More police check confusion--the NVC says...

[Vilya 5]

Hello, everyone. I am hoping someone who has been through the IR-1/CR-1 process in Australia can give me better information than I seem to be getting from the NVC.

My husband, the Australian citizen, lives in the ACT. He went to the place designated on the consular website, which I believe was the AFP, to get his police check. They sent his name and fingerprint result. I sent this certificate in with his IV packet.

He has lived in NSW and QLD in the past.

The NVC is telling me that he must now get a fingerprint check from both NSW and QLD, and that these results will be sent directly to the consulate, not to the NVC. I was certain that the AFP check he already did was sufficient, but I've received information from the NVC about this issue. I called and asked the operator, who did some checking, and she affirms that he has to do this. I'm very confused by this requirement. I understood that, for people born after 1944 or somesuch year, the AFP check was all that was needed.

So, does he need to do this?

If so, I assume he has to travel to NSW and QLD to do the fingerprints and get the form?

Honestly, this process seemed so straightforward at first. Somewhere along the way it got very complicated.

[KLS2010 30]

I did my police check through NSW in April 2011.

I was under the impression that this police check covers the whole of Australia (hence the term NATIONAL Criminal History Check!), although this contradicts what the US Embassy's website says (where it tells you that you have to get a check from the local authorities of all places lived for more than 6mths since the age of 16).

I also know for a fact that the police checks done in NSW DO NOT have to be sent directly to the Consulate (again, despite what the US Embassy Canberra website says). I had mine sent to me so that I could forward it with my IV package to the NVC (as is required for CR1/IR1 cases, as you already know).

I would call the NVC again and ask to speak to a supervisor. It has been my experience that the Tier 1 operators that answer the phone are usually just reading off a script and have no real understanding of the process and have little ability to help you with specifics for your case.

Hopefully someone that has been through this in the ACT recently can help you more.

Good luck

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The AFP check says "National Police check" on the top doesn't it? Either way it's for ALL of Australia. Unlike America we have a central crime database for the whole nation. I agree with the person above where you need to talk to a supervisor or someone higher. It simply isn't true that you need another from NSW or QLD because it would be the same thing!

[Deb+Steve 13]

I received an RFE from NVC for this when I did mine. Missing PCC for Qld/NSW. It wasn't but I spoke to a supervisor, they completed my case and told me to take it to the interview with me. I know I had the right check done (NIB) but I had a copy of it. They had it in my file at the interview and never asked for it.

If you know that you completed the correct check, call and speak to a supervisor and make sure they're going to complete your case and send your file to Sydney anyway. Best of luck ...

[Vilya 5]

Thank you all very much for your replies. Deb+Steve, it's good to know that someone else has dealt with this successfully. I agree with all of you that the national check is, indeed, national.

Tomorrow I will call the NVC, ask for a supervisor, and see if I can get a straight answer. My husband plans to call the consulate, too. Sounds like maybe the NVC has some wires crossed about the actual method for doing police checks in Australia.

Edited July 16, 2012 by Vilya

[KLS2010 30]

Thank you all very much for your replies. Deb+Steve, it's good to know that someone else has dealt with this successfully. I agree with all of you that the national check is, indeed, national.

Tomorrow I will call the NVC, ask for a supervisor, and see if I can get a straight answer. My husband plans to call the consulate, too. Sounds like maybe the NVC has some wires crossed about the actual method for doing police checks in Australia.

Wouldn't be the first time the NVC couldn't get things straight. They couldn't even figure out if my marriage certificate was authentic or not - and I was married in the US!! That little problem on their end delayed us almost at month at the NVC.

Hope you get things straightened out! And keep calling them until you get someone who knows what they are talking about!! Once we finally got a hold of a supervisor that actually knew what they were talking about and did what they said they would do - we had our CC within 2days!

[hktw 7]

Wouldn't be the first time the NVC couldn't get things straight. They couldn't even figure out if my marriage certificate was authentic or not - and I was married in the US!! That little problem on their end delayed us almost at month at the NVC.

Hope you get things straightened out! And keep calling them until you get someone who knows what they are talking about!! Once we finally got a hold of a supervisor that actually knew what they were talking about and did what they said they would do - we had our CC within 2days!

