Police Clearance Certificate - This forum is littered with contradiction

[WorldTraeller]

Dear All, I just want to ask one very simple qurestion. Why do so many people post that a new PCC is needed if one visits a country for less than six months after PCC date o issue. IRCC website clearly says below . Is there any case of rejection for PCC where one went back to the country and lived there for six months ? Please note PCC issued before you left a country say X is different thing as in that case country of residence in that case was X and PCC does not cover entire duration of that.

Date the certificate was issued
For the country where you currently live
The police certificate for the country where you currently live:

• must be issued no more than 6 months before the date you submit your application
• must not be expired

For any other country
For any other country, the police certificate must be issued after the last time you stayed there for 6 months or more in a row.

Some countries put expiry dates on their police certificates. If you have a police certificate that expired, include it. We’ll accept it if:

• it was issued after the last time you stayed there for 6 months or more in a row
• it is not for the country where you currently live

An officer may ask for a new one later on.

 

[k.h.p.]

There are actually different requirements for PCCs depending on the application.

If one went back to a country and lived there for six months, then they must submit a PCC that is issued after that date of return.

 

[WorldTraeller]

There are actually different requirements for PCCs depending on the application.

If one went back to a country and lived there for six months, then they must submit a PCC that is issued after that date of return.

Fair enough - this is what official documents say. My question is how this concept formed in the mind of people that even if stay is less than six months then also a new PCC is needed ?

 

[k.h.p.]

Because some applications and country-specific instructions either say or said that you must.

Plus, if you are "living" in the country, even if you've been there for less than 6mo, you need to.

 

[WorldTraeller]

Because some applications and country-specific instructions either say or said that you must.

Plus, if you are "living" in the country, even if you've been there for less than 6mo, you need to.

Can you please post the link for country specific instruction of PCC. I will really be grateful.

 

[canadian-gentleman]

My question is how this concept formed in the mind of people that even if stay is less than six months then also a new PCC is needed ?

PCC requirements have changed several times over the last couple of years. I know that in 2017 PCCs lost their validity as soon as you visited a country again. That loss of validity is now less strict, as you posted above.

This is why it is important to always refer to the IRCC website and not rely exclusively on older forum posts. When in doubt, do as the IRCC website says.

 

[WorldTraeller]

PCC requirements have changed several times over the last couple of years. I know that in 2017 PCCs lost their validity as soon as you visited a country again. That loss of validity is now less strict, as you posted above.

This is why it is important to always refer to the IRCC website and not rely exclusively on older forum posts. When in doubt, do as the IRCC website says.

Can't thank you enough !! This is very true.

 

[k.h.p.]

Can you please post the link for country specific instruction of PCC. I will really be grateful.

Go to the IRCC website and you'll find it.

 

[WorldTraeller]

Go to the IRCC website and you'll find it.

There is country specific link for :How to get " but VALIDITY of PCC is same for all countries. CANADIAN_GENTLEMAN is right - PCC rule changed in 2017 and now the rule is as given in IRCC website

 

[k.h.p.]

Just double check your country-specific requirements for your application. Strange things happen.

 

[WorldTraeller]

Just double check your country-specific requirements for your application. Strange things happen.

As I said there is no public "country-specific page for PCC " . Country specific pages only deal with "How to get" and not expiry . It is same for all countries. If this is not the case please post a link !!

 

[k.h.p.]

You're complaining about the forum being confusing. Each type of PR application has different requirements. You are applying under Express Entry. In Express Entry, your profile tells you the kind of files you need to upload, and it shows up in your online portal. Your requirements may be slightly different from another country's.

For example, Korea will not, under any circumstances, release a police clearance certificate without a letter from IRCC requesting one. So a Korean Express Entry applicant will have different instructions on police clearance certificates than you will.

For spousal PR applications, each country has slightly different instructions. Some countries have things like internal passports, which must be translated and included. Your country may not have that.

I am not going to research all 165+ countries and their specific requirements for you, or anyone, to tell you what the PCC requirements are for each country at this point in time.

Instead, I will encourage everyone to verify itheir country's police clearance certificate IRCC expectations which may differ from the IRCC website on how to obtain them depending on the class of application they are making.

Each country is absolutely not the same.

 

[k.h.p.]

This website from IRCC clearly explains that different immigration programs have different requirements for when police certificates are submitted, and that some programs have specific instructions you need to check: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...al-police/police-certificates/about.html#when

 

[WorldTraeller]

This website from IRCC clearly explains that different immigration programs have different requirements for when police certificates are submitted, and that some programs have specific instructions you need to check: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...al-police/police-certificates/about.html#when

In the link itself it says -

"How long your police certificate is good for depends on what immigration program you are applying to.

Check the instruction guide to find out when your police certificate needs to be issued" .

I am just concerned about expiry date - for me- my PCC was issued on 2019 august from toronto. I went to India on vacation twice totaling 37 days. As per IRCC ut seems no issue . What do you think.. Appreciate your help.

 

[indianstudent96]

The general rule of thumb is the police clearance certificate from your country of residence should not be older than 6 months at the time of e-APR. However, you do not have to submit an RCMP record check upfront if you are a resident of Canada. IRCC will request you for an RCMP record check if your name matches with someone who has a criminal record.

The confusion arises when people get a police clearance certificate and go back to their country of origin for a short period of time; as long as your stay did not last more than 6 months or more in a row. You can submit the PCC without any issues. Do keep in mind that it is at the discretion of the officer to accept it or request for a new one, your application won't be refused for it.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...-after-january-1-2016-completeness-check.html.

To give you an example: I am an Indian citizen living in Canada and my last visit to India was in January of 2019 and the trip did not last more than a couple of weeks. If I had obtained a PCC for India prior to the trip, I can still use the PCC for Express Entry applications because my subsequent trips to India did not involve me staying in the country for more than 6 months or more in a row. The requirements vary for other immigration programs, I remember seeing an application checklist for RNIP which said the PCC is good for only a year. Whatever that I said in the post is applicable to only Express Entry programs.