Fingerprints or Not for Police Check

[trailmix 77]

I apologize in advance as I am SURE this is a duplicate question that has been asked over and over, but I can't find the answer!

I am the U.S./Canadian Citizen, sponsoring my Husband (who is Australian - we live in Canada).

From what I have been reading, he will need 2 police checks (Australia and Canada). Here are my questions:

1. For the Canadian police check, can we just do this locally, in Calgary, and do we require the fingerprint version or just the name check version (or is this something they tell you when they send you one of the packages?).

2. For the Australian police check - fingerprints or not?

Both of these take a while so I'm just thinking we could get these now perhaps.

Thanks!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Canadian Police check in Calgary should be easy enough to get if ur in Calgary!! Local police or the RCMP should be able to do that, ensure it is a CANADA WIDE background check. Some give the document to u right there, some take take a few days, some charge a fee, some its free. usually a very easy document to get!! No criminal record, no fingerprints required for Canada!!, No clue on Australia. The Canadian police check is good for 1 year for Montreal (where al Cr-1/IR-1) interviews are held

Edited April 9, 2007 by flames9

[Kath 0]

hi ya

for the australian police check it is fingerprinting and it has to be a national one for immigrant visa's

take a look at this link on the australian embassey site

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL POLICE CHECKS

also there was another couple Marina & Dave from the UK but australian husband..they went through exactly this and ended up getting fingerprints done on card sending it over to his mother to get his police check done..i dont know how that went but go to the members icon and put their name in and look up some of their posts about it..

good luck

kath

ps just went and found the person post about police checks..

some more answers about overseas australians and police checks

Edited April 9, 2007 by Kath

[Cdn_Ali 11]

My understanding is that you only need a fingerprint search if your fingerprints are already in the system (due to a past arrest, etc), otherwise a name search should be sufficient.

I am also an Aussie living in Canada. When the time comes, I will be requesting a name search only for Australia. It will cost you about AUD$36.

[Kath 0]

hi cdn

sorry about ya luck mate but you have to have full set of fingerprints done for the australian police check ...

all australian's that have gone through this immigration process has done it...

take care

kath

[Cdn_Ali 11]

I wonder if the fingerprint issue is Consulate specific??? It is correct that the US Consulate in Australia requires fingerprints, but I don't believe Montreal does - and you would be going through Montreal. Hmmm...will have to look into this further.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Hmmm, If one requests the RCMP to do a background check, BUT they are residing outside of Canada, doesn't the RCMP then require fingerprinting??? Thought I read that on VJ or on the RCMP.ca website, so that may be the cause if you are residing outside Australia?? Again no hard facts to back this up, just throwing it out there. One could always email Mtl and see what they have to say (not always good info, but at least u have a paper copy on what they replied!!)

[trailmix 77]

Thanks Kath for sending me a note!

Well there is a choice really - police information check and/or fingerprinting. He doesn't have a criminal record, in either place, so I don't know that it is a huge issue.

I would love to email Montreal and find out - what is the contact email address?

Thanks for your help.

[Flames9_RN 358]

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?letter=C

[trailmix 77]

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?letter=C

Thanks for that, I don't know why I didn't think to check there!

[trailmix 77]

So I emailed the Consulate in Montreal asking whether fingerprinting is required for the Australian and/or Canadian Security checks - no they are not, according to them:

"Good morning,

The “Name check” version is acceptable. Fingerprints aren’t required.

Thank you"

Which is good!

[Cdn_Ali 11]

So I emailed the Consulate in Montreal asking whether fingerprinting is required for the Australian and/or Canadian Security checks - no they are not, according to them:

I second that - just received an email reply from Montreal today. Unless there is a name match for criminal activity in Australia, a name search is all that is required. Fingerprints are NOT required.