Online Police Certificate Application

[ChasUno 101]

It's been a few weeks since me and my partner received our NOA1. Trying to be prepared, is it a good idea to apply for the Police Certificate now? If so, I've looked at the link - https://www.acro.police.uk/Police_Certificates_Online.aspx- and it is now possible to apply for a certificate online. It looks fairly self explanatory, though I have a few questions:

1. Photo: Does this need to be a genuine passport photo, or can I take one with a digital camera? Or should I photograph/ scan an existing passport photo (I have 3 x US sized photos left over from when we filed for the I-129F.)
2. Proof of current address (dated within 6 months) - At present I have my credit card statement registered at my current address. I also have my online Talk Talk phone bill registered at my address. However, the credit card (Barclaycard) online statements (downloadable as a .PDF file) don't show my name or address (only the last four digits of my account number) e.g.
   
   
   Your Statement Transactions
   Statement Dated 19 Jan 15
   Platinum Visa **** **** **** 0003
   Current balance £191.08
   Payment due date 13 Feb 15
   
   I still get paper statements showing all my details, but I don't have a scanner. However, a good quality digital photograph of a paper statement will show all the necessary details. Would this be OK just to take a photograph of one of my statements?
3. Passport - as per my credit card statement, could I just digitally photograph this? Also, do they only want the 2 x personal details/ photograph section, or do they want EVERY page?

Thanks for any help and advice!

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

There is a whole page discussing the size and quality of the required photograph. https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports

They tell you if you have questions to contact them.

Call: 0845 60 13 999 or 01962 871 111

International Callers: 0044 1962 871 111

Email: customer.services@acro.pnn.police.uk

Much better asking the source rather than a forum.

[Soup Dragon 104]

I sent just a Vodafone mobile phone bill and letter from my tax office for my proof of address (I'm sure they were copies, the phone bill was definitely a download from my online account) and just the photo page of my passport together with the UK sized passport photo (signed by one of the listed acceptable signatories). I'm not sure whether the photo size is important, the certificate does have your photo on.

I have just re-read your post and see that you are applying on-line. Maybe it might be easier to apply by mail if you're not sure? It's really easy and my certificate came back within about two or three weeks so didn't hold me up at all. I'm sure you have plenty of time if you've just got your NOA 1.

Hope this helps.

Good luck

[ChasUno 101]

Thanks Nich-Nick. However, that link only seems to discuss physical passport photos. It doesn't say anything about submitting a digital photo online, nor how to obtain a digital version. The ACRO site only states that the photo mustn't be more than 2mb in size. There's also a link to 'changing file type', but it just seems to go to blank page - https://www.acro.police.uk/Passport_Photograph_Guidance.aspx- I'm not impressed that the guidelines on the ACRO site seem to be somewhat unclear/ non functional!

I've now decided to invest in a scanner as I will be wanting to scan some other documents soon. I'll go and get four more UK sized passport photos for my medical, and then scan one of those. I can also use the scanner to scan in my passport pages and credit card bill also.

With regards to the passport, I suspect that they only want the two pages of the passport holder's details:

"Copies of your passport(s) / travel document must clearly show your photograph, personal information, expiry date, nationality, machine readable zone, extension pages and signature (if applicable)."

You are right about contacting them for clarification. However, I'll get the photo and documents scanned in and then try submitting them and see what happens. I'm sure if there are any issues they'll get straight back to me.

Thanks also D&B18 for the input. Yes, I was looking at doing the application online, and it's new ground as that option has only just come in this year. Maybe that's why the information on the ACRO website is unclear and there's a broken link. As you said, I should have plenty of time seeing as we only recently got our NOA1, so I'll go forward and act as a guinea pig so I can possibly offer some advice on the process to anyone else wishing to apply for the Police Certificate online!

Edited March 27, 2015 by ChasUno

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

I think the point about photos whether digital or printed is that it must meet UK passport size standards. Thus you can"t simply take a selfie on your phone and send that digitally. They use it on your certificate.

A scanner, printer, copier was an invaluable tool for each of us during immigration. There are so many things you simply want to copy for your records before you send them off. Find a cheap one because you will end up leaving it in the UK. Not worth bringing to the US.

While we are on police certificate. If you have ever had any run in with the police (except a traffic ticket) then you will also need to order a subject access report if your police certificate comes back "no live trace". it means there is a hidden or expired record on your account. That would include any caution you ever got, even if you were 12 years old.

Edited March 27, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[ChasUno 101]

While we are on police certificate. If you have ever had any run in with the police (except a traffic ticket) then you will also need to order a subject access report if your police certificate comes back "no live trace". it means there is a hidden or expired record on your account. That would include any caution you ever got, even if you were 12 years old.

