Police Records from China

[t1488 0]

Hi all, and thanks in advance for any help with this issue!

My fiancee is British, and she spent about 18 months in China in two locations on the mainland, Guangdong and Suzhou. We've sent the I-129f in and been approved, so we're working on the documents that she'll need to bring to her interview in London when the time comes.

According to the US website, she'll need police records from the UK, AND from any country she has resided in for more than 12 months, so, China.

I can't find any reliable info on how to request these forms from China if you're not actually IN China at the present time. Most forums (on other China visa sites) talk about going to local government agencies in person and applying. Obviously neither of us can do that at this time.

Anyone have any helpful hints on what to do next?

Thanks again!

[-Shana- 152]

I went through this process to get a police certificate from Japan, I had to apply in person at the consulate in Edinburgh after completing the paperwork they sent to me. There was fortunately a page on their website stating how to go about it, but there doesn't seem to be the same thing for the Chinese embassy in the UK. Perhaps try and get your fiance to call the embassy and see how to do it?

P.S. Just found this, not sure if it helps? http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/asia-pacific/china.asp

In very few cities especially small ones, you can get a police certificate from your local Public Security Bureau by nominating a representative to act on your behalf in China. To nominate a representative, you must give the person specific written authorization and a photocopy of your passport, including the page that contains the Chinese visa. The person acting on your behalf must present his/her ID card and the documents to the local Public Security Bureau.

In other cities in China, this is not available.

Information and documents you need:

Please see above for specifics

Note: application procedures may differ slightly between different provinces, districts or cities. You are encouraged to confirm the procedure directly with the local Public Security Bureau and/or Public Notary Office.

You should obtain a notarised translation of the No Criminal Convictions Certificate and provide both the original and notarised translation of the Certificate to the office processing the application.

Fees: Payable with Notary Public Office; Free with local police station.

Edited February 11, 2015 by shana.mike

[t1488 0]

Thanks shana.mike! Looks like typical China catch-22 here. I think I'll try and call the Chinese consulate in the UK to see what I can get done through there.

[-Shana- 152]

Thanks shana.mike! Looks like typical China catch-22 here. I think I'll try and call the Chinese consulate in the UK to see what I can get done through there.

Good luck! Seems so complicated . Just so you know that I had to wait 2.5 months for my police certificate to arrive from Japan, so it's best to get it done asap!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi all, and thanks in advance for any help with this issue!

My fiancee is British, and she spent about 18 months in China in two locations on the mainland, Guangdong and Suzhou. We've sent the I-129f in and been approved, so we're working on the documents that she'll need to bring to her interview in London when the time comes.

According to the US website, she'll need police records from the UK, AND from any country she has resided in for more than 12 months, so, China.

I can't find any reliable info on how to request these forms from China if you're not actually IN China at the present time. Most forums (on other China visa sites) talk about going to local government agencies in person and applying. Obviously neither of us can do that at this time.

Anyone have any helpful hints on what to do next?

Thanks again!

You can use this page for official word from the Dept of State (over the embassy and visas)

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/reciprocity-by-country.html

Type in China

If you were in a category where it says not available, then you don't need one.

[t1488 0]

Thanks, Nich-Nick!

Yeah I actually already visited that page, that's where the confusion started for me. Here's what they have to say:

Generally available, reliable. Persons should apply for a certificate of no criminal record at the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) (or certain types of employers such as state owned enterprises), then make application to the notary office for a certificate based on the PSB document. Persons without a criminal record will be able to obtain a certificate to that effect. Certificates for individuals with one or more criminal convictions will list all convictions for which records still exist. The certificates purport to reflect all criminal convictions during residence in China. Police records are generally not available for the period prior to 1949. Certificates are available for those in the J-1, Z, and X categories. The GOC does not issue police records for temporary residents of China in L or F visa categories.

Problem is, the PSBs are located in China, and there is no mention of how to get a police record if you're not currently there.

[CowBoE 429]

Hi all, and thanks in advance for any help with this issue!

My fiancee is British, and she spent about 18 months in China in two locations on the mainland, Guangdong and Suzhou. We've sent the I-129f in and been approved, so we're working on the documents that she'll need to bring to her interview in London when the time comes.

According to the US website, she'll need police records from the UK, AND from any country she has resided in for more than 12 months, so, China.

I can't find any reliable info on how to request these forms from China if you're not actually IN China at the present time. Most forums (on other China visa sites) talk about going to local government agencies in person and applying. Obviously neither of us can do that at this time.

Anyone have any helpful hints on what to do next?

Thanks again!

My (Chinese) wife now went to college in Moscow, Russia for 5 years,

so she had to get Russian police certificate while in China,

and she was able to get it from the local (Shanghai) Russian consulate office.

They said it could take 4+ weeks, and it came in 4 weeks.

Likely, your fiancee should be able to go to the closest Chinese embassy/consulate office

in person and request one. If it doesn't cost much, you might consider getting two

certified copies so that you can keep one for back up since it's a hassle to get them.