Which means my turn is coming?

We just sent our packets out and we were married in USA as well.

Anyway,now I know how to deal with NVC.

[KLS2010 30]

Which means my turn is coming?

We just sent our packets out and we were married in USA as well.

Anyway,now I know how to deal with NVC.

More than likely you will be ok. They had issues with my marriage document from Texas, saying 'marriage license' not 'marriage certificate'. They couldn't seem to understand that the county in which I was married doesn't issue a piece of paper that says certificate (although they do now, guess they had others facing a similar problem). Even the CO at my interview questioned it too until he spoke to another CO who confirmed that Texas doesn't issue 'certificates'.

So don't worry... you shouldn't have any problems. But if you do...keep calling them until you get someone who can take action and make a decision.

[hktw 7]

More than likely you will be ok. They had issues with my marriage document from Texas, saying 'marriage license' not 'marriage certificate'. They couldn't seem to understand that the county in which I was married doesn't issue a piece of paper that says certificate (although they do now, guess they had others facing a similar problem). Even the CO at my interview questioned it too until he spoke to another CO who confirmed that Texas doesn't issue 'certificates'.

So don't worry... you shouldn't have any problems. But if you do...keep calling them until you get someone who can take action and make a decision.

Thank you

[Vilya 5]

Just a quick follow-up:

My husband emailed the consulate about this matter. He received this reply:

Thank you for your recent inquiry.

You are only required to apply for one Australian police certificate based on a fingerprint check.

All Australian police certificates must be based on a fingerprint check. Depending on which Australian state or territory in which you reside will depend on how to apply for the Australian police certificate. Please refer to http://canberra.usembassy.gov/obtain_police_cert.html for further information.

Kind regards

Sydney IV

U.S. Consulate General, Sydney

I did call and try to get in touch with a supervisor at the NVC, but it turned into a game of phone tag. After getting the above response, I decided it wasn't worth it to speak to anyone at the NVC.

[hktw 7]

Just a quick follow-up:

My husband emailed the consulate about this matter. He received this reply:

Thank you for your recent inquiry.

You are only required to apply for one Australian police certificate based on a fingerprint check.

All Australian police certificates must be based on a fingerprint check. Depending on which Australian state or territory in which you reside will depend on how to apply for the Australian police certificate. Please refer to http://canberra.usembassy.gov/obtain_police_cert.html for further information.

Kind regards

Sydney IV

U.S. Consulate General, Sydney

I did call and try to get in touch with a supervisor at the NVC, but it turned into a game of phone tag. After getting the above response, I decided it wasn't worth it to speak to anyone at the NVC.

Now,it's my turn.

Yesterday,our case was completed.

Today, received a checklist for Australia police check -NSW/QLD.

I never been to QLD

So, only we need to do just call NVC and talk to a supervisor?

[Vilya 5]

Now,it's my turn.

Yesterday,our case was completed.

Today, received a checklist for Australia police check -NSW/QLD.

I never been to QLD

So, only we need to do just call NVC and talk to a supervisor?

I'm sorry to hear this--after your CC, too! It never ceases to amaze me how something so straightforward can be so mucked up by a bureaucracy.

Did your checklist demand you send new checks to the NVC? Or was it just an 'informational' email telling you to get more checks that would be sent directly to the consulate? We got the latter. We decdided that the consulate's response was enough, so we did not bother with the NVC over this, especially in light of Deb+Steve's experience as posted earlier in this thread.

If the NVC is demanding you send them more police checks, I would definitely get on the phone with a supervisor. You might also email the consulate to get their official stance on this, and forward it to the NVC if need be. Good luck!

[hktw 7]

Thank you for your reply.

We already wrote an email about this matter to the consulate,Sydney.

I show you our checklist.

Yes,we will talk to a supervisor about this.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR: beneficiary name

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

______AUSTRALIA POLICE CERT NSW/QUEENSLAND:________________________

If you reside in New South Wales

Make an appointment, and then appear in person to be fingerprinted at your local police station. You

must pay the fee of AUD175 (subject to change, please check the current fee with the police) and

complete an application form, which the police will forward to:

NSW Police Department, Criminal Records Section, Level B3 NSW Police Headquarters, 1 Charles St,

Parramatta, NSW 2150. Tel: (02) 8835-7888.