Hmm... Well, time to confess that 30 years ago (back in 1985 when I was 16 years old) I got a caution for the aiding and abetting of "Taking a motor vehicle without the owners consent". To cut a long story short, I was with my friend (who was also 16) who decided that it would be a good idea to take his mother's car for a spin whilst she was at work. I was a passenger in this vehicle, and as you can probably guess with my friend who was not a qualified driver, he ended up crashing it into a neighbours front garden. No-one was hurt, though the car was a wreck.

We called the Police and confessed straight away. They came and took details and did all the usual paperwork. Then I had to attend the Police Station with one of my parents where I was reprimanded and told not to do it again. That was it. I think that was a caution, though I seem to recall being told that as it was a juvenile record, it would be wiped clean once I reached 18 and legally became an adult in the eyes of the law. I don't know how true that is.

Should I wait for the Police Report before ordering a subject access report?

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Should I wait for the Police Report before ordering a subject access report?

Wait for the police certificate. You need it anyway.

No Trace- you're good and nobody knows about your incident. Don't even bring it up.

No Live Trace- order a Subject Access Report. There is a record.

[yuna628 9,527]

Another odd thing I noticed about the new police certificate form is that it no longer asks you to have the endorser sign the photograph. I think I'm stupidly nervous about my fiancé getting back his police certificate. When he was 12, he was told off by an officer for dropping a single potato crisp on the ground. He was never given any paper or anything, so he doesn't think it was a caution - but I suppose he'll have to disclose it. Still is annoying though... a potato crisp of all things for gawdddd sakes.

Can see the embassy having a good laugh about that, if it shows up and we need a SAR.

Edited March 27, 2015 by yuna628

[Devonian 20]

Online application, no photo endorsements???

When did they update the form? I sent mine off on the 13th March and received my certificate three days ago. Whilst I could download the form there was no option for filing it electronically, I had to post it.

There was a separate sheet for my photo endorser to sign, has this now been done away with?

(As an aside, I too had some US sized passport photos and wondered if they'd accept them rather than the British dimensions - they did )

I photocopied everything (and also keep a copy of EVERYTHING that is sent anywhere during this process, as previously mentioned a scanner/copier is an invaluable piece of kit at this time.)

Finding two items with address on is a complete pain nowadays as most of us receive our bills/insurances/etc, electronically.

Also for those a little concerned... a 'talking to' does not show up on the certificate, I too was unsure if any run-ins would present themselves but, just to clarify, a caution happens down at the station. The police may caution you in public but a 'police caution' is issued at the station only.

HTH. Good luck all

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Online application, no photo endorsements???

When did they update the form? I sent mine off on the 13th March and received my certificate three days ago. Whilst I could download the form there was no option for filing it electronically, I had to post it.

See this page https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

Two big buttons-- Apply Online....Apply by Post.

[Devonian 20]

See this page https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

Two big buttons-- Apply Online....Apply by Post.

Really new then!!! That has happened in the last fortnight

[yuna628 9,527]

Online application, no photo endorsements???

When did they update the form? I sent mine off on the 13th March and received my certificate three days ago. Whilst I could download the form there was no option for filing it electronically, I had to post it.

There was a separate sheet for my photo endorser to sign, has this now been done away with?

(As an aside, I too had some US sized passport photos and wondered if they'd accept them rather than the British dimensions - they did )

I photocopied everything (and also keep a copy of EVERYTHING that is sent anywhere during this process, as previously mentioned a scanner/copier is an invaluable piece of kit at this time.)

Finding two items with address on is a complete pain nowadays as most of us receive our bills/insurances/etc, electronically.

Also for those a little concerned... a 'talking to' does not show up on the certificate, I too was unsure if any run-ins would present themselves but, just to clarify, a caution happens down at the station. The police may caution you in public but a 'police caution' is issued at the station only.

HTH. Good luck all

I actually have the old PDF copy of the form and the new copy which was issued in March of this year - very different instructions now. There is a page for the endorser to fill out (name, address, email, phone) but no instructions stating a need for the endorser to sign anything regarding a photograph. It states they may contact the person via email to verify if the photograph is indeed you.

I'm a little relieved to hear that, as I find his 'talking to' kind of silly. He still wants to be honest though.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

I find his 'talking to' kind of silly. He still wants to be honest though.

I personally would forget it. Why bring up something nobody knows about but him?

[yuna628 9,527]

I personally would forget it. Why bring up something nobody knows about but him?

So you think he shouldn't mention it on his police form at all? He doesn't want to answer the question falsely, he's afraid he'd get in trouble for not mentioning it?

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

So you think he shouldn't mention it on his police form at all? He doesn't want to answer the question falsely, he's afraid he'd get in trouble for not mentioning it?

I think he would have signed a form if he was given a "caution". It is a guilty plea that is settled without going to court. It sounds like he was given a reprimand about his behavior, but not a caution.