Chinese Original Police Certificate

[Fencesitter]

Right, I've been talking with my wife about the 'original' police certificate. From what we know, the police sent the original certificate to the notary office. We went back a week later and picked up what we thought was the original. However, after further investigation, it seems that what we received was a notarized certified translation of the original. This is all we were given and my wife never saw the original.

So, on the immigrant checklist, I did not check the box for "Police Certificate / Clearances". My dad called CIC and the person he spoke to said it won't be a problem and to include an explanation as to why we did not get the original. I did that, and also included what we were given from the notary office.

Now we are second guessing ourselves. We think that what we were given might be the original. So, if it turns out it is the original, does it matter we didn't check the box on the immigrant checklist? Would someone at CIC simply check it? On the other hand, if it isn't the original, would the explanation I wrote + the notarized certified translation suffice? I know it clearly states "original" on the checklist, but what if the authorities refused to give out the original?

Has this sort of thing ever happened to anyone before?

My wife said that on the Chinese immigration forum she posts on, the people said that CIC considers what we received from the notary office as original, yet I don't think it actually is the 'original'...just a notarized copy...though the English translation of the Chinese doesn't mention anything about a "copy"...

I'm really confused. I can't seem to get a straight answer...even contacting the notary office...they said that they keep the original for their files and only give what we received...so that's why I am pretty sure that what we submitted is not an original.

Will this pose a major problem??

Thanks,
FS

 

[Fencesitter]

Anyone??

Thanks,
FS

 

[Fencesitter]

Okay...no takers as of yet...how about this:

If I do have the original police certificate, but I did not check the box on the document checklist, will they refuse the app and return it for completion?

If it turns out that what we submitted is not the original, was I correct to not check the box?

What I was worried about was somehow misrepresenting...

Anyone? Pretty please??!!

Thanks!

FS

 

[visita44]

If you think you have the original police certificate. If you have a Client ID, you can Send it to the address below. Client ID is important for the additional documents to be attach to the application file. If you have just submitted the application, you need to wait until the application to be open so CIC will be ready to give you a Client ID # for the person being sponsored ...

other correspondence:

CPC Mississauga
P.O. Box 6100, Station A
Mississauga, ON
L5A 4H4

 

[mobeyk]

I would have checked it in any case. Your explanation is sufficient to show you are aware that this is not the original but all that you can get. Its not misrepresenting as you make a statement explaining. I doubt they send everything back just because there is no check mark on the list. You supplied a document and explanation but one never knows. Just hope for the best as you can't do anything for now.

 

[Fencesitter]

The reason I didn't check that box was because I am not providing the original. I didn't want to appear as though I am trying to say that what I have is the original. Do you think they will simply check the box for me, or possibly reject the entire application?

Should I send an addendum explaining in detail why I didn't check that box?

Damn, I really hope the people at CIC / the VO are reasonable!

FS

 

[itscoezy]

From what I have read from others. If a paper goes missing or was forgotten, or was not signed etc, they will contact you and request it. I'm not sure in the case of a simple check mark if they will do that - but they won't deny you because you didnt check a box for an item you provided.

worst case scenario, they will request you for a new document checklist and you will have to send it in, in however many days they give you.

 

[Marty11]

Since you already sent your wife's application, there is nothing you can do about it right now. Wait until you receive from CIC the e-mail with you as sponsor assesment and in that e-mail you will have a file number (used for both you and your spouse) and an UCI number (assigned just to you, she will have a different UCI number issued to her once the file recahes the HK VO). After you receive that e-mail having your file/UCI number, only then you can send an updated Document Checklist form with that box ticked off and the original Police Certificate attached together an explanation note. Or, better just wait until the file reaches HK V.O., then your wife will receive an e-mail stating that they received her file. In that e-mail will be the same file number, but her own UCI number. Then you cen send directly to HKV.O. that same documents stated above. Do not send anything now as it is a high probability that they will be lost, as it is difficult for them to associate documents without file/UCI numbers attached. And do not worry, they will not reject you because of that. I submitted the same (NOTARIZED, CERTIFIED TRANSLATED COPY, w/o original) and they did not say anything about it. At the interview though my wife has to bring an updated PC as it is valid for 3 months only, so now she has to make another one. As I said in a different thread, related to this same topic, CIC officers are aware that China does not issue to the original, if you request a notarized, translated copy, the notary office retains the original; they know that. My wife talks as well with some persons on a Chinese immigration forum. and the feedback from all was that HK VO accepts with no problems the notarized translated PC, without original. Maybe she talks to your wife as well in that forum, who knows. So, do not worry too much, although CIC officers are strict, they understand as well the particularities of Chinese authorities.

