PCC from Kuwait

[jangrace 25]

Hello everyone

 

My fiance just received the NOA2 and I am in the process of collating the documents I will eventually have to submit. Now, the problem I'm facing is that I lived in Kuwait until I was almost 18 and require a PCC from Kuwait. However, the US Department of State website says the following:

 

"Registration Criteria: Available only to applicants residing in Kuwait.  A police clearance certificate is required for U.S. immigrant visa applicants age 18 and over who are currently residing in Kuwait for 6 months or more. This is not available for former residents of Kuwait."

 

Yet, when I contacted the local US embassy via email, their response was:

"Thank you for writing to the U.S. Visa Service Desk.

We understand that you have a query regarding the requirement of PCC for your immigrant visa application.

In response to your question, we would like to inform you that if you have lived in any foreign country for more than a year after reaching the age of 16 years, you are also required to submit the PCC from that country.

Alternatively, please refer http://ustraveldocs.com/in/in-iv-visaapply.asp#apply to get more information regarding the same.

We hope this information is helpful to you."

 

I do not know what to do now. They state that it is only for current residents and yet I am being asked to provide this certificate. Does anyone know if my application would be incomplete if I do not provide this? I have come across conflicting information online and would appreciate it if anyone could tell me how to proceed.

Thanks.

[jesserz 73]

Oh you got an automated message it would appear. Best to call if you're still unsure, or when you get to the NVC stage, you can say the certificate isn't required and write an explanation with a printed shot of the website page stating otherwise. But, I think they're just going to keep referring you to the same page. 

 

Phone calls are always better, and written explanations with sources from the US government are also good.

 

Can you contact a Kuwait embassy where you live to ask them some more information? 

[Sukie 1,440]

If Kuwait does not give PCC certificates to people who do not currently live in Kuwait, then you will not be able to get a certificate.

 

As Jesserz says above, when you submit your documentation, print out the webpage from the site that states that you will not be able to get a Kuwaiti PCC because you do not currently LIVE in Kuwait.  Then write a paragraph simply stating that you lived in Kuwait from xx/xx/xx to xx/xx/xx and at the time, you were xx-xx in age.  And then say that "therefore, I am unable to obtain a PCC from Kuwait, because they state that they will only give a PCC to current residents."

 

Be sure you show the ages you were when you lived there.

 

The USCIS/NVC employees go by a big "how-to" book that is not always up-to-date.  We got an RFE from them regarding our PCC from Australia.  The PCC is now nationalized, but their "how-to" book had not been updated to reflect that, and they were expecting a PCC from each state in which my partner had lived.  After our explanation, where I sent them a copy of the Australian rules, we cleared with no problems.

 

It is ALWAYS better to head them off at the pass and tell (and SHOW) them the rules before their little checklist (which is often outdated) hands you an RFE.

 

You will be fine.

 

Good luck on your journey!

 

Sukie in NY

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

2 hours ago, jangrace said:

Hello everyone

 

My fiance just received the NOA2 and I am in the process of collating the documents I will eventually have to submit. Now, the problem I'm facing is that I lived in Kuwait until I was almost 18 and require a PCC from Kuwait. However, the US Department of State website says the following:

 

"Registration Criteria: Available only to applicants residing in Kuwait.  A police clearance certificate is required for U.S. immigrant visa applicants age 18 and over who are currently residing in Kuwait for 6 months or more. This is not available for former residents of Kuwait."

 

Yet, when I contacted the local US embassy via email, their response was:

"Thank you for writing to the U.S. Visa Service Desk.

We understand that you have a query regarding the requirement of PCC for your immigrant visa application.

In response to your question, we would like to inform you that if you have lived in any foreign country for more than a year after reaching the age of 16 years, you are also required to submit the PCC from that country.

Alternatively, please refer http://ustraveldocs.com/in/in-iv-visaapply.asp#apply to get more information regarding the same.

We hope this information is helpful to you."

 

I do not know what to do now. They state that it is only for current residents and yet I am being asked to provide this certificate. Does anyone know if my application would be incomplete if I do not provide this? I have come across conflicting information online and would appreciate it if anyone could tell me how to proceed.

Thanks.

You got the automated message. Don't worry because the embassy knows that you can't get a PCC from Kuwait. 

 

What country is your fiance from?

[jangrace 25]

9 hours ago, jesserz said:

Oh you got an automated message it would appear. Best to call if you're still unsure, or when you get to the NVC stage, you can say the certificate isn't required and write an explanation with a printed shot of the website page stating otherwise. But, I think they're just going to keep referring you to the same page. 

 

Phone calls are always better, and written explanations with sources from the US government are also good.

 

Can you contact a Kuwait embassy where you live to ask them some more information? 

You have a point. I guess I'll call the embassy and find out what they suggest. Thanks for your idea. 

I can contact the local Kuwaiti embassy, but I hear they are not very responsive and based on my research (including reading posts on VJ), there is about a 16% chance they'll actually provide a PCC.

[jangrace 25]

8 hours ago, Sukie said:

If Kuwait does not give PCC certificates to people who do not currently live in Kuwait, then you will not be able to get a certificate.

 

As Jesserz says above, when you submit your documentation, print out the webpage from the site that states that you will not be able to get a Kuwaiti PCC because you do not currently LIVE in Kuwait.  Then write a paragraph simply stating that you lived in Kuwait from xx/xx/xx to xx/xx/xx and at the time, you were xx-xx in age.  And then say that "therefore, I am unable to obtain a PCC from Kuwait, because they state that they will only give a PCC to current residents."

 

Be sure you show the ages you were when you lived there.

 

The USCIS/NVC employees go by a big "how-to" book that is not always up-to-date.  We got an RFE from them regarding our PCC from Australia.  The PCC is now nationalized, but their "how-to" book had not been updated to reflect that, and they were expecting a PCC from each state in which my partner had lived.  After our explanation, where I sent them a copy of the Australian rules, we cleared with no problems.

 

It is ALWAYS better to head them off at the pass and tell (and SHOW) them the rules before their little checklist (which is often outdated) hands you an RFE.

 

You will be fine.

 

Good luck on your journey!

 

Sukie in NY

Thanks for the tip and for sharing your story Sukie! I'll keep that in mind when I go for my interview.

7 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

You got the automated message. Don't worry because the embassy knows that you can't get a PCC from Kuwait. 

 

What country is your fiance from?

I'm the beneficiary and am currently in India.