Can I use old police certificate obtained right before leaving home country?

[raspberryberet 1]

Hi All,

I am sorry if I sound ignorant. My spouse and I had only just started the process and it has been rather overwhelming. I was still not able to figure out a solution after rounds of search on this website Therefore I'm posting my question here so that maybe someone who was in a similar situation could shed some light on it.

I was born Chinese but have lived overseas for about 10 years. I do not have Chinese citizenship or valid IDs that are required to obtain new police certificates any more.

I do, however, have an old notarial copy of police certificate that covers till just before I left China. Is it, by any chance, still usable? I know it was generated 10 years ago, but I haven't lived there since then so shouldn't it be good enough? I also tried to call some notaries in China to find out if they can reproduce this copy and put a new date on it, because I thought it would be slightly better than the old one. The answers I got were divided. On top of that, almost all of them were confused why I needed something that's not current. If I could get a current certificate I would but that's out of the question (or so I think) considering I don't have the needed documents. From your experience, am I even expected to provide a police certificate from China that covers from the year I turned 16 to now?

Thanks much!

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

Police certs are usually valid for a year from issue so no, a ten year old one (especially one that doesn't cover the last few weeks you were in China) will not count.

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/CH.html says police certs are generally available; you might enquire from your local Chinese embassy how to get one.

[raspberryberet 1]

Thanks for your reply! I have tried to get it issued but didn't have any success. I read about similar stories so mine is not an individual case. I will probably submit the copy I have and see what the NVC says. I hope it's better than nothing.

[Athena13 10]

Hi All,

I am sorry if I sound ignorant. My spouse and I had only just started the process and it has been rather overwhelming. I was still not able to figure out a solution after rounds of search on this website Therefore I'm posting my question here so that maybe someone who was in a similar situation could shed some light on it.

I was born Chinese but have lived overseas for about 10 years. I do not have Chinese citizenship or valid IDs that are required to obtain new police certificates any more.

I do, however, have an old notarial copy of police certificate that covers till just before I left China. Is it, by any chance, still usable? I know it was generated 10 years ago, but I haven't lived there since then so shouldn't it be good enough? I also tried to call some notaries in China to find out if they can reproduce this copy and put a new date on it, because I thought it would be slightly better than the old one. The answers I got were divided. On top of that, almost all of them were confused why I needed something that's not current. If I could get a current certificate I would but that's out of the question (or so I think) considering I don't have the needed documents. From your experience, am I even expected to provide a police certificate from China that covers from the year I turned 16 to now?

Thanks much!

HI did you live in Australia for 10 years before moving to the US? why can't you get a police certificate in Australia?

I'm also a Chinese Australian, living in CA now.

[raspberryberet 1]

Hi nice to meet you here! Yes I can get a police certificate from the Australian government, but I also need a certificate from China because I left it after I turned 16. At least that's my understanding. It'll be a lot easier if I don't need it.

[jan22 3,056]

How close to the time you left China was the certificate issued? If it was close to your departure, since you have not returned to China, it is likely still valid. See https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Supporting_documents.html under Ploce Certificates/Important statement that says the certificates usually expire after a year, if it's from your prevous country of residence and you have not returned there since it was issued, it is still valid for immigration purposes.

[raspberryberet 1]

Thanks for your reply! After some further research, I do believe that my old police certificate is still valid. I will just use it and post updates later.

[madam 0]

Hi Last week i called to some agencies who help foreigners hv lived or living in China to get police certificate but they told me since April its impossible to get here and foreigners wont be able to get any police certificate here even i went and check with notarizing offices and got the same reply ! Would please let me know if u hv any update on this thanks

Hi All,

I am sorry if I sound ignorant. My spouse and I had only just started the process and it has been rather overwhelming. I was still not able to figure out a solution after rounds of search on this website Therefore I'm posting my question here so that maybe someone who was in a similar situation could shed some light on it.

I was born Chinese but have lived overseas for about 10 years. I do not have Chinese citizenship or valid IDs that are required to obtain new police certificates any more.

I do, however, have an old notarial copy of police certificate that covers till just before I left China. Is it, by any chance, still usable? I know it was generated 10 years ago, but I haven't lived there since then so shouldn't it be good enough? I also tried to call some notaries in China to find out if they can reproduce this copy and put a new date on it, because I thought it would be slightly better than the old one. The answers I got were divided. On top of that, almost all of them were confused why I needed something that's not current. If I could get a current certificate I would but that's out of the question (or so I think) considering I don't have the needed documents. From your experience, am I even expected to provide a police certificate from China that covers from the year I turned 16 to now?

Thanks much!