Police Certificate Query

[Pillowrath]

Well, I am kinda new to this forum and I am wondering if you need a police certificate from a place you lived for approximately 9 months, 4 years ago. I'm only asking this because the Police Department in question (In the United States) has said that they need a valid reason for them to even consider making one (which, according to the folks there, can take over 5 months); and for that, we have to wait till our application gets approved (if it gets approved..). From what I have heard from friends, I think after your application gets approved you only have a time of 2 months to submit the rest of the required documents... is that right?

[bluepine]

Yes you will need PCC , reason being as mentioned on CIC website that u need PCC if you lived more than six months in any country since you got 18 years of age.

[Pillowrath]

Ah okay, thought so.

But is it also true that I would only have 2 months to submit the rest of the required documents? I mean, if the PCC takes more than 5 months to be issued, then there's no way I can do that...

[PMM]

HI

Ah okay, thought so.

But is it also true that I would only have 2 months to submit the rest of the required documents? I mean, if the PCC takes more than 5 months to be issued, then there's no way I can do that...

I doubt that any US state police certificate is going to take 5 months.  You know that you don't apply to the police department you apply via the state.  See: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/Detroit/offices-bureaux/certificates-certificat.aspx?lang=eng&menu_id=332&menu=L

PMM

[jes_ON]

Pillowrath, I think you have some bad information on the PCC - most of the States are pretty straight-forward, and take about 3 weeks to process.  (I have to do 7 States...)

Besides - my letter from CIO says you have 120 days from the date of the letter to submit the full application - that's 4 months, eh?   What does your letter say?

[max_lee]

Yes both PMM & Jes are right, got mine done for 3 states in US got them all within 3 weeks.

Max

[Pillowrath]

Thanks for all your help guys. Looks like I was misinformed by the agent that was supposed to be helping me. I am not taking any help from that agent because he only seemed to be interested in leeching money off me, but he had said something like this when we had talked about the PCC.

I haven't received any letter from the CIO yet, but I think I am expecting it to arrive pretty soon. Thanks again, folks. It's appreciated.

[wsj78]

For multiple states in US, do you send a written request to each police station? Do they all reqest fingerprints?

[max_lee]

The way it works for PCC is that you will need to go to the nearest police station and take your finger prints, 1 for each state you want. You can take as many finger prints as you want, some places they do charge but here in Michigan got mine free and I did for 4 states. Some states send the envelope with the address where it needs to be sent. Once this is done you will need to check the requirement for that particular state as they might have some additional forms to be filled up, then send the payment along with the request. Payment can be through money order or personal checks.

Once you send it in all possibility you should get those completed by 3-4 weeks time, a good option to check if your report is ready is to check if the check has been encashed, normally takes 2-3 days to receive the PCC after the check is encashed.

Rgds

Max

[jes_ON]

Hi wsj78,

PMM has posted the relevant link above.  Please go to that page and READ the instructions for EACH STATE that you lived in for at least 6 months. 

- Each state is different. 
- You do not send ANY PCC requests to a police station, you have to apply from the state.  The only reason you go to a police station is to get your fingerprints taken.  Most will charge for fingerprinting services. If you have to get multiple PCCs, it is usually cheaper to get all your prints done at the same time.
- No, all states do NOT require fingerprints. 
- Some states require that you use specific forms, that you have to download or order from the state.
- And, some states offer two options - fingerprints, or name-based records check only.  The opinion of most people in this forum is that when you have the option, it is better to chose the fingerprint option.
- Not all states accept personal checks.

[BobbyB]

Police            All applicants must submit police certificates/clearances as part of
certificates      the application process.

                  Note: Do not submit your police certificates to the CIO. If your application
                         is recommended by the CIO for further assessment, you will be
                         required to submit the police certificates along with the full
                         application to the Canadian Visa Office indicated on your
                         application.

                  You and all of your family members who are 18 years of age and older and
                  who are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens will have to provide:

                      • a valid police certificate, or
                      • a police clearance, or
                      • a record of no information.

                  These documents are to be provided for each country other than
                  Canada, in which you have lived for six consecutive months or longer
                  since reaching the age of 18.

                   Note: If you or your family members were under 18 years of age
                   (16 years of age in certain jurisdictions) for the entire time you lived in a
                   particular country, you do not need to provide a police certificate for that
                   country.

                  You may begin to gather your police certificates before submitting your
                  application to the CIO. Although you will not submit the police certificate
                  to the CIO, you must be ready to submit them to a visa office if your
                  application is recommended for further assessment at a Canadian visa
                  office. When you submit the application to the visa office please ensure
                  that your certificates were not issued more than three months before you
                  submitted your application to the CIO.

                  For applicants requiring multiple police certificates, please be certain these
                  documents can be produced at the time of the submission of your
                  application to the Canadian visa office.