Hi all,

I'm sure most people in NSW are aware but the forms were recently changed. Nothing big, its just a different form number to what is listed in packet 3 (at least from when I picked it up in December). I can't recollect off the top of my head what the old ones were, but they are now the P799 form (just make sure you choose the with fingerprints option).

(I believe the P800-Full Disclosure is only for those looking to work as teachers etc).

AussieDude

Yep, P799 is the current form in use for NSW. Cost is now $175.00.

Uncanny, you're going to the Eastwood Police station as well? I live in West Pennant Hills, but work in Marsfield, I'm also going there.

And congratulations on getting married on Friday!

AussieDude

For anyone needing the P799 form it is available here.....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=458

Wow more sydneyites.......and heres me thinking I was just about alone. Im in the East Hills area.

Also, there was a bit of confusion at the police station, they kept asking what its for etc, and where should the fingerprints be sent. I think some police are confused about the background check process. If they ever ask you where the fingerprints should be sent, tell them to Parramatta to the Criminal Records Section. I think the lady I was dealing with didn't understand exactly how the process works so I was trying to explain to her that its to make sure I have no criminal history in Australia.

Stewart had his done in Geelong and they were CLUELESS. They had no idea, asked him tons of questions, and then did it WRONG.

HE had to go back in and have it done again, properly...luckily it was their mistake and they didn't make him pay again...but there should be some sort of communication with the police stations so they have SOME clue as to what's going on.

Everywhere else we went, we'd go, "Oh this is for immigration" and they'd know EXACTLY what to do.

I had a few things when trying to get my police certificate. They wouldnt let me make an appointment at my local police station...told me I would just have to call around 8.30am and if they didnt have anyone in lockup that I could come in Its a police station isn't it (and a busy one at that) That went on for days so I called an out of area station, explained my situation and begged lol cause the nice constable on the other end of the phone said it had to be done at the police station covering the area I lived in. He eventually gave me an appointment (after I sweet talked him ) When I had the fingerprints taken they had no real idea of the procedure....knew it went to Parramatta but that was it. He tried to tell me that I couldnt have the certificate sent to me....that it would have to go the embassy I stood there for ages trying to explain to him that this wasnt the case. I was getting a bit worried lol as my case hadnt arrived at embassy yet (it did a few days later). Anyway, after my trying to get through to him, he eventually grabbed a more senior officer who backed up what I had been trying to say. Thank gawd. Anyway.....alls well that ends well.

The same confusion happened at Eastwood Police Station. The lady there (somewhat reluctantly) accepted what I was trying to tell about checking my background in Australia and that it needs to be sent to Parramatta etc. The thing is, there was a poster on the wall explaining exactly how it works, however, I don't like pushing my luck with figures of authority when I need something from them.

The only thing I'm worried about is, because in the middle of doing P799 she accepted what I was saying, I'm not sure she fully filled out the bottom of it before they put it in the envelope with the fingerprints. Did any of you get contacted by like the police HQ in your state saying you'd need to do anything again?

How long did it take for the certificate to arrive so that I can start calling people to see what is going on with it.

AussieDude

It has advantages being a woman


I never had an issues with mine not being done right. Parramatta had mine out to me in under 2 weeks.

I went to Eastwood Police for mine too! They were terrible! They lady there is nothing short of hating her job and bitter about her leg problem. She also tried to tell me to only get a name and DOB check done, even after I asked for a finger print search specifically, and the fact that I had the P799 before filled outbefore I went to the station.

Then I had one officer charge me $175.00, take my prints, get the form signed by his superior, then hand it back to me!! WTF, the guy was an idiot! Then I asked to speak to someone of higher authority, who then arranged for it to be sent to Criminal Records in Parramatta. However, after all that, they were putting it into the envelope, bottom part incompleted, AND here's the kicker.... they never checked my I.D. not one of the three pieces I was supposed to present.

After 10 days I called Criminal Records directly, and was informed that the form P799 had only just been received 1 day earlier (Eastwood forgot to fax it!) and that they hadn't began to process the search. Anyway, after a nice chat with the CR employee she fast-tracked my case and I received the certificate soon after.

There are three valuable lessons to be learned by all this...
1- Do NOT go to Eastwood Police Area Command!
2- Contact Criminal Records Dept directly, they will be more help than anyone else to you. Phone: (02) 8832-7888 (info also attached below in signature)
3- Do NOT go to Eastwood Police Area Command!


Good Luck All.

What was that you say BigAussie.....Do NOT go to Eastwood Police Area Command?????

Hmm, it seems you dealt with the same lady at the desk, who then asked another lady to do the fingerprints. She was nicer, no problem there, I just don't think they've been informed what happens. According to the poster I saw on the wall, they're supposed to fax the P799 and then mail it with the fingerprints. I'm guessing you fax it ahead to get the work started at CrimTrac in Parramatta.

Anyway, if I don't hear anything by the end of next week, I'll give a ring to Criminal Records in Parramatta and see what's going on.

BigAussieZee, did you have to give them anything besides your name when you talked to Criminal Records on the phone about the status?

I agree that at Eastwood they're not fully versed in the process of the background check, but we're supposed to go to our local police station (unless you can sweet talk like AussieWench ).

Fingers crossed!
AussieDude

AussieDude

AussieDude, When contacting Criminal Records all you need to do is provide your name and they will check it out for you. Hope you find them helpful.

Hi everyone,

Good news. It looks like at Parramatta, at the Criminal Records Section they're a bit more cluey about what's going on. They called me up about some details missing from my form (This was the bit which was supposed to be filled out by someone at my local police station before being sent to the Criminal Records Section). Basically it was just receipt number and so forth.

I only put it in 4 days ago, and they're already processing it, so I'm happy about that.

In the future, those of you doing this in NSW, make sure they understand that it needs to be sent to Parramatta to the Criminal Records Section, and make sure they fill out the bottom thoroughly!

(And like BigAussieZee said, if you are able to do it somewhere other than Eastwood, go for it!)

AussieDude

Hi:
I'm in need of some guidance. My fiancee is also getting the run around at her local police station for the police certification and finger print check for her K-1 visa application. They (the police) want her to provdie all the original documents the US consulate is asking her to provide for the interview. This seems highly unusual. Is there a "preferred" police station to go to to request the police check since it seems they have little experience handling it at the one she went to outside Sydney.
GuyFL

She might have some luck taking in the inforamtion on obtaining a Crim Rec Search that was sent to her in packet 3 (or similar) that she should have recieved from the US Consulate.