So the Embassy in London website says that a police certificate is required for anywhere you lived for more than 1 year. However, when calling the embassy in London they said anywhere you lived for over 6 monthes. Most other postings on VJ indicate 1 year as well. Because we initially took the word of the embassy (London) website, we did not send send off the papers to Australia until yesterday. They say it takes about 40 days + a couple weeks for delivery. We are afraid the police certificate from Australia may not arrive before the interview is scheduled (if we could be that lucky). Does anyone know if it is really 6 monthes or 1 year for the UK? Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi....

I know i had to get certs for my overseas posting to germany and gibraltar ( however they were 3 years each) I personally would follow the advice of the US embassy in UK website - or I would email them - i had to email them twice - once for a similar question on police certs cos i was hoping as a dependant i didnt need them ( I did !) and also my NOA2 ran out before my interview ( they advised getting another letter of intent ) My advice is make sure you place your case number on the title line of your email and keep the question brief - they sent me a automated " We do not rely to emails" message then a day or so after i actually got a email with appropriate advice. In meantime i would take a lookat the appropriate embassies in question to see what they need if you do need to ask for certs ( for germany i had to print off a form fill it in and get it notarised - send 13 euros via the bank - then send proof i had paid it - tme consuming!)for gib i needed to send a letter advising the aprox years i was there - my address - my DOB and a cheque drawn from one of the banks in Gib - used barclays for £5) They all seems to be slightly different it seems. I hope you dont need them but i would just take a look so you are prepared just in case!.

Good Luck!

Hi,

I went through Frankfurt not London but it may clear up the confusion that on the forms I was sent it asks you for Police Certificates for all countries you have lived since age 16 for over 1 year, but for your country of Nationality and your current country of residence, it is six months.

Hope that helps!

If the Police Cert doesn't arrive before you're interview don't panic. If everything else meets their satisfaction, they will approve you pending the Police report. Once you get it, send it to them and they should then issue your visa.

Hi, I have lived in the USA for 11 months, and Honduras for 8 months. I understood from the literature (US Embassy stuff) that police certificates were only required if you lived in another country for 12 months or more.
I didn't have police certificates for either Honduras or the USA and was approved at the interview with no problems. The woman who was interviewing me only asked for the UK police certificate.
I hope this helps?!

Thank you all. Your responses put my mind at ease. I appreciate it!

Side note: no need for a US police cert, of course! They have access to all the records they need themselves.