a Police Certificate unavailable on the interview day?

[shorouq123 37]

Hello,

Our k-1 interview is next week in Canada. I've had no problem obtaining a police certificate from Canada which is quite easy to obtain, however, we have been having big trouble getting a police certificate from my home country Saudi Arabia because they were demanding a request letter from the US consulate. No matter how much I tried explaining for the US consulate through email that they do not issue a police certificate without a request letter, they'd insist that they do not issue such document (pcc request letter).

After months of trying, there was no success trying to get around needing the request letter. I even traveled to Saudi Arabia my self to try and work it out even though that was a huge inconvenience but no results. Saudi Arabia government procedures all are very difficult to be managed by an independent woman as we always need a male guardian.

We are both extremely worried and scared how the interview will go with this issue.

My question is does anybody have any experience or information regarding this situation? any tips?

Would printing the emails I sent to the consulate, the tickets to Saudi Arabia and translating the document which states they need a request letter helps?

and is there any hope they'd over look not having the police certificate from there?

please I appreciate any comment regarding this issue.

Thank you!

Edited March 4, 2016 by shorouq123

[Georgia16 2,858]

I think they will ask you to provide them with the police certificate after the interview and then they'll approved you after that.

[Cathi 5,899]

the best thing to do is email the consulate in KSA to explain to them your situation and ask if they have a solution, I am sure you are not the only one this has happened to. My husband's brother and wife and his sister live and work in KSA and the government there makes EVERYTHING difficult. I can remember when hubby's sister was applying for a work/resident visa to KSA from Jordan, it took so long because of all the red tape from the government in there. They are ruled by very strict Sharia law and it is there way or no way. Good luck and keep us updated

[shorouq123 37]

I think they will ask you to provide them with the police certificate after the interview and then they'll approved you after that.

this would result us being in a never ending loophole because we still can not get the PCC without a request letter.

[shorouq123 37]

the best thing to do is email the consulate in KSA to explain to them your situation and ask if they have a solution, I am sure you are not the only one this has happened to. My husband's brother and wife and his sister live and work in KSA and the government there makes EVERYTHING difficult. I can remember when hubby's sister was applying for a work/resident visa to KSA from Jordan, it took so long because of all the red tape from the government in there. They are ruled by very strict Sharia law and it is there way or no way. Good luck and keep us updated

I did try contacting them a couple of months ago about the issue. their response was unclear and did not apply to my case. when I tried explaining to them that their solution didn't apply to me, they sent me a rude email saying that the issue has been resolved and any further emails regarding that wouldn't be answered.

I emailed them again today hoping for the best. I don't know what to do. my biggest fear is the interview next week will go horribly wrong and get denied because of something out of my control.

[Georgia16 2,858]

this would result us being in a never ending loophole because we still can not get the PCC without a request letter.

Well I'm sorry but doubt they will approve you without.

Have you tried to ask in the country specific forum for that country if they have any idea how to get it?

[MADDEN 40]

Which US consulate did you try an obtain the request letter from?

[shorouq123 37]

Well I'm sorry but doubt they will approve you without.

Have you tried to ask in the country specific forum for that country if they have any idea how to get it?

thanks for your comments. I did actually ask but there isn't much threads about that from Saudi citizens unfortunately. All agree that the consulate should have provided the request letter though.

Which US consulate did you try an obtain the request letter from?

Both the one our case is processed in (Montreal) and the one in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

[MADDEN 40]

thanks for your comments. I did actually ask but there isn't much threads about that from Saudi citizens unfortunately. All agree that the consulate should have provided the request letter though.

Both the one our case is processed in (Montreal) and the one in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It says that you can use the US Consulates in Dhahran and also Jeddah. Riyadh was also listed so odd they wouldn't give you the request letter. In your email make sure you show the request for a police clearance from the us embassy with your case number, name ect.

Hope that helps.

[NikLR 13,236]

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/SA.html

Pertinent information:

Police Records
Police clearances are available for Saudi citizens and resident third country nationals. Saudi citizens currently residing overseas must return in person to process the police clearance.

Saudi citizens and third country nationals residing in the Kingdom process the police clearances by first obtaining a police clearance request letter from U.S. Embassy Riyadh, U.S. Consulate General Jeddah, or U.S. Consulate General Dhahran. This police clearance request letter, signed by a consular officer, must be attested by the Saudi Ministry of Affairs (current fee is SR30). The applicant must then appear personally with a passport-sized photograph and a national ID or residency permit at the regional Criminal Investigation Department for fingerprinting. Fingerprinting for women is done in a separate room. The police clearance should be available for collection after a week or two.

Police clearances are available for Saudi nationals residing outside of the Kingdom. The expatriate Saudi citizen obtains the police clearance by returning to the Kingdom and obtaining a police clearance request letter from U.S. Embassy Riyadh, U.S. Consulate General Jeddah, or U.S. Consulate General Dhahran. This police clearance request letter, signed by a consular officer, must be attested by the Saudi Ministry of Affairs (current fee is SR30). The applicant must then appear personally with the attested police clearance request letter, a passport-sized photograph and a national ID at the Regional Criminal Investigation Department for fingerprinting. Fingerprinting for women is done in a separate room. The police clearance should be available for collection after a week or two.

Police clearances are unavailable for third country nationals who no longer reside in the Kingdom.

The optimal time to conduct these procedures at the police stations is 10:00 Saturdays-Wednesdays.

Bascially you have to travel to Saudi-Arabia to get the police certificate. Because it is available to you, you won't be able to finish the processing without it.

Highly suggest you postpone your interview and get the police certificate.

Edited March 5, 2016 by NLR

[MADDEN 40]

Hey I read on a few sites that some countries are EXEMPT from having to get police clearances for the K1, once you no longer reside in that country due to how almost impossible it is to obtain , here is the link

http://blogs.usembassy.gov/philippines/k1-visa-faqs-iv-3/

QUOTE

need your assistance. I am having difficulty requesting a police clearance from Kuwait.

Because police certificates are considered to be unavailable to applicants who no longer reside in Kuwait, Libya, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Korea, and Singapore, applicants are not expected to produce them.

[NikLR 13,236]

The OP can try, but a 221g would be issued if it's required and then wait for Montréal to process after the interview. They are quite slow about anything recieved after interview. The OP has the choice which path to try.

[shorouq123 37]

Thank you for the help everybody. Today was the interview and we thankfully got approved!!! The PCC from KSA got waived because I had evidence I made effort to obtain it and the consulate did not provide me with the correct information over email. We are extremely happy and relieved. This has been a great day!

[NikLR 13,236]

Thank you for the help everybody. Today was the interview and we thankfully got approved!!! The PCC from KSA got waived because I had evidence I made effort to obtain it and the consulate did not provide me with the correct information over email. We are extremely happy and relieved. This has been a great day!

that is wonderful news!!!! Congrats!!