URGENT! N400 - police clearance letters - uncooperative police

[SoSimple 0]

Has anyone run into this scenario?

 

Due to inadequate fingerprints being provided by me to the FBI, I have to get police clearance letters from everywhere I've lived in the US.  Most places have provided criminal records (or rather, a statement saying there are none) without any problem.  No fingerprints, proof of identity, etc. required - they basically just did a name check.

 

1. Is this "name check" clearance adequate?

 

I have run into a problem with South Fayette Township Police Department however.  They are refusing to provide this information unless I show up in person.  I live in Phoenix.  They're just outside Pittsburgh.  Given that I need this information within two or three weeks, we're talking $500 in flights alone.   I have contacted the police chief to no avail and am in the process of contacting various local officials (state senator, state representative), but this just seems unreasonable.  The police department are INSISTING I show up.  No exceptions.

 

2. Does anyone know if the PA "Sunshine law" entitles me to a "name check" clearance without showing up?

3. Once again, will USCIS accept the name check only clearances?  (NY state requires my fingerprints ... go figure .... but PA state & SC state/local do not).  The letter doesn't specify, and from the USCIS manual, it looks like even the FBI only does a name check with state/local police.  But we all know that what the manual says and what actually happens are often different things

 

Please help.  I'm under the gun after literally more than a year of silence and now I'm scrambling ....

 

Debbie

[Going through 5,671]

I'm assuming this is due to you having a fingerprinting waiver?

 

If you *do* have a fingerprinting waiver due to a medical condition, perhaps you can offer to fax a copy of your waiver to them?

 

If you don't have a fingerprinting waiver, I would submit what you can to USCIS, along with a written explanation over why you don't have the South Fayette one (basically they required you to obtain one in person/refused to mail it/you cannot travel there to get one).

[SoSimple 0]

Hey thanks for the response.  Not a fingerprint waiver, just that the two sets I gave were "illegible".  So here we are ....

 

I *could* travel there.  But it's going to be $600 in flights to do it in the next couple of weeks, plus time off work that I don't have.

 

Ironically, due to a FUBAR on the part of USCIS, they had me come in for a third set of fingerprints which turned out really, really well.  But they won't send THOSE to the FBI because, y'know, RULES. (insert exasperated emoticon here).

[Going through 5,671]

The good thing is that you do have the police letters from the other areas you lived in, so it shows good faith in trying to fulfill all of their requirements (and makes it more likely for USCIS to accept an explanation on how you tried but couldn't get the last one, I would imagine).

 

What reason did they have for not submitting the 3rd set?

[SoSimple 0]

Per the manual you only get two attempts at fingerprints for the FBI and if both fail you have to go through the police clearance route.  I did just get a letter (of sorts) from S. Fayette.  It practically took an act of congress (well, calling the state senator's office) to get it done.

[Going through 5,671]

1 minute ago, SoSimple said:

Per the manual you only get two attempts at fingerprints for the FBI and if both fail you have to go through the police clearance route.  I did just get a letter (of sorts) from S. Fayette.  It practically took an act of congress (well, calling the state senator's office) to get it done.

I know what you mean---I had to get court certified documents from Ontario. It took the involvement of two clerks, the court supervisor, the Regional Director, the Ministry Attorney General and about 3 months worth of phone calls/emails to finally get it in my hands.

[manojvasanthram 0]

Can you plz confirm if between Biometrics and Naturalization Interview, is there a police verification step in which a police visits you at your residence ?

[manojvasanthram 0]

Can you also kindly confirm how many fingers were taken for scan during bio-metric application.

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

4 hours ago, manojvasanthram said:

Can you plz confirm if between Biometrics and Naturalization Interview, is there a police verification step in which a police visits you at your residence ?

No they don't.

USCIS only runs a livescan.

You can do that yourself too.

[ThaOne 101]

6 hours ago, manojvasanthram said:

Can you also kindly confirm how many fingers were taken for scan during bio-metric application.

As far as I know, there are different codes (i.e code 1, or 2, or 3...) written on appointments. Each code determines how many fingers, photos or no photos would be taken. But I don't think there is a standard for everyone. From what I was told, it is based on how long ago you may have had your biometrics taken for any other filing. So if you are filing your n400 now it could depend on how long ago you had your biometrics taken for the 10 year green card or at ROC. If the last time USCIS took your fingerprints is 9 years ago chances are you will get the full service. If you removed your conditions 1 year ago, they will take less fingerprints, just to compare them to what they already have.

Maybe someone else could give more info.