After almost 6 months of no updates, I heard from the Detroit consulate the other day. Their letter said that my application is incomplete because there is no police certificate for the United Kingdom, where I stayed for 4 months a few years ago. The instructions specifically say that police certificates are needed for places the applicant has lived for 6 months or more.
I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile to contact them and confirm that they actually need the certificate, or just give up and send it. It's going to cost $100+ to get it in time for the deadline they gave me. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
If you have (or can get) fax, phone or email contact info for Detroit (maybe someone here has it if they've been processed through Detroit) it's probably worth a shot to at least try to clarify with them since, you're right, it's only supposed to be any country you've resided in for more than 6 months. If you only visited there for 4 months, you shouldn't need a clearance. But if you can't actually talk to Detroit, or get a definitive response by fax or email, it's probably best just to go ahead and get the clearance. This is perhaps the most frustrating part of this whole process - that, out of the blue, they'll ask you for documentation or information that contradicts the application instructions and it's sometimes impossible to get in touch with anybody to get clarification.
I'm just wondering: how did they discover that you were in the UK for four months? If it was because you listed that location in your address history you might have inadvertently set yourself up for this. Listing an overseas visit in your personal address history could trigger them to ask for a clearance. If you're visiting another country for a period of time that's less than 6 months, you're not considered to be residing there, so your permanent address would still be in your home country. If so, it's a good point to remember for those in a similar situation who are anticipating submitting an application in the future.
I'd agree with Robsluv, but just add that I wouldn't wait in ordering the UK certificate, as chances are now they've asked for it, they will want it. Even if it isn't technically required up front, there's never anything preventing CIC from requesting more info if they need to clarify something in order to make a decision.
(I'm totally speculating here, but possibly a background check came back with a conviction for someone with a similar name in the UK and they're wanting to make sure it's not you, by getting the police certificate.)
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/information.../intro.asp
"CIC will also do background checks in all the countries or territories in which you and your family members have lived. These checks will determine if you have had any arrests or convictions, or if you are a security risk to Canada."
Hi
matthewc Wrote:I'd agree with Robsluv, but just add that I wouldn't wait in ordering the UK certificate, as chances are now they've asked for it, they will want it. Even if it isn't technically required up front, there's never anything preventing CIC from requesting more info if they need to clarify something in order to make a decision.
(I'm totally speculating here, but possibly a background check came back with a conviction for someone with a similar name in the UK and they're wanting to make sure it's not you, by getting the police certificate.)
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/information.../intro.asp
"CIC will also do background checks in all the countries or territories in which you and your family members have lived. These checks will determine if you have had any arrests or convictions, or if you are a security risk to Canada."
Your not speculating as CIC/CHC has access to the British Criminal Records
PMM
I send an email to Detroit via their online form (
https://dmp-portal.cic.gc.ca/cicemail/in...on=detroit) and actually heard from them within a couple hours. They said I need to submit either proof of my entry and departure dates for the United Kingdom or the police certificate. The chance of finding boarding passes from 6 years ago is just about nil, and the passport stamps don't have enough detail, so it looks like I'm stuck with the police certificate.
The 4 months in the U.K. were for a university term, so unfortunately it showed up in my education history too. Otherwise I would have considered leaving it out as irrelevant.
Thanks for all the help!
Clarification:
The applicant is required to submit police certificates for all countries in which the applicant lived for more than six months.
But CIC can ask for police certificates in addition to those, and occasionally will. They demand, after all, information as to location for every single month of one's adult life, and one can expect they conduct background checks based on that information.
Sorry to hear that your case is delayed by this, not to mention the additional cost, but I suspect it is not really all that unusual.
Try your email archive if you keep old emails, just maybe there's a copy of the itinerary from booking online which might be sufficient to satisfy them as to the dates. It might be worth a try.
Failing that, yes, you're going to have to get the police certificate.