Police Reports

[MrsBoateng29 2]

My fiance lived in Dubai for 2 years, but has been back in Ghana for a year now... Will he still need the police report from both Ghana & Dubai?

[Georgia16 2,858]

Yes he will need them both.

[teeak 224]

Yes, but since the UAE requires that a person be physically present in the country to issue the police certificate, most consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain the UAE police record if a person isn't living there.

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/AE.html

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

Yes. Anywhere a person over the age of 16 has lived at for more than 6 months, a police report is needed.

[jstryker 41]

Ok - various people offer various stats and thoughts - but this is taken DIRECTLY FROM USCIS:

From which countries does an applicant need a police certificate?

IF the applicant…

1) ...is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months AND is 16 years old or older THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

2) ...lived in a different part of their country of nationality for more than 6 months AND was 16 years or older at that time THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

3) ...lived in a different country for more than 12 months AND was 16 years or older at that time THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

4) ...was arrested for any reason, regardless of how long they lived there AND was any age at that time THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

SO IN THIS INSTANCE - you (or your fiance) is a resident of the GHANA - but has lived in UAE (Dubai) for 24 months - I believe condition number 3 (third line) applies to you:

..lived in a different country for more than 12 months AND was 16 years or older at that time THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

HOWEVER - UAE is one of those regions that you cannot get the police report from unless you are LIVING THERE - therefore you are waived this requirement ONLY FROM UAE based countries. If he lived any other country for longer than 12 months - then line 3 does apply again for that location.

ALSO - Line 1 applies to him due to living in Ghana because he is:

is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months AND is 16 years old or older THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

So NO police clearance from UAE - but you will need one for GHANA.

Edited November 3, 2016 by jstryker

[MrsBoateng29 2]

Thank you SO much! It was super informative & helpful!

Yes, but since the UAE requires that a person be physically present in the country to issue the police certificate, most consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain the UAE police record if a person isn't living there.

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/AE.html

[MrsBoateng29 2]

So NO police clearance from UAE - but you will need one for GHANA

Thanks! I really appreciate the detailed knowledge! Very helpful!

Ok - various people offer various stats and thoughts - but this is taken DIRECTLY FROM USCIS:

From which countries does an applicant need a police certificate?

IF the applicant…

1) ...is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months AND is 16 years old or older THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

2) ...lived in a different part of their country of nationality for more than 6 months AND was 16 years or older at that time THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

3) ...lived in a different country for more than 12 months AND was 16 years or older at that time THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

4) ...was arrested for any reason, regardless of how long they lived there AND was any age at that time THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

SO IN THIS INSTANCE - you (or your fiance) is a resident of the GHANA - but has lived in UAE (Dubai) for 24 months - I believe condition number 3 (third line) applies to you:

..lived in a different country for more than 12 months AND was 16 years or older at that time THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

HOWEVER - UAE is one of those regions that you cannot get the police report from unless you are LIVING THERE - therefore you are waived this requirement ONLY FROM UAE based countries. If he lived any other country for longer than 12 months - then line 3 does apply again for that location.

ALSO - Line 1 applies to him due to living in Ghana because he is:

is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months AND is 16 years old or older THEN obtain the clearance from the police authorities of that locality.

So NO police clearance from UAE - but you will need one for GHANA.

[Kay&Epi 53]

here's info straight from the reciprocity page on the dept of state website. Looks like the "Post recommends that consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain police certificates unless the applicant lives in the UAE."

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/AE.html

Police, Court, Prison Records

Police Records

Available, only if applicant is physically present in the UAE.

Police certificates may be obtained by any person, regardless of nationality, by personally appearing at the Central Police Headquarters located in the emirate of residence or former residence. When appearing to request a police certificate, the applicant should provide recent photographs, a letter from the requesting authority, the date of residence in the emirate, and their passport.

Not available by mail. Post recommends that consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain police certificates unless the applicant lives in the UAE.

Prison Records

Unavailable.

