Hi all again!

Has anyone lived in a foreign country where the police certificate was requested by the consulate? How long did it take? Was that nerve wrecking?
I lived in the Netherlands and I was told by the consulate that they will request the Police certificate to the Dutch Police on my behalf.

All inputs are welcome!

Alix

We almost had to go through that, but luckily my fiance had a relative in Pakistan get his for him. If the Consulate had requested it from Pakistan it would have taken 3 months. I am not sure about the Netherlands and if it is any faster for them to get it from there. All I know is, we had to find a different way of getting it from Pakistan or we would have been waiting forever.

My fiancee has to supply three police reports: Germany, Australia, and China. The consulate does not request these. My fiancee had to supply all of them.

She lived in Australia for a year on a working holiday visa, so a police report is required. To get this one, you have to send a money order in Australian Dollars to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Here is the link for the AFP info for anyone that needs it:

http://www.afp.gov.au/business/criminal_history_checks

We have lived together in China for over two years now, so we are in the process of getting a police report from China as well. It involves a bit more beaurocracy than Australia (obviously).

The length of time depends on the country, but the EU countries usually have their ducks in a row. It doesn't usually take long (maybe 2 weeks), and the process for EU countries is relatively painless. It will probably just take a phone call, fax, or online request with a minimal payment. Many of the EU countries will supply documents that contain multiple languages (including english), so there may not be any need to have it translated. Overall time for the consulate to obtain the report will depend highly upon how quickly the consulate makes the request.

Hi,

This is what I got from the consulate:



POLICE RECORD
Available. Police records will not be provided by Dutch police to individuals requesting them, but may be requested by bona fide applicants for immigrant visas through the United States Consulate/Embassy where visa application is made.

Dutch police will not provide arrest and conviction records for outside posts unless requests for such records are routed through the Consulate General in Amsterdam by email:
CONSULARAMSTER@STATE.GOV- for Immigrant Visa Unit. All such requests must include the period of residence and applicant's last complete address of residence in the Netherlands .

United States consular officers should require the police certificate of good conduct issued by the Ministry of Justice of The Netherlands. Certificates of good conduct (Bewijs van Goed Gedrag) issued by the Ministry of Justice, Dienst Justis, Judicial Agency for Scrutiny, Integrity, and Screening/Depart Covog should not be accepted.

Approximately four weeks are required to obtain the certificate from The Netherlands Government, provided there is no derogatory information concerning the applicant. In cases where there is derogatory information it will take up to eight weeks before the record is received at the Consulate General in Amsterdam . The certificate, which is in the Dutch language, covers criminal investigation only. Criminal records are expunged twenty years following termination of the case (i.e., after service of any prison sentence) provided no other offense is committed in the interim.

These certificates may be used only in processing visa applications and may not be given to the applicant or to a private individual. If there is criminal information, it may be shown on the front or reverse of the certificate, or in some cases only on the reverse of one copy of the certificate. The visa applicant may not be informed of the source of any derogatory information contained in the police certificate.

I was wondering if anyone had to wait for this!

Alix

I lived in the Netherlands for 2 years & the consulate requested the report on my behalf. It took approx 4 weeks for the police certificate to arrive at the consulate, but it was around Christmas.

Good luck !

Thanks!!!!!!