Police clearance questions... HELP!

[missjmeezy]

Hi there, im Canadian sponsoring my American husband. I noticed in the application package that a police clearance is required from every country you have lived in since the age of 18. My husband and I met while attending school in the Caribbean.... if he and I were students, are we exempt from this?

Do we both have to send police clearances or is it just for the person being sponsored?!

Thanks

 

[chipolopolo]

Hi there, im Canadian sponsoring my American husband. I noticed in the application package that a police clearance is required from every country you have lived in since the age of 18. My husband and I met while attending school in the Caribbean.... if he and I were students, are we exempt from this?

Do we both have to send police clearances or is it just for the person being sponsored?!

Thanks

Hi there, only the applicant(your husband) is required to obtain certificates. In your case he will need an FBI clearance which takes currently about 12 weeks. He will also need a clearance from the caribbean regardless of his status there so long as he resided there for 6 months or more, and was 18 or older at the time. This link will give you the specific address for each police department you need http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp . I would advise you start as soon as possible as some departments can take weeks to months. Also remember you clearances must be issued for no longer than 3 months at time of submission to CIC..all the best

 

[missjmeezy]

Thanks for your reply.

When sending the package for my spouse, if you include the receipt the receipt of FBI clearance pending, is it true that it will not significantly delay the process?

thanks

 

[chipolopolo]

Thanks for your reply.

When sending the package for my spouse, if you include the receipt the receipt of FBI clearance pending, is it true that it will not significantly delay the process?

thanks

i can honestly say i have no idea whether it would delay or not, but many have sent it that way, then forwarded certificate after obtaining first stage approval(sponorship). I personally had two submit two certificates(FBI, and my birth country). Both my certificates were over the 3 month limit, but CIC still accepted them. I also sent in my residency fees after sponsor aproval, and i got no delays. Was processed within 6 months start to finish. Every office is different so my advise is get application as complete as possible if anything do clearances too

 

[saria1]

Thanks for your reply.

When sending the package for my spouse, if you include the receipt the receipt of FBI clearance pending, is it true that it will not significantly delay the process?

thanks

I sent my hubby's application in showing he submitted for the FBI report. You have to assume, you can either wait for the FBI report and send it as a complete package after waiting 3+ months. Or you can mail in your package and wait after you know you have received SA. I opted to wait while the application was being worked on. I don't think either way you can go wrong. Good luck!

 

[missjmeezy]

Sorry everyone!! this is becoming a headache for me.

I called the phone number for the police headquarters in Antigua (as listed on the CIC website) to talk to them regarding getting a police clearance. They were not helpful at all and actually told me different information from what was listed on the CIC website. They were telling me about a fee and that I have to cover Fed ex fees from Antigua (start at 50 USD) to wherever they send it to. I was wondering, where exactly are they sending the form to? directly to CIC or to me? (the sponsor)

Sorry if this is a stupid question

please advise. Thank you!

 

[rhcohen2014]

Sorry everyone!! this is becoming a headache for me.

I called the phone number for the police headquarters in Antigua (as listed on the CIC website) to talk to them regarding getting a police clearance. They were not helpful at all and actually told me different information from what was listed on the CIC website. They were telling me about a fee and that I have to cover Fed ex fees from Antigua (start at 50 USD) to wherever they send it to. I was wondering, where exactly are they sending the form to? directly to CIC or to me? (the sponsor)

Sorry if this is a stupid question

please advise. Thank you!

the police records must be mailed to YOU, and then you send it to CIC. the CIC website is not going to have the most accurate information from all countries regarding their rules about obtaining police records, especially mailing fees. there are some countries that won't process a request until asked by CIC, and cic knows this. If antiqua requires notification from CIC to get the record, then you will have to wait until CIC requests the record.

 

[missjmeezy]

I sent my hubby's application in showing he submitted for the FBI report. You have to assume, you can either wait for the FBI report and send it as a complete package after waiting 3+ months. Or you can mail in your package and wait after you know you have received SA. I opted to wait while the application was being worked on. I don't think either way you can go wrong. Good luck!

Hi @saria1 i called foreign affairs (the 613 number) and she just told me that the FBI or all police clearances must be completed in full before i send the application so that it can be sent along with the application. I HOPE SHES WRONG i can't wait another 3 months. I was hoping to send an FBI report or some type of receipt that said it was pending.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Hi @ saria1 i called foreign affairs (the 613 number) and she just told me that the FBI or all police clearances must be completed in full before i send the application so that it can be sent along with the application. I HOPE SHES WRONG i can't wait another 3 months. I was hoping to send an FBI report or some type of receipt that said it was pending.

whoever you spoke to is not familiar with what is currently happening with outland applications. Currently, CIC is looking the other way when police records are not submitted upfront. whoever you are talking too is probably just reading from the checklist and is repeating what is listed as required on that list. there are many applicants who are successful in getting sponsor approval without submitting police checks upfront and it does not appear to be a reason applications are being sent back. since the FBI is taking longer than usual to process records, doing so has unofficially been accepted by the agents processing the application.

I really wouldn't put too much stock into what call center agents tell you, as they are unfamiliar with actually going through the process as an applicant and sponsor, and most likely are unaware of what cic is currently "looking the other way" for.