[MrsBoateng29 2]

Awesome! Thanks a bunch!

here's info straight from the reciprocity page on the dept of state website. Looks like the "Post recommends that consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain police certificates unless the applicant lives in the UAE."

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/AE.html

Police, Court, Prison Records

Police Records

Available, only if applicant is physically present in the UAE.

Police certificates may be obtained by any person, regardless of nationality, by personally appearing at the Central Police Headquarters located in the emirate of residence or former residence. When appearing to request a police certificate, the applicant should provide recent photographs, a letter from the requesting authority, the date of residence in the emirate, and their passport.

Not available by mail. Post recommends that consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain police certificates unless the applicant lives in the UAE.

Prison Records

Unavailable.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

So NO police clearance from UAE - but you will need one for GHANA

Thanks! I really appreciate the detailed knowledge! Very helpful!

No, you NEED to get one from Dubai, your husband lived there for more than 12 months.

[jstryker 41]

No, you NEED to get one from Dubai, your husband lived there for more than 12 months.

I would think so too.... HOWEVER...

Police Records

Available, only if applicant is physically present in the UAE.

Police certificates may be obtained by any person, regardless of nationality, by personally appearing at the Central Police Headquarters located in the emirate of residence or former residence. When appearing to request a police certificate, the applicant should provide recent photographs, a letter from the requesting authority, the date of residence in the emirate, and their passport.

Not available by mail. Post recommends that consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain police certificates unless the applicant lives in the UAE.

The OP does not claim that his/her fiance currently lives in UAE - therefore the requirement is waived.

Origin of the information is here:

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/AE.html

Click on the left column: Police/Criminal records or something like that.

Edited November 3, 2016 by jstryker

[MrsBoateng29 2]

Even if there are sites saying you cannot get one unless you are living there?

Did your fiance previously live in Dubai?

No, you NEED to get one from Dubai, your husband lived there for more than 12 months.

[jstryker 41]

Even if there are sites saying you cannot get one unless you are living there?

Did your fiance previously live in Dubai?

I believe the one who posted that is just helping you to be extra cautious. If you are waiting for an approval - it cant help to have all the reports that can help you along your way if you need them or not.

In this case - you cannot obtain one since your fiance is not living in UAE - therefore its impossible for him to get one unless he flies back to live there. Therefore the requirement - according to the State dept - is waived.

My fiance is in the same boat - she is a Philippine national and worked in Dubai and Macau - both for longer than 12 months. Since she lived in "another country for longer than 12 months"... she is required for those Police Clearances. HOWEVER because one of the countries is Dubai which is part of UAE - the requirement for that country is WAIVED. For Macau - we had to obtain one. There is no waiver for Macau.

Therefore - you only need the police clearance from GHANA (his home country) where he lived for 6 months or longer as well as any other country that you may not have mentioned where he lived for 12 months or longer. (OUTSIDE THE UAE) LOL

Edited November 3, 2016 by jstryker

[jstryker 41]

Even if there are sites saying you cannot get one unless you are living there?

Did your fiance previously live in Dubai?

One more thing... when you DO get your police report FOR GHANA - make sure its translated into English. I dont know what the police clearances look like from Ghana. I have close family friends who are from Ghana and I have been meaning to ask them that.

We obtained a clearance for my fiance from Macau - and they are aware of the language requirements - it came in 3 pages - one in English, one in Cantonese, one in Portuguese so there was no need to translate it as the target language for U.S. immigration is English.

Me being the SMARTa55 that I am - I front loaded copies of it into the I129F peition ALL THREE PAGES. Its not necessary to have it until later in the visa chasing process... but front-loading your petition is what some people recommend doing. If they (USCIS) dont want it they will simply discard it. Others have gone thru the process and were not asked for it later Im assuming because they front loaded it.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Even if there are sites saying you cannot get one unless you are living there?

Did your fiance previously live in Dubai?

Gotcha!..So if your fiance is no longer there then you only need for just Ghana. But please check the forum for UAE nationals to see what they also say.