Police certificates from previous countries of residence

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Hi, everybody.

I am experiencing a problem with police certificates(PC) from countries of my past residence. According to the NVC's rules we had to submit PCs from two former Soviet republics. Issuing such a kind of documents from there is always complicated and prolonged process. It took me much time and money, but finally I got the PCs from abroad and submitted them to the NVC. Because of the visa unavailability the reviewing of my case was delayed and now, as the NVC resumed the reviewing they claim that the PCs from our previous countries of residence are expired. I tried to explain to the NVC's operator that those PCs cover the entire period of our lives abroad and only PC from our current country of residence makes sense. But, unfortunately, my arguments and simple logic didn't help. They want me to renew all the PCs.

Please, those who encountered such a kind of problem, share your experience. I would very appreciate the opinion of the experts, Suzanne and Lawrence, on this topic.

Thank you

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Specializes in Academe, Hospital.

Hi greko. I do have a friend same like your case. He worked for three years in Kuwait and now he's back in the Philippines. He was able to obtain a police certificate prior to his final exit in kUWAIT last march 2006. Now his PD is current and NVC wants him to submit a Police clearance from kuwait however his kuwait police clearance is roughly more than a year old now and NVC doesnt honor it.

What he did is he visited the Kuwaiti embassy in the Philippines and requested for a new police clearance. Embassy then asked him to coordinate with the Philippine embassy in Kuwait to process in his behalf a new Police certificate which ended up successfully.

Hope this would be of help. Godbless you:saint:

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And this goes the other way around as well. If you are currently in another country and you need an NBI clearance, you go to the Philippine consulate on that country and request one thru the consulates.

Also, just an FYI to make the info more complete. There are also some countries that even if you worked there for sometime and are already back in your country of birth they do not anymore give police clearances because of a policy that only people currently working there are given police clearances. If I'm not mistaken, Saudi Arabia is one of these countries.

This is one of the uncommon times that a police clearance may not be needed anymore and the US Embassies know w/c countries have this policy and therefore will waive it. Of course, they will still require the local police clearance of your country of birth.

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Specializes in Academe, Hospital.

Hello. What Lawrence said is certainly right. If you have worked in Saudi Arabia and was able to get a police clearance upon exit, then that would be substantive as police authorities here wont issue another PC for you once you are out of the Kingdom. The NVC knows about this policy and therefore such requirement is being waived.

Godbless

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Thank you,ErwinRN and Lawrence, for your response. My case is little different than you described. We, me and my wife, were born in Azerbaijan and Ukraine, respectively, and left our countries of birth more than 15 years ago and never came back. Issuing PC from Azerbaijan for me is almost impossible, doing this by official way because they don't have any diplomatic representative in my country of residence,Israel, and NVC knows it. I payed (500$) to sombody who has an agent in Azerbaijan, that applied for the PC in my behalf. Also the procedure took 2 monthes. This is the only way for me to do it. That why it is realy frustrating to start this process from the begining, wasting time and money.The same situation with Ukraine. This is just absurd.

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Thank you,ErwinRN and Lawrence, for your response. My case is little different than you described. We, me and my wife, were born in Azerbaijan and Ukraine, respectively, and left our countries of birth more than 15 years ago and never came back. Issuing PC from Azerbaijan for me is almost impossible, doing this by official way because they don't have any diplomatic representative in my country of residence,Israel, and NVC knows it. I payed (500$) to sombody who has an agent in Azerbaijan, that applied for the PC in my behalf. Also the procedure took 2 monthes. This is the only way for me to do it. That why it is realy frustrating to start this process from the begining, wasting time and money.The same situation with Ukraine. This is just absurd.

I see. Let's wait for Suzanne for her suggestions.

I made a short look at how to obtain PC from the countries you mentioned.

It seems that it is permitted that a relative or a friend can get a PC on your behalf (power of Atty) or a request by mail or by going to the nearest embassy from your current country.