[racheal&david 108]

I am actually in sort of the same position. I spent time in China first on an F visa for study for 11 months and then for a further 5 months working on a Z visa. But this was not consecutive and there was a break of 3 months in between this. I asked my employer (a private language school) for a no criminal record when I left and they said I could not get one from the PSB because I was first on a temporary visa and then not long enough on a working visa. And the place where I was working, the PSB does not give out police records for foreigners. So the best I could get was a letter in Chinese and translated with stamps on from my employer for the time I spent on a Z visa since there's not reports for temporary. I am hoping that this is enough along with the travel.state website print off as I am also in the UK. Unfortunately my particular city in China are not very forthcoming with foreigners and wouldn't give me any help other than what I got.

[t1488 0]

Thanks DualityOneness and racheal&david!

racheal&david, what city did you live in in China? That's rough that they totally denied you the proper documents, but not actually shocking sadly enough. Have you had your interview yet? I'm assuming no, but if you have yours soon please message here and let us know what the outcome is!

[racheal&david 108]

Thanks DualityOneness and racheal&david!

racheal&david, what city did you live in in China? That's rough that they totally denied you the proper documents, but not actually shocking sadly enough. Have you had your interview yet? I'm assuming no, but if you have yours soon please message here and let us know what the outcome is!

My fiancé and I were living in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia that's where we met. It's, like you said not that shocking that they denied it. Getting any paperwork with their "stamp"/seal was going to be a difficult task no matter what. For some reason they just don't want to help you out. Not uncommon in China to begin with. I won't have my interview for a while yet, we just started this process but let me know your outcome and I'll do the same of course if we were to have mine first

And even with my fiancé speaking fluent Chinese and trying ourselves we still got a big fat NO. Not possible. Not available. I'm really hoping it doesn't cause a problem. I have criminal offences, clean slate but it is still annoying not to have been able to get even that.

[t1488 0]

Update: My fiancee found this service, basically a whole lot of Guangxi for hire: http://www.visainchina.com/nocriminal.htm

Anybody had any experience with them? I've researched and found some positive reviews, but they are quite expensive, and I'm nervous about sending sensitive info to China in general.

[CowBoE 429]

... I asked my employer (a private language school) for a no criminal record when I left and they said I could not get one from the PSB because I was first on a temporary visa and then not long enough on a working visa. And the place where I was working, the PSB does not give out police records for foreigners. ...

The official place to get the no criminal police certificate in China is your local GongZhengChu.

I don't see how a local private school can issue this to you as they would have to have access

to criminal history database, and depends on places you lived/traveled, sometimes, they would

have to reach out to other cities police records. Therefore, even if the private school issued

a no criminal record paper somehow (???), I have a strong feeling that its not official enough

to be accepted by US immigration officials.

If you are outside of China, I am pretty sure the best way is to request it in person

at the local Chinese embassy/consulate.

[CowBoE 429]

Good luck! Seems so complicated . Just so you know that I had to wait 2.5 months for my police certificate to arrive from Japan, so it's best to get it done asap!

True...while Russian consulate office told my wife that it could 4+ weeks,

I was seeing some VJ-er posting 3+ months of wait so we were getting concerned,

but it showed up exactly at 4 weeks.

One more thing...

Russian consulate never sends you any information that the certificate is ready,

and they will not give you any update except in person, so she had to go there

in person.

[racheal&david 108]

The official place to get the no criminal police certificate in China is your local GongZhengChu.

I don't see how a local private school can issue this to you as they would have to have access

to criminal history database, and depends on places you lived/traveled, sometimes, they would

have to reach out to other cities police records. Therefore, even if the private school issued

a no criminal record paper somehow (???), I have a strong feeling that its not official enough

to be accepted by US immigration officials.

If you are outside of China, I am pretty sure the best way is to request it in person

at the local Chinese embassy/consulate.

No it's not an official no criminal record. They were my employer so I asked them to help me get the police check but no luck. So all I could get from them was a character reference type thing saying I had no convictions whilst working for them. My issue is whether or not I actually need one as for the first time in China I was only there for 11 months and that was on an F visa. For that period of time and because of that visa the Chinese government do not give out police records for that and that is noted on the travel.state website. The second time I went I only spent 5 months, if even that long on a Z visa so the public security bureau would not issue me a police record because they said it was unobtainable as I was not there long enough. They were very uncooperative. So basically my employer wrote and notarized something to that effect. I am going to get in touch with the Chinese embassy and the U.S. embassy in London to see what my options will be.

[CowBoE 429]

No it's not an official no criminal record. They were my employer so I asked them to help me get the police check but no luck. So all I could get from them was a character reference type thing saying I had no convictions whilst working for them. My issue is whether or not I actually need one as for the first time in China I was only there for 11 months and that was on an F visa. For that period of time and because of that visa the Chinese government do not give out police records for that and that is noted on the travel.state website. The second time I went I only spent 5 months, if even that long on a Z visa so the public security bureau would not issue me a police record because they said it was unobtainable as I was not there long enough. They were very uncooperative. So basically my employer wrote and notarized something to that effect. I am going to get in touch with the Chinese embassy and the U.S. embassy in London to see what my options will be.

I forget the link now, but there was a web page on USCIS that

mentions how there is some sort of (world-wide???) agreement among

at least participating countries to timely (I believe it was 4 weeks) to provide

necessary "no criminal record police certificate" to aid each other in qualifying

valid candidates for travel/immigration to their respective countries.

That said, I'm not sure how much this is standardized in terms of

required "duration of stay", "processing time", and how well it is followed.