Please find further details on the New South Wales Police website.

If you reside in Queensland

Check with your local police station if you need an appointment, then go in person to be fingerprinted.

You must pay the prescribed fee of AUD146.70 (subject to change, please check the current fee with the

police) and complete an indemnification form required by the Queensland Police Department. You must

then forward the fingerprints, completed indemnification form, and payment to:

Inspector of Police, Information Bureau, Miscellaneous License Section, GPO Box 1440

Brisbane, QLD 4001. Telephone: (07) 3364-6854.

Please find further details on the Queensland Police website.

Return of police certificates for NSW and Queensland residents

For NSW and Queensland residents, your police record will be sent directly to the U.S. Consulate in

Sydney by the police department, and the Criminal Records Section will notify you that this has been

done. If you do not receive this notification within 3 weeks of your application, we strongly recommend

that you ascertain the status of your records by checking at the police station where you initially made

your request.

[A3H 07/27/2012] case number

[Vilya 5]

Thank you for your reply.

We already wrote an email about this matter to the consulate,Sydney.

I show you our checklist.

Yes,we will talk to a supervisor about this.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR: beneficiary name

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

______AUSTRALIA POLICE CERT NSW/QUEENSLAND:________________________

If you reside in New South Wales

Make an appointment, and then appear in person to be fingerprinted at your local police station. You

must pay the fee of AUD175 (subject to change, please check the current fee with the police) and

complete an application form, which the police will forward to:

NSW Police Department, Criminal Records Section, Level B3 NSW Police Headquarters, 1 Charles St,

Parramatta, NSW 2150. Tel: (02) 8835-7888.

Please find further details on the New South Wales Police website.

If you reside in Queensland

Check with your local police station if you need an appointment, then go in person to be fingerprinted.

You must pay the prescribed fee of AUD146.70 (subject to change, please check the current fee with the

police) and complete an indemnification form required by the Queensland Police Department. You must

then forward the fingerprints, completed indemnification form, and payment to:

Inspector of Police, Information Bureau, Miscellaneous License Section, GPO Box 1440

Brisbane, QLD 4001. Telephone: (07) 3364-6854.

Please find further details on the Queensland Police website.

Return of police certificates for NSW and Queensland residents

For NSW and Queensland residents, your police record will be sent directly to the U.S. Consulate in

Sydney by the police department, and the Criminal Records Section will notify you that this has been

done. If you do not receive this notification within 3 weeks of your application, we strongly recommend

that you ascertain the status of your records by checking at the police station where you initially made

your request.

[A3H 07/27/2012] case number

Yes, that looks like the same language we got, but ours was tagged onto the end of an RFE for something totally different (typo on the DS-230). When I read this closely, it says that these new PCCs will be sent directly to the consulate, so to me, this means that the NVC is not asking for these PCCs. They seem to be telling you to get them sent to the consulate (as per the text I bolded in red above).

Therefore, I would guess that the consulate should be the final authority on this issue. Since the consulate says they only need one check, seems to me you (and we) are all fine. The text above says 'If you reside in NSW' and 'If you reside in QLD,', and neither you nor my husband do, so this doesn't apply in our cases anyway.

By all means, talk to a supervisor at the NVC, and email the consulate. Hopefully that will ease your mind on the matter. If the NVC is refusing to send your case on, then I would say RELEASE THE HOUNDS! and tell the NVC that Hell's coming with you!

I would almost say that someone at the NVC thinks they are helping us out by giving us this 'useful' information. They don't seem to know that these additional PCCs are not required by the consulate. It's unfortunate, because I can see this causing some people to spend a lot of wasted time and money on useless PCCs.

Good luck! I hope to see both our cases heading to Sydney soon.

[hktw 7]

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, I believe we must be fine.

My husband called NVC

answers:

1.our case was really completed

2.is waiting for an interview date

3.once the interview date is assigned will forward our case to Sydney

4.no supervisors available when my husband called the NVC

5.The NVC notify us this matter, so if cause any delay or problem,

It's our responsibility. (huh...then why the NVC cause our confusion )

Now, waiting for a reply from Sydney consulate.

Best of luck for all of us!