Police and Prison Records

Available, except for Armenians who previously resided in Azerbaijan (see below). The Information Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, located at 7 Husi Hajiyev Street, Baku, maintains a centralized database of police records.

Individuals residing in Azerbaijan may apply for a police certificate in person upon direct application to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Application along with a copy of the passport can be submitted to the Ministry every day from 9:00am to 18:00pm. The processing time for an application is approximately 15-20 days. There is no fee.

Individuals living outside of Baku can apply for a police certificate through a relative or friend living in Baku (power of attorney) or by mail with a written request stating the type of record required and the purpose for which the information is being sought.

Azeri citizens residing abroad may apply for a police certificate at the Azeri Embassy in the country of their residence by filling out the application form and submitting the copy of the passport, or they may sign a power of attorney for a relative to apply in person on their behalf. However, because of ongoing tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia, police and prison records are generally not available for Armenians who live outside Azerbaijan

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3506.html

Police Records

Records are available. Police and prison records are kept by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Service of Ukraine. Immigrant visa applicants from Ukraine obtain police certificates at their local OVIRs (Office of Visas and Registration). Applicants outside Ukraine have to apply for police certificates through the nearest Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3697.html
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All is true, formally. But, in fact, the attempt to apply for PC in Azerbaijan through a friend was denied by their Ministry of internal affaires. They claimed that a I can do it only by my self through their Ministry of foreign affaires, from there I was addressed to the Israeli embassy in Baku. The embassy didn't want be involved at all. And so on... Their official rules are far from the reality. Finally you discover that the only way is to find somebody with appropriate relations in Baku. That what I did.

Concerning Ukraine. We have their embassy in Israel. Applying for PC costs 200$, approximately, and the processing time is up to 1 year. To tel the truth, it is possible , cheaper and much faster to do it through a relative or a friend.

So you can understand what a process it is, especially with Azerbaijan. But, after all, even if I resubmit PSs they will be similar to the already submitted in terms of period covered.

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However, you are right. Why would one need a new PC if the previous PC already covered the entire period when you were still living there. And both of you have not lived there for 15 years. So, a "renewed" PC from your country of birth will have nothing new to say or to update on. It will be the same record as the previous PC. The only thing that would change is the indicated expiration date.

The only thing that should be renewed is the police clearance where you are currently living in.

Maybe the operator you talked to simply did not understand the situation. I would call again or fax a letter or e-mail NVC to try and make them understand your point and maybe provide a link from their own website as well that says it.

Just my two cents. :twocents: Suzanne will prob. think of a better way. So, lets just wait what she says. Good luck.

What to Send

The applicant must submit police certificates that meet the following guidelines. The police certificate must:

  • Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area
  • Be issued by the appropriate police authority
  • Include all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each case of which there is a record

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html
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Thank you, Lawrence

You are absolutely right. And I see that you exactly understand my point. I am sure that the NCV's operator understood too, because I spoke to them twice. First time I was told that my question is forwarded to the superviser and when called again they said that anyway I have to renew all th PCs just because the rules.

It is very frustrating. By the way there is no expiration on PC it self. The NVC determines it.

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lawrence,

just forgot to mension an important detail:

the ukrainian pc was issued in jun 2006, while pc from azerbaijan just in oct 2007 !!! less than a year ! i really don't understand their logics!

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I think the issue must be with your 2006 clearance because it is over a year old, if I understand well, they want clearance from every country you lived in ( if you were resident there past the age of 16yrs old). The other issue is it has to be within the year because if it is a year older when NVC get to start processing your case then they want that renewed. I know how you feel because my birth country is not the same as my current residency and it is a problem with red tapes and all in developing countries to get certain things done. but most probably there is no way out for you if they say that's their rules and you not excempt. You may have to go in person if possible.

I think the rationale is may may have gone back to that country and commited some crime since the last clearance was given. I guess.

Hope things work out for you.

LT

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Dear Suzanne,

I'd very appreciate your opinion on the topic discussed in this thread.

Thanks

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