Latvian Police Certificate for Russian Fiancee

[JayCS 0]

Hi All,

This is my first post, cuz we've had no hiccups till now. My Russian fiancee has her interview appointment scheduled in Moscow for December 4 and I'll be there with her. Everything's in place except the police certificates. Her Russian certificate is on order and should arrive next week. When she was younger (but over age 16) her family lived for seven years in what is now Latvia (1975-1982) and so we figure she needs a Latvian police certificate. She lives out in Kaliningrad oblast and so she went to the Latvian Chancery there yesterday to order it. She tells me that they tell her that because her Latvian residence was so long ago, her records are no longer in their database and would need to be special ordered out of the archives, taking 1-3 months. Further, since those records would be under her maiden name (she subsequently married and divorced and now has her ex-husband's family name), a certificate of name change would need to first be obrtained from a "registry office", but that this office no longer exists so we're basically SOL. Some of this may be translation difficulties between fiancee and I, and this all seems implausible. But I thought I would see if anyone in the community has experience or suggestions before I start firing off emails to the Latvian Chancery in Kaliningrad or their main offices in Riga. Might her Russian police certificate cover all of the time that she was living in what was then the Soviet Union, even if subsequently her place of residence for a portiion of that time became a different country? Thanks all, Jay

[agnesb 47]

Hi All,

This is my first post, cuz we've had no hiccups till now. My Russian fiancee has her interview appointment scheduled in Moscow for December 4 and I'll be there with her. Everything's in place except the police certificates. Her Russian certificate is on order and should arrive next week. When she was younger (but over age 16) her family lived for seven years in what is now Latvia (1975-1982) and so we figure she needs a Latvian police certificate. She lives out in Kaliningrad oblast and so she went to the Latvian Chancery there yesterday to order it. She tells me that they tell her that because her Latvian residence was so long ago, her records are no longer in their database and would need to be special ordered out of the archives, taking 1-3 months. Further, since those records would be under her maiden name (she subsequently married and divorced and now has her ex-husband's family name), a certificate of name change would need to first be obrtained from a "registry office", but that this office no longer exists so we're basically SOL. Some of this may be translation difficulties between fiancee and I, and this all seems implausible. But I thought I would see if anyone in the community has experience or suggestions before I start firing off emails to the Latvian Chancery in Kaliningrad or their main offices in Riga. Might her Russian police certificate cover all of the time that she was living in what was then the Soviet Union, even if subsequently her place of residence for a portiion of that time became a different country? Thanks all, Jay

Hi, as per http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=9641#docs

Police/Prison Records

Available: YES

Fees: from 5.50 Latvian lats or 7.83 Euros (approx. $11)

Document Name: CERTIFICATE (issued in English for U.S. visa or immigration benefits purposes).

Issuing Government Authority: Information Center of the Ministry of Interior at 72b Bruninieku St., Riga, LV-1009, Latvia, or Latvian diplomatic and consular missions abroad.

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: The Information Center of the Ministry of Interior issues the certificates for U.S. visa purposes in sealed envelopes. The actual certificates are printed on the Information Center letterhead - A4 size ivory color paper with the complemented Latvian Coat of Arms in full color and the Information Center logo at the top of the page.

Police certificates obtained through Latvian embassies abroad are issued on embassy-specific letterheads, rather than the letterhead used by the Information Center. They don't come in sealed envelopes.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Chief of Information Center or an official of the Latvian diplomatic of consular mission abroad.

Procedure for Obtaining: Subject of the record or their legal representative must apply for the statement in person by filing an application with the Information Center of the Ministry of Interior. The request may be also submitted electronically using e-signature as defined by the Latvian law or though the Latvian e-services portal: www.latvija.lv(available to those having e-signature or using Latvian online banking).

If abroad, one may contact the nearest Latvian diplomatic and consular mission for assistance on obtaining police records.

Certified Copies Available: A copy of the original document may be prepared by a sworn notary.

Comments: At the time of submitting a request for a Latvian police certificate, one MUST indicate that it is required for U.S. visa purposes. We recommend using the application form available in this link for ensuring the correct type of police certificate is requested and received.

Under Latvian law, almost all records are routinely expunged after several years. Subsequently, ex-offenders are not normally obliged to indicate their convictions, for example, when applying for a job or when involved in criminal or civil proceedings. The expunged records remain in the Punishment Register and are available if the person specifically authorizes disclosure of the entire record. The police certificates issued for U.S. visa purposes contain the entire record (including convictions that are considered expunged). Note: The Punishment Register contains complete information on criminal offences committed in the territory of Latvia both before and after 1991 when Latvia declared independence.

Hope this info helps.

[JayCS 0]

Thanks Agnes, It does seem pretty simple according to the instructions provided on the Latvian government site. I'll contact them directly. Hopefully the staff of the chancery in Kaliningrad was simply misinformed.

[agnesb 47]

Hope it all goes well!