Police Cert Expiry

[CharlieTanger 76]

Hello all!

I'm a bit confused on this. I remember a few months ago I was told that you can use a police certificate up to a full year (for both medical and interview) before it expires; however, I've just seen on the U.S. London embassy website that it mentions 6 months. Can anyone clarify?

"For applicants aged 16 and over, a UK police certificate (known as an ACRO) issued within the past 6 months;"

http://london.usembassy.gov/mobile/iv/medical_examination.html

[mlh 93]

The statement you are referring to means that they want a recent police certificate that's been issued within the last 6 months.

The certificate itself is valid for 12 months.

http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/application_documents.html#008

Police Certificates for the United Kingdom: If you have resided in the United Kingdom for 6 months or more since the age of 16, you are required to obtain a police certificate from the ACPO Criminal Records Office (ACRO). Further information is available from their website atwww.acro.police.uk.

Note: UK police certificates are valid for 12 months only. Failure to present all necessary and valid police certificates at the time of the interview will incur significant delays to your application.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Knightsbridge, like the embassy, has accepted it up to 12 months.

Ring them up. Unlike the USCIS, NVC, and embassy, somebody should actually pick up quickly and give you an answer.

[CharlieTanger 76]

Ok, thanks!!

Ours comes up as 6 months old mid-November. I'm hoping my fiancé has the interview by then anyway! But just playing it safe.

Nich, as long as you know that they've accepted ones up to 12 months old ...my mind is at ease haha

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Ok, thanks!!

Ours comes up as 6 months old mid-November. I'm hoping my fiancé has the interview by then anyway! But just playing it safe.

Nich, as long as you know that they've accepted ones up to 12 months old ...my mind is at ease haha

Can somebody explain to me why everybody seems reluctant to get on the phone and ask questions? I am not just talking about you Charlie. Everybody chirp in. I can see asking on a forum when you have a USCIS question and get nowhere with the information line. But Knightsbridge is an easy call for UK persons. I remember several times people had things they needed to straighten out in a short window of time before the results went to the embassy. I said call them up first thing Monday morning. So Monday they post "I emailed Knightsbridge this morning. Hope I hear from them today,"

I am not criticizing anybody, but just really curious if this is a British thing or maybe a generational thing. Has the world of social media and texting paralyzed your mouths? I love to call people and make sure they know what I am asking and I understand their response. I've called Knightsbridge, CBP general number several times, CBP supervisor at Houston airport, DOS when they still talked to you, and the IRS constantly.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[Wooderz 314]

Can somebody explain to me why everybody seems reluctant to get on the phone and ask questions? Phones are OLD SCHOOL!!! I am not just talking about you Charlie. Everybody chirp in. I can see asking on a forum when you have a USCIS question and get nowhere with the information line. But Knightsbridge is an easy call for UK persons. I remember several times people had things they needed to straighten out in a short window of time before the results went to the embassy. I said call them up first thing Monday morning. So Monday they post "I emailed Knightsbridge this morning. Hope I hear from them today,"

I am not criticizing anybody, but just really curious if this is a British thing or maybe a generational thing. Has the world of social media and texting paralyzed your mouths? YES EXACTLY!!! Less personal contact is better. Emails let you craft exactly what you want to say. Sometimes I blurt out stupid stuff on the phone. I love to call people and make sure they know what I am asking and I understand their response. I've called Knightsbridge, CBP general number several times, CBP supervisor at Houston airport, DOS when they still talked to you, and the IRS constantly.

[yuna628 9,530]

Personal standpoint: we are both phone shy. But he's on phones for a living, and I've phoned more people in this entire process than I've done in a long time. I tend to think that when it's something critically important relating to the most important decision of both your lives, that the person would get on the phone instead of waiting needlessly. I'd actually like if agencies were more email responsive, and if not email responsive.. actually better phone responsive. I think though that people become very nervous and overwhelmed when they think about speaking to a government agency. Don't know about you but the most dreaded phone calls I often have to make is to my ISP. They make me sad for humanity and reluctant to deal with their lack of customer service. Maybe that's what people are used to? Case and point, I called my local clerk's office because the website mentioned nothing about immigrants. I got someone that seemed annoyed that I made them pick up the phone, cut me off mid sentence and referred me to the website. When I politely stated the website showed nothing related to my question, the tone got even more snarky and harshly sneered out the requirements. So.. when dealing with someone like that, which is what I think most people are afraid they are going to expect, I'd rather speak to them in person or fire off an email.

Edited July 9, 2015 by yuna628

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

I was waiting for you to reply April. I know how you feel.

I hate it when I email and get a canned answer that has nothing to do with my question. So then I reply to that with "Did you even read my question? I asked blah blah blah..." And so on to my third reply which says..."Can you please stop giving me canned responses from your website and re-read what I am asking?"

Old school for sure. I could ask 35 questions in the time it takes me to text a sentence on my phone. I hit all the wrong letters. Thank God for the talk to text function. Okay on the iPad.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Personal standpoint: we are both phone shy. But he's on phones for a living, and I've phoned more people in this entire process than I've done in a long time. I tend to think that when it's something critically important relating to the most important decision of both your lives, that the person would get on the phone instead of waiting needlessly. I'd actually like if agencies were more email responsive, and if not email responsive.. actually better phone responsive. I think though that people become very nervous and overwhelmed when they think about speaking to a government agency. Don't know about you but the most dreaded phone calls I often have to make is to my ISP. They make me sad for humanity and reluctant to deal with their lack of customer service. Maybe that's what people are used to? Case and point, I called my local clerk's office because the website mentioned nothing about immigrants. I got someone that seemed annoyed that I made them pick up the phone, cut me off mid sentence and referred me to the website. When I politely stated the website showed nothing related to my question, the tone got even more snarky and harshly sneered out the requirements. So.. when dealing with someone like that, which is what I think most people are afraid they are going to expect, I'd rather speak to them in person or fire off an email.

Those are very good points. I am not afraid of the government. Not the tiniest bit. The whole immigration process was not stressful to me in the sense I was not afraid to make a mistake or that doing so would ruin everything like a death penalty.

I have gotten some very good deals by calling up the ISP (lower rate for a year plus free HBO or $20 credit because the cable went out), airlines, electric provider, TurboTax (free $99 software this year), MasterCard charges for paying late refunded as well as the interest.

If anybody is rude or stupid, I ask their name and badge number. If they ask why, I tell them I am going to report them. And I ask over and over and over to speak to a supervisor. If they say it may be a long wait, I say I'll wait all day and night if I have to because you are not being helpful.

Have confidence in yourself kids. Don't let anybody intimidate you.