I'm getting some first hand feedback from an interview that was just concluded. During that interview the consulate pointed out that lack of Police Certificates. The Consular office told them that that 6 months or more, mean cumulative periods since turning 16 years of age.
Take for example, in a span of 5 years, I visit a place once a year for 2 months each. That would total of 10 months.
My understanding of a police certificate requirement is for places you have stayed for over 6 months at a given time. One continuous stay of 6 months or more. Is this the same understanding as others as well?
According to the consular officer, it is cumulative. Since the total stay is 10 months (over the 6 month period) a police certificate is required. That doesn't make any sense, to me. If that was the cause, since I was 16 and this may also apply to others, then that would be a lot of freaking countries in the world in since I turned 16.
Now, I am not directly referring to myself but to fiancee's situation.
Any thoughts? Other than the Consular officer can interpret the regulations as they like.
Full Version: Police Certificates on places stayed over 6 months
VisaJourney.com > Marriage Based Immigration (K1, K2, K3, etc) to the USA > The Foreign Embassy and Consulate General Discussion
QUOTE(Chester y Monica @ Aug 19 2007, 10:36 PM) 
I'm getting some first hand feedback from an interview that was just concluded. During that interview the consulate pointed out that lack of Police Certificates. The Consular office told them that that 6 months or more, mean cumulative periods since turning 16 years of age.
Take for example, in a span of 5 years, I visit a place once a year for 2 months each. That would total of 10 months.
My understanding of a police certificate requirement is for places you have stayed for over 6 months at a given time. One continuous stay of 6 months or more. Is this the same understanding as others as well?
According to the consular officer, it is cumulative. Since the total stay is 10 months (over the 6 month period) a police certificate is required. That doesn't make any sense, to me. If that was the cause, since I was 16 and this may also apply to others, then that would be a lot of freaking countries in the world in since I turned 16.
Now, I am not directly referring to myself but to fiancee's situation.
Any thoughts? Other than the Consular officer can interpret the regulations as they like.
Take for example, in a span of 5 years, I visit a place once a year for 2 months each. That would total of 10 months.
My understanding of a police certificate requirement is for places you have stayed for over 6 months at a given time. One continuous stay of 6 months or more. Is this the same understanding as others as well?
According to the consular officer, it is cumulative. Since the total stay is 10 months (over the 6 month period) a police certificate is required. That doesn't make any sense, to me. If that was the cause, since I was 16 and this may also apply to others, then that would be a lot of freaking countries in the world in since I turned 16.
Now, I am not directly referring to myself but to fiancee's situation.
Any thoughts? Other than the Consular officer can interpret the regulations as they like.
You are right, consulate is wrong. BTW, which consulate?
Chester,
You need to call either the embassy or the Department of State to make sure because I just checked their web site to see what it says about police certificates needed for CR1/IR1 visas at the US embassy in Colombia and it clearly says the following:
IF the applicant…
lived in a different country for more than 12 months
AND…
was 16 years or older at that time
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from…
the police authorities of that locality.
You can check it out here http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3176.html just choose Bogotá, Colombia and then go to View a "list of documents..."
Diana
You need to call either the embassy or the Department of State to make sure because I just checked their web site to see what it says about police certificates needed for CR1/IR1 visas at the US embassy in Colombia and it clearly says the following:
IF the applicant…
lived in a different country for more than 12 months
AND…
was 16 years or older at that time
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from…
the police authorities of that locality.
You can check it out here http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3176.html just choose Bogotá, Colombia and then go to View a "list of documents..."
Diana
It seems that the some consulates do in fact aggregate total time. This is not the first time this has been an issue. There was a report a few months back in Kiev of a similar issue of two seperate 6 mos. trips to Japan, total time in Japan was a liitle more tha one year ..... Consulate wanted a PC.
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