'd done yours by mail, mags! Good to know.

PS I emailed my mom the picture of the 'cookie cat' from your sig. She loved it!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

You don't HAVE to go to the police station. The form says you can either take it or mail it in.

We just thought it was easier so you didn't have to mail in your proof of identity. I'm not sure if there's anyone else here who did it by mail, though, to tell you how long it took to cash the check.

I did mine via mail but used a postal order to pay. It took nearly three weeks for me to receive my receipt saying they were about to process it and, if I recall correctly, Feather and Flutter also waited about that amount of time. Perhaps one of them used a cheque and will be able to help more.

I really wouldn't worry too much just yet. Give it another week and, if you've not heard anything by then, give them a call and see if they have any records of receiving your request.

Finally home from work, and had a look at the letter and receipt. The receipt is dated 15 March (I posted it on the 13th), and the accompanying letter says to start counting from the date on the receipt. So by applying Mags' advice we are due a response by 24 April using calendar days. I paid by cheque through the post, and they still haven't banked it 2 weeks later. However, the process has begun and we are counting the days...

Oh, the letter also says that currently it is taking the full 40 days to process.

Edited March 29, 2007 by elmcitymaven

[Mags 112]

You don't HAVE to go to the police station. The form says you can either take it or mail it in.

We just thought it was easier so you didn't have to mail in your proof of identity. I'm not sure if there's anyone else here who did it by mail, though, to tell you how long it took to cash the check.

I did mine via mail but used a postal order to pay. It took nearly three weeks for me to receive my receipt saying they were about to process it and, if I recall correctly, Feather and Flutter also waited about that amount of time. Perhaps one of them used a cheque and will be able to help more.

I really wouldn't worry too much just yet. Give it another week and, if you've not heard anything by then, give them a call and see if they have any records of receiving your request.

Finally home from work, and had a look at the letter and receipt. The receipt is dated 15 March (I posted it on the 13th), and the accompanying letter says to start counting from the date on the receipt. So by applying Mags' advice we are due a response by 24 April using calendar days. I paid by cheque through the post, and they still haven't banked it 2 weeks later. However, the process has begun and we are counting the days...

Oh, the letter also says that currently it is taking the full 40 days to process.

Well, if you have the receipt and the date...it's their problem if they haven't cashed the cheque yet!

[TracyTN 237]

And fwiw, I think they always say 40 days to CYA. My fiance was told 40 days when he dropped it off, then he got it in 10.

[TimsDaisy 0]

In the US - for legal stuff - if it says something takes x days, that means x calendar unless they specifically say x BUSINESS days or x days (excluding holidays), etc, etc.

My fiance recently took in his form (we're still aways off from needing it, but what the hell), and I don't recall them making a big deal about the time to process - but I didn't ask my fiance about that either. Since who knows if we'll even have an NOA2 in 40 days, we aren't rushed.

Can't help but laugh about the report of the guy saying it's only a 10 minute job! Heck, our I-129fs are only 6-15 minute jobs . . . PLUS the 100 days to get to them, right? I'm sure it's the same thing for the police checks.

At least we get to give a different country trouble for being slow too.