We just received our approval (yay!) but now I need a little help with the follow-up in preparation for packet 3. I am currently in the US visiting my fiancé and realize that my packet 3 might arrive back home in Kamloops before I do! I was hoping to have as many things ready as possible by the time the packet arrived so I'd only need to book the medical before returning the checklist. I still need to get the RCMP criminal check and I don't want to cut my visit here short just to go collect it. In fact, if I could stay with my fiancé until my medical appt. and visa interview that would be ideal! According to the website I can mail my fingerprints and info to the RCMP outpost in OTTAWA. The website also reads:

How long did it take to receive your record checks?! 150 day sounds absurd, my approval will expire by then! I really don't know anything about the record-check process, could you please share your experiences with me?

Thank you for any help and advice!
-Eli-

Also: I didn't originally realize that the criminal check required fingerprints until I checked the RCMP website (http://www.rcmp.ca/crimrec/finger_e.htm), perhaps I am looking at the wrong kind of record check and what I want is a name-based search?

Must be monday, another criminal check question, lol

I ordered a criminal background check from the Winnipeg police by mail. It didnt require fingerprints. Its states it was a canada wide check . Not sure if they wil mail it out of canada, but you could phone and ask. http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/BPR/info_req...m_record_search On the application I stated it was for USA immigration!!

I ended up not using the 1 from Winnipeg and went with 1 from the RCMP that I went in person to get, but I'm sure the Winnipeg city police would have sufficed.

If your in Canada, and never had a criminal record you DO NOT require fingerprinting, which is good becuase it can take awhile for the fingerprinting process.

Guess since your out of Canada it requires the fingerprinting( I could be wrong though), thus I would attempt to come back to Canada or contact the winnipeg police, or your local police force and see what they have to offer. Hopefully some one else will have better advice

you don't need the fingerprints unless you have a criminal record.

If you have no record, just the name and birthdate search will suffice. I have no idea whether you can do that by mail or not. I got mine done at the Commissionaire's in person, and he had to take a digital photo of me to put on the report. They can't do that by mail. they also want your "original" ID, like birth certificate and passport to confirm your identiy, if you still need to travel home, you probably don't want to mail that.

Just go home a week before your medical appointment and get the police check. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a week to get back from them. Honestly, an extra week away from your fiance isn't going to kill you. A lot of us have suffered far worse separations and survived

Call or email a local RCMP in Kamloops, they can probably tell you if you can do it by mail or you need to be there in person.

I can remember seeing the RCMP site in 1998 for getting the certificate. For those not in Canada, they make the process so convoluted and confoozled.

As I had to make two trips to Canada (I lived in the Atlanta area then on a TN-1, and was waiting for Consular Processing appointment at Montreal for which I would need it), I simply did a walk-in on one of these.

So, I would suggest you just get the certificate by walk-in after you return home.

I'm not sure if you can do it by mail .. I got mine in Kamloops though and it only took a few min. It costs $35 and you need to bring picture ID and another piece. If the information officer is not there to sign it you will have to pick it up later or else the next day. You can also get it the same day in Vancouver for a little over $40 .. That info will be in your packet 3 .

Have they started charging for all record checks?

For printless ones, it used to be cost of $0.

I tried to get it done ahead of time, and the lady at the office told me I couldn't just walk off the street and request one, I had to have a letter from the agency that wanted it. She told me to wiat until I got my packet 3 and go in to get it done. Sounded like crap to me.

Some offices want some type of paperwork. For the deatchment in Greenwood NS I just printed it off the USCIS web page and they were happy. When in doubt, cal up the detachment to get the info.

I got mine 2 months before i got my package 3 .. I just said i needed it for Visa purposes

Thanks again guys! Helpful info as always. If I can get it same day in Vancouver then I will do that when I return for my medical. Of course I can survive a couple weeks without my fiance (we've lived apart for more than 2 years now!) it's only that I would have to spend the couple weeks in Vancouver in a hotel or hostel - and I don't know Vancouver very well; that city makes me kind of nervous. Whatever it takes though!! Cheers guys.

-Eli-

I can't see them allowing a CPIC check requested by mail. I am an authorized CPIC/NCIC user at work and under no circumstances do we do a background check requested by someone over the phone or otherwise. That person must be present in front of you with proper photo id so you can confirm their identity. There are huge privacy and security issues that would be in question by allowing it done in any other way than by in person.

And sorry, NO - I can not do a background check for anyone - go to your RCMP or police detachment.

I got my Winnipeg city police one via the mail. Mailed in 2 copies of ID and they mailed me the criminal background check. States on the cert that it was completed by checking the Winnipeg Police System and the Canadian National System. My proof of ID I photocopied were my SASK birth cert and NS drivers licence. They mailed it to me in NS. I ended up using the one by the RCMp so I can't say for 100% it would work, but by other VJ posters that have used city police it should be more than acceptable. No idea if they would mail it to the USA though. If it were I, I would call if I wanted to chance and stay inthe USA. But if one already knows they can get a RCMP check completed in the same day, guess your set!!