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Police Certificate Clarification

flyingpbandj

Hero Member
Jan 31, 2018
219
116
Coquitlam, BC
Hello,

I'm in the process of gathering all required documents in preparation of possibly getting an ITA for under CEC.

One of the documents required is "police certificate". I don't know if I need to submit one as I moved to Canada under a Study Permit about a month before my 18th birthday.

I've been checking the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates/about.html and it has the following information: "You may need a police certificate from any country or territory that you have spent six months or more since the age of 18."

As well as the following: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5527-application-permanent-residence-temporary-resident-permit-holder.html

"Note: If you or your family members were under 18 years of age (16 years of age in certain jurisdictions) for the entire time you lived in a particular country, you do not need to provide a police certificate for that country."

I just want to make sure that I do not require to obtain a police certificate. I have visited my home country afterwards, but always for a couple of weeks. The total sum of my visits is less than 6 months.

Thank you!
 

noscaf2014

Hero Member
Nov 2, 2016
820
298
If you moved to Canada before turning 18 and the sum of your visits to your home country (and/or any other country) is less than 6 months, then you will not need to submit any police certificates. When you receive an ITA, you only need to upload a letter of explanation in the Police Certificate placeholder to explain your situation. Good Luck!
 

flyingpbandj

Hero Member
Jan 31, 2018
219
116
Coquitlam, BC
If you moved to Canada before turning 18 and the sum of your visits to your home country (and/or any other country) is less than 6 months, then you will not need to submit any police certificates. When you receive an ITA, you only need to upload a letter of explanation in the Police Certificate placeholder to explain your situation. Good Luck!
Thank you! I am planning on providing the following letter:

February 2, 2018
Re: Police Certificate for <Name>

To Whom It May Concern,

As I, <Name>, have not lived outside Canada for a total of six months or more since the age of 18, I am not providing a police certificate for my time in <Home Country> (citizenship country).

My timeline is the following:
Moved to Canada for studying on DD MM, YYY
My 18th birthday was on DD MM, YYY
Since then, I have visited my family twice:
First visit from DD MM, YYY to DD MM, YYY (XX days, inclusive of both days)
Second visit from DD MM, YYY to January DD MM, YYY (XX days, inclusive of both days)

Total time spent in <Home Country> since 18th birthday: XX days.

Kind Regards,
<Name>

-----------------------------

Do I need to print out and sign, or is a PDF file enough?

Thanks again!
 

jes_ON

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Jun 22, 2009
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Yes, it should be signed, and yes, you need to upload it as a PDF. You can insert a scan of your signature or print it, sign it and scan it.
 
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msmahmood

Star Member
Mar 22, 2015
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I didn't know that we had to sign our Letters of Explanation, anyways, I was in a similar situation as OP and wrote something similar to what OP wrote (minus the dates of my visits to my home country), I got PPR last week.
 
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jes_ON

VIP Member
Jun 22, 2009
12,091
1,421
Category........
Visa Office......
New York
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-May-2010
AOR Received.
13-Aug-2010
File Transfer...
01-Mar-2011
Passport Req..
30-Jun-2011
VISA ISSUED...
12-Jul-2011 (received 25-Jul-2011)
LANDED..........
03-Sep-2011
I didn't know that we had to sign our Letters of Explanation, anyways, I was in a similar situation as OP and wrote something similar to what OP wrote (minus the dates of my visits to my home country), I got PPR last week.
I don't think it's that big of a deal in any case, as long as the forms are signed.
 

msmahmood

Star Member
Mar 22, 2015
189
27
Category........
Job Offer........
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Yeah, I didn't sign any of my LOEs(I wrote a few), but yes, all the applications or where else it asked for my signature were signed.
 
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