Confused on Packet 3 - can we mail in forms before we have police certificate?

[Rito 28]

Hello -

My fiance has received Packet 3, and is filling in the forms they requested he fill in. He got all the paperwork he needs - birth certificate, affidavit of support, etc - everything except the police certificate. We're still waiting on that. Can we send in our forms and checklist and be scheduled for an interview? I'm confused reading the forums on if you MUST have the police certificate before you send in the forms, or if it's ok if you get it later.

Thanks!

[pushbrk 12,824]

Hello -

My fiance has received Packet 3, and is filling in the forms they requested he fill in. He got all the paperwork he needs - birth certificate, affidavit of support, etc - everything except the police certificate. We're still waiting on that. Can we send in our forms and checklist and be scheduled for an interview? I'm confused reading the forums on if you MUST have the police certificate before you send in the forms, or if it's ok if you get it later.

Thanks!

If you're certain you'll have everything by the interview day, I would go ahead and send it in.

[PeruvyandGringa 25]

If you're certain you'll have everything by the interview day, I would go ahead and send it in.

Yes, if you are certain (in person, not relying on the mail, etc). We did not send ours back in Spain until his sister in Peru had his Peruvian police paper in her hands (my fiance needed from both countries). Our interview was 5 weeks later. The paper had not yet arrived to him at the interview (yes, I told him to use DHL and he didn't listen, another story). He was approved pending receipt of the police paper. I was convinced it was lost, so his sister was in process of obtaining another copy of the request when the first arrived at his house a week after the interview. We have sent it to the Embassy, and now we are waiting, waiting, waiting. It's been 3 weeks and counting. I now wish we had waited until he had it in his hands, as we likely could have gotten a January interview (or maybe early February), and at least known when he would have his visa (in Spain you can pick it up next day), instead of this uncertain timeline we now have.

[littlecrazyangel 1]

You can send back the papers to the embassy and be scheduled for an interview. You need the police certificate only at the interview.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I would not advise you to send in your packet 3 response and checklist until you have all the necessary things in your hands. What if the post goes on strike and it gets lost? What if you get it and your name is spelled wrong and you have to order a new one...and then the post goes on strike and it gets lost? Now you aren't prepared for your interview, and you're taking up a spot that someone who was prepared should have had. Also, when you are required to send in extra documentation to London, your file goes to the bottom of the pile. Where you might be approved in just a couple of days after going fully prepared to an interview, it could take 2-3 weeks sometimes for them to process your visa when you have to send in additional documents.

Get your papers in order, and then mail in the checklist which says that you have your papers in order. The police certificate for the UK only takes about 10 days, so, assuming you've already applied for it, it's not too much of a delay to make sure your ts are crossed and your is dotted.