another question about police checks

[pdo]

Hello,

I've got a question about this part of the guidelines regarding police checks:

"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."

Which i guess is straightforward, but I am wondering about the definition of "six consecutive months." Specifically, my spouse, who is applying along with me, did an exchange program during university that had her in Russia for about 8 calendar months, but she did leave the country during that time period to return home for a bit. We're assuming we need to get a police certificate for her from Russia, but given how incredibly complex and drawn out of a process i assume that is, we started to wonder whether or not her stay there counted as "living for six consecutive months" or not.

Any thoughts or experience on situations like this?

 

[GO83]

I think you need to look at where the main address was? Was the majority of the 8 months spent in Russia? Was that her mailing address for at least 6 months? Was she registered with a local office? Was there a visa attached to the time in Russia that states 6 months +?

Best bet is to go for the Russian check, put your application in sooner than later though!

 

[jes_ON]

Yeh, unless her return home was for something like 2 months, I expect it will be required. Sorry to hear that, I understand it's excruciating to get one from Russia... If money is no object, there are a few services that will do it for you (to the tune of ~500 USD - totally outrageous IMO).

 

[pdo]

i think we sorted it out and the verdict is no. Her visa was only for six months, she left after 5.5 months and did some travelling, and then while out of the country reapplied for a new visa, came back in for three months. We talked to an agent at the call centre for CIC this afernoon and they agreed, it doesn't count as six consecutive months, especially in light of the visa being issued for less than six months, then applying for a new visa out fo country.

 

[jes_ON]

Lucky you!