K-1, requirement to present police certificates

[pov5 2]

Hi all, thanks for this advice forum and the useful answers all over, really helping. I have a question to add...

 

From the K-1 Visa instructions, I understand that I will be required to present a police certificate from the UK. That's fine, I can get that. But also, certificates from  'countries where you have lived for more than 12 months since the age of 16'. Is such a certificate required do you think in my case:

 

I'm a UK citizen, living in the UK until aged 25;

Moved to Spain for 9 months;

UK for 3 months;

Then 11.5 months in Spain (With occasional trips back to the UK, and never a registered resident);

1 month in the US;

Spain for another 9 months before returning to the UK.

 

I'm unsure if the certificate is needed if I didn't ever stay abroad for 12 continuous months. And if it is required because of my living in Spain cumulatively for more than 12 months, does that count as I was always considered a resident of the UK, i.e. only residing in Spain temporarily for work.

 

Thanks, and good luck to everyone going through this process,

 

[TheSkywalkers 143]

13 minutes ago, pov5 said:

Hi all, thanks for this advice forum and the useful answers all over, really helping. I have a question to add...

 

From the K-1 Visa instructions, I understand that I will be required to present a police certificate from the UK. That's fine, I can get that. But also, certificates from  'countries where you have lived for more than 12 months since the age of 16'. Is such a certificate required do you think in my case:

 

I'm a UK citizen, living in the UK until aged 25;

Moved to Spain for 9 months;

UK for 3 months;

Then 11.5 months in Spain (With occasional trips back to the UK, and never a registered resident);

1 month in the US;

Spain for another 9 months before returning to the UK.

 

I'm unsure if the certificate is needed if I didn't ever stay abroad for 12 continuous months. And if it is required because of my living in Spain cumulatively for more than 12 months, does that count as I was always considered a resident of the UK, i.e. only residing in Spain temporarily for work.

 

Thanks, and good luck to everyone going through this process,

 

Hey pov5! Hope all is well. Just want to share with you what the interviewer has asked me. She asked if I have lived for more than 6 months in other places apart from the Philippines and United Arab Emirates (where we processed the visa) and when i said no, she just asked for the UAE police clearance and my NBI clearance (from the Philippines). Seeing that you have lived in the UK til age 25 and have stayed in Spain for more than 6 months, I think the clearances you would need would be both from UK and Spain. How to obtain them both is the question. I myself had to fly back home to the Philippines to get an NBI Clearance and then head back to UAE to file for a police clearance. Hope this helps! Best of luck on your journey!  

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

I believe it is anywhere you lived for 6 months or more honestly as I recall.

[Pee&Eee 70]

6 hours ago, pov5 said:

Hi all, thanks for this advice forum and the useful answers all over, really helping. I have a question to add...

 

From the K-1 Visa instructions, I understand that I will be required to present a police certificate from the UK. That's fine, I can get that. But also, certificates from  'countries where you have lived for more than 12 months since the age of 16'. Is such a certificate required do you think in my case:

 

I'm a UK citizen, living in the UK until aged 25;

Moved to Spain for 9 months;

UK for 3 months;

Then 11.5 months in Spain (With occasional trips back to the UK, and never a registered resident);

1 month in the US;

Spain for another 9 months before returning to the UK.

 

I'm unsure if the certificate is needed if I didn't ever stay abroad for 12 continuous months. And if it is required because of my living in Spain cumulatively for more than 12 months, does that count as I was always considered a resident of the UK, i.e. only residing in Spain temporarily for work.

 

Thanks, and good luck to everyone going through this process,

 

Hi pov5,

You sure need a police report from Spain and its pretty easy to get. It cost 3.70€. You can find all that you need to get it via this link.

https://madrid.usembassy.gov/mobile//visas/immigrant/spanishpolice.html

If you have any further questions just let me know.

All the best!

[wheresmykoala 52]

I would get a police certificate just to be safe. Part of me thinks you would be fine without one, because, like you, I read it as continuously living somewhere for more than 12 months, which you did not do. Combined over time, however, you did exceed that 12 month limit obviously, so it might be better to have it than not...at least that way if it's asked of you, you have it, and if not, from another commenter it seems to not be expensive to obtain, which is good news as the UK certificate is a rip off  

[Pee&Eee 70]

2 hours ago, wheresmykoala said:

I would get a police certificate just to be safe. Part of me thinks you would be fine without one, because, like you, I read it as continuously living somewhere for more than 12 months, which you did not do. Combined over time, however, you did exceed that 12 month limit obviously, so it might be better to have it than not...at least that way if it's asked of you, you have it, and if not, from another commenter it seems to not be expensive to obtain, which is good news as the UK certificate is a rip off  

Pure rip off?? I paid over £53 for it, couldn't believe i was paying for the same thing when I got the Spanish one done ?

[Deeplove11111 18]

Yeah you need a police report from spain cus you lived there for 9 months