 

[Fencesitter]

Thanks, Marty.

I'm so stupid. I was just trying to be accurate, that's why I didn't check the box! I should have checked it! But I'm not providing an 'original'...damn...stupid, stupid, stupid!

What I'm hoping is that whoever reviews our application will simply make a note of it, but not request a new one. I don't want to delay my plans over a stupid box! It really shouldn't matter, as I have provided a one-page explanation and the accepted notarized copy...my wife assures me that the VO will not be that rigid...I'm not so sure...

Going to bang my head against the wall now...

FS

 

[Marty11]

Hey, FS relax, don't procastrinate yourself now. This was an unitentional mistake, and there is no reason for you to worry, you did not tick a box for a document you sent and it is accepted, accompanied by an explanation note. It is not the other way around in which you would have checked a box for the document being there and the actual document is not; this would definetely delay your application processing time for possible missrepresentation. But this one, no worries. Did you use the explanation note model I posted for you in the other thread ?

So, again, relax and enjoy life.

 

[itscoezy]

Did you use the explanation note model I posted for you in the other thread ?

So, again, relax and enjoy life.

what's the explanation note model?

 

[Fencesitter]

I used bits and pieces, but for the most part I wrote my own.

Thanks,

FS

 

[mobeyk]

Thanks, Marty.

I'm so stupid. I was just trying to be accurate, that's why I didn't check the box! I should have checked it! But I'm not providing an 'original'...damn...stupid, stupid, stupid!

What I'm hoping is that whoever reviews our application will simply make a note of it, but not request a new one. I don't want to delay my plans over a stupid box! It really shouldn't matter, as I have provided a one-page explanation and the accepted notarized copy...my wife assures me that the VO will not be that rigid...I'm not so sure...

Going to bang my head against the wall now...

FS

Your wife seems to be in the right mindset. Take it easy. All will be good. Visualize how you both receive the email requesting her passport and how you send it off and it comes back with the approved visa. Positive thoughts attract a positive outcome. In my case its the opposite. My wife is going nuts at times talking of refusal and what we do than. I always joke to her that it will not matter as I would move to China if my country does not allow me to be together with my wife. Your case is a breeze and you will be here in Canada in no time, paying your taxes, getting upset about stupid parking enforcement officers, eating wings and watching your buddies watch hockey.

 

[itscoezy]

Your case is a breeze and you will be here in Canada in no time, paying your taxes, getting upset about stupid parking enforcement officers, eating wings and watching your buddies watch hockey.

LOL I love this. That's a good reminder for me as well as sometimes I build Canada up in my head, but it has it's flaws too.

 

[Marty11]

Here is the explanation note I sent last year with my wife's application for spousal sponsorship, regarding missing original PC. You will just have to fill the spaces with your own information. I will try and put in red where you have to place your own information, I do not know how it will look in the end, but here it is:

Missing Original Chinese Police Certificate Explanation Note

Attached is a notarized certified translation copy of my wife's (her name here) Police Certificate.
I wanted to get the original Police Certificate as well, as per CIC web site requirements, and the Public Notary office in Guangzhou, where the Notarized and certified translation document was produced, told me that they had to retain the original Police Certificate for their files, in order to release the notarized translated copy. They told me that, in China, a notarized copy has the same effect or power, from a legal point of view, as the original and all Notarized and certified translated police certificate documents produced so far were good for the Canadian Immigration of Chinese citizens married with Canadian citizens. I was told that I was the only one asking for the original Police Certificate. I told them that I just wanted to comply with the Canadian CIC requirements.
I called the CIC Call Centre and explained the situation to an officer, called (officer name here[/color]), and he advised me to produce this explanation note of why the original Chinese Police Certificate for my wife is missing.

Your name here,

Address: your address here.
Home phone: your home phone number here.
e-mail: your e-mail address here

Date here.Hope this helps.

You can find it as well in Hong Kong Timeline thread, in which the last entry was on March 29.