Police Certificate difficulty

[lgb2015 51]

Hi all! My boyfriend and I are starting the process of applying for K1 visa. I am British, he is American. We met in Iraq while he was deployed with US Army and I was working for an international NGO. We have been together nearly 1.5 years, visiting each other regularly (B2 visa). I am a humanitarian worker and have lived in several countries more than 6 months (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq). I have the police certificate from Jordan, I am waiting (fingers crossed!) for one from Lebanon, but the only way I seem to be able to get an Iraq certificate is if I go in-person to Baghdad... that's not really possible. Have you heard of any flexibility regarding police certificates? Maybe a letter from my NGO employer confirming I wasn't arrested or detained at all during my time in Iraq? Thanks for your help!

[payxibka 10,045]

48 minutes ago, lgb2015 said:

Hi all! My boyfriend and I are starting the process of applying for K1 visa. I am British, he is American. We met in Iraq while he was deployed with US Army and I was working for an international NGO. We have been together nearly 1.5 years, visiting each other regularly (B2 visa). I am a humanitarian worker and have lived in several countries more than 6 months (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq). I have the police certificate from Jordan, I am waiting (fingers crossed!) for one from Lebanon, but the only way I seem to be able to get an Iraq certificate is if I go in-person to Baghdad... that's not really possible. Have you heard of any flexibility regarding police certificates? Maybe a letter from my NGO employer confirming I wasn't arrested or detained at all during my time in Iraq? Thanks for your help!

According to the document reciprocity site,  no alternate documents,  no exceptions 

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

46 minutes ago, payxibka said:

According to the document reciprocity site,  no alternate documents,  no exceptions 

I saw that, too.  So, is the only solution going to Iraq to get it?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, lgb2015 said:

.....but the only way I seem to be able to get an Iraq certificate is if I go in-person to Baghdad... that's not really possible. Have you heard of any flexibility regarding police certificates? Maybe a letter from my NGO employer confirming I wasn't arrested or detained at all during my time in Iraq? Thanks for your help!

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Iraq.html

Registration Criteria:  Each applicant with legal residency in Iraq can apply for an Iraqi Police Certificate, regardless of nationality.  Applicants within Iraq must obtain this certificate from the Directorate of Criminal Evidence Department, Ministry of Interior in Baghdad, Iraq.  Certificates obtained from branch offices in other cities are not acceptable.  Applicants outside Iraq can apply for a certificate through the Iraq Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence.

[payxibka 10,045]

2 minutes ago, missileman said:

I saw that, too.  So, is the only solution going to Iraq to get it?

Can be retrieved locally via the iraq embassy 

[arken 4,197]

FYI, you would need the PC from Iraq only if you have stayed there for more than one year.

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

Just now, payxibka said:

Can be retrieved locally via the iraq embassy 

OK.  Thanks.....I thought I had read that it had to be in person....thanks.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, arken said:

FYI, you would need the PC from Iraq only if you have stayed there for more than one year.

Can you cite the source?

[arken 4,197]

7 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Can you cite the source?

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/collect-and-submit-forms-and-documents-to-the-nvc/step-5-collect-supporting-documents.html

 

If you ...	AND you...	THEN submit a police certificate from...
Are 16 years old or older	Lived in your country of nationality for more than 6 months at any time in your life	Your country of nationality
Are 16 years old or older	Have lived in your country of current residence (if different from nationality) for more than 6 months	Your country of current residence
Have ever lived in another country for 12 months or more	Were 16 years or older at the time you lived there	The country where you used to live.
Were arrested for any reason, regardless of how long you lived in that city or country, and no matter what age you were		The city and/or country where you were arrested.

 

Of course, if one has an arrest record, has to submit PC even if lived in a country for few days only.

[Massheena 0]

http://qatarhelplinegroup.com/saudi-police-clearance-certificate/

 

Can you go through the website... It's may be help you....

 

Those guys are agency they doing the PCC and attestation few countries...

[payxibka 10,045]

10 minutes ago, arken said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/collect-and-submit-forms-and-documents-to-the-nvc/step-5-collect-supporting-documents.html

 

If you ...	AND you...	THEN submit a police certificate from...
Are 16 years old or older	Lived in your country of nationality for more than 6 months at any time in your life	Your country of nationality
Are 16 years old or older	Have lived in your country of current residence (if different from nationality) for more than 6 months	Your country of current residence
Have ever lived in another country for 12 months or more	Were 16 years or older at the time you lived there	The country where you used to live.
Were arrested for any reason, regardless of how long you lived in that city or country, and no matter what age you were		The city and/or country where you were arrested.

 

Of course, if one has an arrest record, has to submit PC even if lived in a country for few days only.

They are doing k1 not IR

 

• Police Clearance from other countries: Applicants who have stayed for six (6) months or more upon reaching the age of 16 years are required to obtain a police certificate. Country-specific information on how to secure foreign police certificates is available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html.

Edited May 31, 2019 by payxibka

[arken 4,197]

Wow 6 month rule for K1 and 12 months for IR or FB petition. Damn. 

 

16 minutes ago, payxibka said:

They are doing k1 not IR

 

• Police Clearance from other countries: Applicants who have stayed for six (6) months or more upon reaching the age of 16 years are required to obtain a police certificate. Country-specific information on how to secure foreign police certificates is available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html.

 

[lgb2015 51]

Hi all, I spoke to the US embassy in London. Wanted to share their feedback in case it helps others:

 

" If you remain unable to obtain a requested document, you should be prepared to discuss this matter with the consular officer on the day of the visa interview.  Please bring any written evidence you may have regarding your attempts to obtain the document."

 

I also heard of one person getting a signed letter from their employer in the relevant country confirming dates of employment and that they had no criminal convictions during that time period. 

 

I'm trying to get the certificate through the embassy but having spoken to several other humanitarians who have attempted the same process, it's extremely difficult (no one had managed it through London embassy). At least it's something that can be discussed with CO, and can easily obtain the evidence showing several attempts to obtain the certificate.