Police Certificates

[judyann811 39]

Hi,

 

I am the beneficiary for a K1 Visa, we are waiting on NOA2 so I wanted to start getting my documents together needed for the Interview. Question 're the police certificates - I need to get one from Australia and the UK as am a dual citizen, but just wondered if I am getting it too early? ie what is the validity date needed on the certificate... just worried if I get it too early they will ask for another more current one?

 

Thanks!

[Loren Y 2,732]

They are good for 1 year for your residing country, they don't expire if you don't go back to a country you spent 6 months in. Some take a little while to get, so check that out so you can have it in time. We got my fiancee police clearance in April, and she didn't interview till mid August, we applied for it in March because it took 4-5 weeks to get.

[Wuozopo 4,285]

3 hours ago, judyann811 said:

Hi,

 

I am the beneficiary for a K1 Visa, we are waiting on NOA2 so I wanted to start getting my documents together needed for the Interview. Question 're the police certificates - I need to get one from Australia and the UK as am a dual citizen, but just wondered if I am getting it too early? ie what is the validity date needed on the certificate... just worried if I get it too early they will ask for another more current one?

 

Thanks!

Your London embassy instructions website https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee-2/required-documents/ says

 

Police Certificate for Other Countries (if applicable)

Required for all countries where you have lived for more than 6 months since the age of 16 and any country where you have been arrested, even if you were not resident there.  U.S. police certificates are not required.  Police certificates from certain countries are unavailable or are obtained directly by this office.  Fingerprints are required for certain countries. A list of UK police stations who can provide fingerprinting services is available from the Embassy website, here. (PDF – 337kb) Foreign police certificates are valid indefinitely, unless you have returned to reside in that country or has been arrested since the issuance of the certificate;

______________

And the Dept of State page says (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/australia.html)

 

Refer to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) website.

Comments:  Australian Federal Police certificates based on fingerprints are preferred, but a certificate not based on fingerprints is acceptable if it shows all aliases ever used. Send a copy of the police certificate to the National Visa Center.

__________

 

Comment

At one time I knew a couple refused (only delayed, not denied) in London because they didn't get the fingerprint version. However that was at least 8 years ago so maybe things have relaxed.

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by Wuozopo

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[Zoeeeeeee 795]

In the UK, your police certificate needs to have been issues within 6 months of your medical appointment - apparently Knightsbridge won’t accept it if it’s older than 6 months.

[Zoeeeeeee 795]

2 hours ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

In the UK, your police certificate needs to have been issues within 6 months of your medical appointment - apparently Knightsbridge won’t accept it if it’s older than 6 months.

Just to add to this, I’ve literally just booked my medical (I’ve been delaying, as can’t leave the UK until  November) and the email I got through said the ACRO (UK police certificate) needs to be issued within the last TWELVE months...which confused me somewhat, as I was sure I’d read six months somewhere.

 

So, I’ve had a dig and found the thread that confirms the six month requirement (was wondering if I’d imagined it):

 

 

[Limey 550]

On 6/3/2019 at 3:51 AM, judyann811 said:

Hi,

 

I am the beneficiary for a K1 Visa, we are waiting on NOA2 so I wanted to start getting my documents together needed for the Interview. Question 're the police certificates - I need to get one from Australia and the UK as am a dual citizen, but just wondered if I am getting it too early? ie what is the validity date needed on the certificate... just worried if I get it too early they will ask for another more current one?

 

Thanks!

In addition to what others have posted above, the UK one is pretty quick and easy to obtain. I'd probably apply once you have NOA2, as you've probably got at least a month or two after that until interview. I'd get the Aussie one now assuming you won't be visiting there before your interview.