New Zealand Police Check Lost?

[KiwiBird 132]

So, he sent the DS-230 back the next day after getting Packet 3. The Sydney Consulate emailed him back with another form, saying (paraphrased) “We see you lived in New Zealand. Fill this out so we can mail it to NZ for a Police Check for you.” So he printed that out, and mailed it back. He even got a tracking number and it was received by the Consulate. This was like… around March 8th.

Fast forward to the 29th. He has his interview. He was approved ‘pending’ clear Police checks. The Aus Police check was completed and mailed back to the Consulate. They should have received it two days ago. However, he called the Police in NZ, and they say they have not yet received any Police Check request for him. (Or anyone with his last name.)

So we’ve both written the Sydney Consulate to see where his form is, and ask as to why it wasn’t sent out. However, we have received no reply yet (after 4 days). I wrote them again today.

Anyone else have this issue? Syd Consulate not sending out a Police Check form after a month? That’s the last thing we are waiting on. As soon as that police check comes back okay, he gets his visa. Anyone have any thoughts on things we can try? He has already confirmed that he HAS to have the form sent on his behalf from the Syd Consulate. And there are no phone numbers we can use to talk to a real person about this!

Anyone? I’m going nuts.

[Casprd 167]

Can you go ahead and get the police check in NZ on your own and send it to the consulate? I'm surprised that they even do this for you in Sydney as most consulate websites say they don't do it and it is up to the applicant to get the police certificate..

[Casprd 167]

check this website. I'm not sure why New Zealand would require it to come from the consulate as this is not the normal circumstance.

http://www.police.govt.nz/faq/items/23099

[KiwiBird 132]

Nope, he was told by the NZ Police that they will accept it this way, but the Consulate will not. Also, we were told by many sources that the just going to the NZ Police on your own without the Consulate mailing the form for you will result in the incorrect type of police check.

[Andie 147]

I went ahead and got the Police Certificate directly, not realising that the Police Release information form was to be sent in packet 3. I "triple" checked with the Ministry of Justice and they told me that they have issued me with the same certificate/letter that they issue for all U.S. visa requirements (It has original letterhead .. 'Ministry of Justice' in dark blue at the top... if that helps). I have just now seen this post and from what has been said it appears that I need to use the Packet 3 form when I get it anyway. Can someone just reconfirm? (sorry but Ive become extremely OCD lately... )

Thanks for any clarification.

[Ashton & Ben 1]

My fiancé is a Kiwi currently living in Australia so we also had to get an New Zealand police check. We sent his DS-230 the day after receiving it and went ahead and requested the form we needed to get his New Zealand police check. The form is basically a form that authorizes the release of your police information from New Zealand to the consulate. When you get your packet three from the consulate there might be directions about how to get police checks from other countries (Sydney included a link that takes you to the State Department website). Under NZ, it says:

For Immigrant Visa Applicants: Police clearance requests are processed by the Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland. The Consulate General supplies New Zealand resident applicants with authorization forms. Overseas applicants should contact the U.S. consular office processing their cases to obtain a form authorizing release of police information. The authorization form should be completed, signed and returned to the processing consular post, together with a copy of the descriptive / photo page of their passport, who will then forward the request to the U.S. Consulate in Auckland for forwarding to the New Zealand police. The completed clearance will be returned to the requesting consular post, or direct to NVC, not to the applicant. The form must show the applicant's case number e.g ACK 2011------

So I think it will depend on if you are currently living in New Zealand when you request the police check or if you are residing in another country. You could possibly (if filing in New Zealand) email the consulate there and ask if you need to do an authorization or if you can use the one from the Ministry of Justice.

Edited July 9, 2011 by Ashton & Ben

[Andie 147]

My fiancé is a Kiwi currently living in Australia so we also had to get an New Zealand police check. We sent his DS-230 the day after receiving it and went ahead and requested the form we needed to get his New Zealand police check. The form is basically a form that authorizes the release of your police information from New Zealand to the consulate. When you get your packet three from the consulate there might be directions about how to get police checks from other countries (Sydney included a link that takes you to the State Department website). Under NZ, it says:

For Immigrant Visa Applicants: Police clearance requests are processed by the Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland. The Consulate General supplies New Zealand resident applicants with authorization forms. Overseas applicants should contact the U.S. consular office processing their cases to obtain a form authorizing release of police information. The authorization form should be completed, signed and returned to the processing consular post, together with a copy of the descriptive / photo page of their passport, who will then forward the request to the U.S. Consulate in Auckland for forwarding to the New Zealand police. The completed clearance will be returned to the requesting consular post, or direct to NVC, not to the applicant. The form must show the applicant's case number e.g ACK 2011------

So I think it will depend on if you are currently living in New Zealand when you request the police check or if you are residing in another country. You could possibly (if filing in New Zealand) email the consulate there and ask if you need to do an authorization or if you can use the one from the Ministry of Justice.

Ok, thanks. That makes sense. What I have is a letter saying I have a clear record, so I need to complete a form authorising the Consulate to access the info from the police directly. If it needs the case number then I need to wait anyway until I get one. Thanks for your help...