Hello,
I'm sure this is covered somewhere obvious on the cic site and/or in this forum - however I've looked and looked and can't find what I need.
I'm familiar with the police certificate requirements for a PR application. However I'm confused about the US requirements. I know an FBI certificate with fingerprints needs to be provided. However the cic site also states that "State certificates may also be requested".
If State certificates are required/requested, is this something that I need to figure out BEFORE I submit the PR application? (If so, how do I do that?) Or is the requirement for State certs. something that won't come out until the PR app is being processed and/or the FBI certiciate is obtained?
Again - apologies if the answer is obvious and thanks in advance.
OK - just poked around some more...
Am I correct in thinking that the State certificate rules are the same as the general police clearance rules? In other words, any State you lived in for at least 6 months after the age of 18 means you need a State certificate from that specific State?
Thanks.
Speaking from experience, we only submitted the FBI certificate. They did come back and request the state certificates as well, which did cause a slight delay. Just to cover your bases, go ahead and request the certificates before submitting your application. It will save you time and headaches later on down the road. I had to get one from Texas and Florida and they both were turned around rather quickly.
Good luck!
Supposedly this was changed in October, 2009. You now do not need state certificates unless they are requested. As others have said, though, probably doesn't hurt to submit them.
CIC has flip-flopped on this in recent years. During an earlier phase when State's were not specifically required but might "be requested," I only submitted the FBI and was never asked to provide any State certs. Others, during the same time period, were requested to provide State certs. There are probably some relatively obvious triggers, starting with any hits in NCIC, TECS, or other databases used by law enforcement and border security officers. No arrests ever anywhere, good odds of sailing through -- unless they flip flop back to requiring the State certs again.
Jayne Wrote:Supposedly this was changed in October, 2009. You now do not need state certificates unless they are requested. As others have said, though, probably doesn't hurt to submit them.
I agree with dpenabill - they changed this back again recently. For the trouble it causes to NOT include State clearances with your initial submission IF they decide they want them - compared to the cost and effort involved with actually getting State clearances . . . the basic consensus is that you should just get them and submit them and avoid the potential delays caused by not submitting them.
I submitted an application that included my FBI and State clearances, but not my sons' because we were still waiting on theirs. Immediately after Buffalo received our application they sent a letter requesting my sons' State
and FBI clearances.
I just wanted to thank you so much to everyone for the answers and advice - you have no idea how much I appreciate it. As always, this message board is a fantastic resource filled with lots of helpful people. Thanks again!