Police Certificate not available before interview

[the_smallprint 0]

I received today my interview date! Exciting, yes. Not so exciting when I opened packet 4 and it said they hadn't received my police certificate.

I called the criminal records people a few days before I sent everything away to say that I was ready for the interview, and they stated that it had been sent to the consulate in Sydney the day before. So, I figured all would be good and they'd have it before my interview. Unfortunately, the consulate worked faster than I thought possible. The consulate received everything last Wednesday and I got the email today stating my interview is next week! Lucky for me I live an hour from the consulate, that's not a lot of notice.

Anyway, called criminal records, oops person clearly mistaken, still waiting on fingerprints to come back. Call next week(day before my interview!) and you may be able to come pick it up yourself.

So...my question is, if things don't work out (and if this whole experience has taught me anything it is that I should be prepared for nothing to go my way lol) can I turn up to the interview without it, and they approve me pending me sending in the police certificate? The last thing I want to do is request for another interview date, email said if I did it could be 4-8 weeks and I want to be out of here June.

Appreciate some help!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I received today my interview date! Exciting, yes. Not so exciting when I opened packet 4 and it said they hadn't received my police certificate.

I called the criminal records people a few days before I sent everything away to say that I was ready for the interview, and they stated that it had been sent to the consulate in Sydney the day before. So, I figured all would be good and they'd have it before my interview. Unfortunately, the consulate worked faster than I thought possible. The consulate received everything last Wednesday and I got the email today stating my interview is next week! Lucky for me I live an hour from the consulate, that's not a lot of notice.

Anyway, called criminal records, oops person clearly mistaken, still waiting on fingerprints to come back. Call next week(day before my interview!) and you may be able to come pick it up yourself.

So...my question is, if things don't work out (and if this whole experience has taught me anything it is that I should be prepared for nothing to go my way lol) can I turn up to the interview without it, and they approve me pending me sending in the police certificate? The last thing I want to do is request for another interview date, email said if I did it could be 4-8 weeks and I want to be out of here June.

Appreciate some help!

NO. They will not "approve you" pending anything. You would get a 221g notice to provide the missing documents within a certain number of days. If that is the only stumbling block and it comes back that you have no police record, then you would get approved at that time. They cannot "approve" a visa without all the information.

Most consulates will allow you to go to the interview and then give the 221g notice. It is their option. They may also just say "Sorry, you do not have everything you need as we told you in the instructions, get everything you need and call to make another appointment" All you can do is give it a shot.

Appointments should NOT be made until it is confirmed you or the consulate has everything they need. Not "everything except..." There are potential stumbling blocks at each step of this procedure and it does not end when you get the visa.

FYI, police certificates are valid for 1 YEAR from the time they are issued at US consulates regardless of what the date on the certificate may say. There is no reason to be waiting for this at the last minute. We had Alla's police certificate before we filed the petition.

[the_smallprint 0]

"Approve" was the incorrect word to use. I have of course come across information regarding the 221g, believe me I am annoyed with myself for not being more careful. If I had been, the next hurdle would be done with next week. I've created about 5 more for myself. I guess I just have to hope they don't kick me out and tell me to reschedule.

When I hear the words "this was sent yesterday", I put too much faith in that person. They'd had the damn thing for more than a month, when it's only supposed to take 2 weeks. Unfortunately, you can't just call the Sydney US Consulate and have a chat about if they've received something. I emailed them about something a month ago, still waiting for a reply back...

As for the last, little late for lectures, nothing I haven't been kicking myself over. Thank you for your help.

[YuAndDan 153]

Police cert is needed for interview at consulate moving to Embassy consulate forum...

[Barbara J 115]

I received today my interview date! Exciting, yes. Not so exciting when I opened packet 4 and it said they hadn't received my police certificate.

I called the criminal records people a few days before I sent everything away to say that I was ready for the interview, and they stated that it had been sent to the consulate in Sydney the day before. So, I figured all would be good and they'd have it before my interview. Unfortunately, the consulate worked faster than I thought possible. The consulate received everything last Wednesday and I got the email today stating my interview is next week! Lucky for me I live an hour from the consulate, that's not a lot of notice.

Anyway, called criminal records, oops person clearly mistaken, still waiting on fingerprints to come back. Call next week(day before my interview!) and you may be able to come pick it up yourself.

So...my question is, if things don't work out (and if this whole experience has taught me anything it is that I should be prepared for nothing to go my way lol) can I turn up to the interview without it, and they approve me pending me sending in the police certificate? The last thing I want to do is request for another interview date, email said if I did it could be 4-8 weeks and I want to be out of here June.

Appreciate some help!

Melissa when did you go to have the fingerprinting done? If in Sydney it takes 4 weeks to be sent back. I beleive now they send the police report straight to the Consulate? When I did mine they sent it back t me and I sent that in with my packet 3 docs. They wont deny you darl they will just hold on to your passport and wont print the visa till they get the report. They wont call you for another interview they just put it on hold. ANd you never know they may have it by your interview. Yes you have been processed quickly as they usually take up to 4 weeks for an interview.

They did this to me as when I went for my interview they were missing a divorce decree from my now hubbie. Did not tell me this till my interview so they just held off printing my visa til they received the notarised copy which I had to chase them up about as they took 2 weeks to get my visa to me. Took me 3 emails to find out the decree was sitting in the mail room. And no worries you will be here by June .

[Barbara J 115]

NO. They will not "approve you" pending anything. You would get a 221g notice to provide the missing documents within a certain number of days. If that is the only stumbling block and it comes back that you have no police record, then you would get approved at that time. They cannot "approve" a visa without all the information.

Most consulates will allow you to go to the interview and then give the 221g notice. It is their option. They may also just say "Sorry, you do not have everything you need as we told you in the instructions, get everything you need and call to make another appointment" All you can do is give it a shot.

Appointments should NOT be made until it is confirmed you or the consulate has everything they need. Not "everything except..." There are potential stumbling blocks at each step of this procedure and it does not end when you get the visa.

FYI, police certificates are valid for 1 YEAR from the time they are issued at US consulates regardless of what the date on the certificate may say. There is no reason to be waiting for this at the last minute. We had Alla's police certificate before we filed the petition.

Gary we Don't make the appointments in Australia. Once they receive the packet 3 with all the paperwork then they send you an interview letter requesting anything else they need. (passport , receipt for visa) and so on.To be honest the consulate should not have made an appointment when they knew they did not have the police report.

They did this to me as stated. gave me my interview and then when I get there tell me they are missing paperwork (#######) If they had told me before I could have taken it with me. So this isn't Melissa fault at all.

I was like you too had all my police report and medical done early as well.

Edited April 7, 2011 by Barbara J