MissRepresentation said:
The visa office handling our application (NOT Mexico City) requested a Mexican police check back in February. We live in Canada so we couriered all the paperwork to the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City the following day, but we haven't heard from them since and we know for a fact that our VO hasn't either. I know that in-country requests take 10 days or so to be processed, but I haven't been able to find out how long it takes them to process requests from non-Mexican nationals living abroad.
Just looking for some reliable information on how much longer we'll need to wait to get this certificate. Does anyone have first-hand experience with this?
Cheers.
It takes the same 10 days maximum once the PGR has them in their hands, whether you are there and process it directly or whether the Embassy does it on your behalf (the only distinction is who picks up the results or where they are sent).
I would send the Mexico VO a very specific case enquiry asking for confirmation that they received them and that they have the results back (and if not a date when they expect to have them by). If that doesn't satisfy you, call the PGR (phone number avail http://www.pgr.gob.mx/Servicios/Constancia/antecedentes%20registrales.asp) and ask them if they can please give you any insight.
Another option would be to ask the Embassy of Mexico near you whether they are willing to generate the request letter (I know the Embassy and Consulates in Canada do/used to) and a power of attorney for someone you know - and trust - in Mexico. They can then process it on your husband's behalf (of course, he'd need to send new fingerprints, photos, copy of his cartilla, etc too). They would then mail the PGR certificate straight to you. Note that I'd want to double check with the VO that they would accept this (people have reported having the Mexico VO accept them, but they obviously know the certificates well. I don't know if other VOs would process them or send them to Mexico for verification).
MissRepresentation said:
Do you know if it's possible for non-Mexicans to obtain this certificate in person from the PGR? I know that non-Mexicans who reside in Mexico can do it, but I'm not sure if I can travel to Mexico City let's say on a holiday and get it done there in the usual 10 days.
They do it in Mexico City and in several state offices (sedes), listed on the link I included above. For non-Mexicans they usually ask for an FM-2 or FM-3 so I'd call and ask them (if your Spanish / your husband's isn't good enough, PM me if you wish).
FWIW, I know Mexico VO seems to take a while (perhaps they batch process them), but usually do respond to polite and very specific case specific enquiries.