Police Clearance (Indian Embassy New York)

[ss0592]

Hello Guys,

I realize that this topic of police clearance has been discussed a lot. I was going through the discussions to try to understand the process, but I'm still finding it very confusing.
So I'm residing in the US on a visa. My passport was originally issued in Mumbai. I need police clearance from the NY embassy for express entry.

I went to their website and I'm not finding it very clear. Steps -
1. Download Application Form (got it)

2. Gather Documents. Question - Do they need to be notarized or not? The language used is very vague!) Do they have to be notarized only if we are not going personally?

3. Go There ?? Can we send it by mail instead? Is there a preference? If I go will I have to go again to collect it, or will they mail it?

Also, there is no mention of photographs. Do we need those? How many? Passport size?

Here's the link - https://www.indiacgny.org/pages.php?id=77

If someone can explain the procedure to me, it'll be very helpful! I'm not located in NY so I wanted to be very clear on the process before going there


Thank you!!
SS

 

[Nian427]

Hello Guys,

I realize that this topic of police clearance has been discussed a lot. I was going through the discussions to try to understand the process, but I'm still finding it very confusing.
So I'm residing in the US on a visa. My passport was originally issued in Mumbai. I need police clearance from the NY embassy for express entry.

I went to their website and I'm not finding it very clear. Steps -
1. Download Application Form (got it)

2. Gather Documents. Question - Do they need to be notarized or not? The language used is very vague!) Do they have to be notarized only if we are not going personally?

3. Go There ?? Can we send it by mail instead? Is there a preference? If I go will I have to go again to collect it, or will they mail it?

Also, there is no mention of photographs. Do we need those? How many? Passport size?

Here's the link - https://www.indiacgny.org/pages.php?id=77

If someone can explain the procedure to me, it'll be very helpful! I'm not located in NY so I wanted to be very clear on the process before going there


Thank you!!
SS

Hi,
I was staying in NJ. So I preferred to travel down to NY and get the PCC in person from the Indian consulate. Let me try to answer your queries:
2. Correct. You notarize docs if you are sending by post, if you are going in person, just carry the originals.
3. You can either go in person or send by mail. If you decide to go in person, carry the original and photocopy of all your supporting docs, carry fees in cash. If by mail, get your supporting docs notarized , send original passport and money order, they will return the passport in 10 working days.
Since I went in person, I got the PCC the same day post lunch. But for a friend of mine, it was not issued the same day as his passport was issued without police verification (as told to him at the consulate). He had to collect it later on.

I don't recall carrying photographs, I had gone way back in April. The PCC they issue does not contain your photo. Since the website doesn't mention it, I think it's not required. If it bothers you, just carry some.

The process is simpler than you think. So don't worry and just go for it.
I wish you good luck!

 

[appar]

Sorry to jump in on this. I will be getting my PCC from the Chicago consulate and my passport was issued in India. Can I still expect to get my PCC the same day?

 

[cc31]

Sorry to jump in on this. I will be getting my PCC from the Chicago consulate and my passport was issued in India. Can I still expect to get my PCC the same day?

I did mine from Chicago Consulate through mail. It took me about 2 weeks from sending to receiving passport w/ Indian PCC. I have seen other people going in person before noon and receiving their PCC the same day.

 

[actionjack]

I got my Indian police clearance from the NY embassy on Nov 24th. I took with me the application form filled out with a passport photo pasted on it (even though the police clearance letter won't have a photo on it, you need to include the photo). I took a utility bill to prove my address, a photocopy of my first two and last two pages of my passport, and a photocopy of my US visa approval letter (this is important, they don't mention it on their website). I had the fees in cash. All of my photocopies were in color. I also had on me the original documents, just in case they needed it. She did look at my original US visa approval letter, but took the photocopy.

I got mine on the same day, but that's because my passport was issued in NYC. My understanding is that yours will be mailed to you because yours was issued in Mumbai. BUT, a lot of people were getting theirs on the same day so maybe it doesn't really matter.

 

[ss0592]

I got my Indian police clearance from the NY embassy on Nov 24th. I took with me the application form filled out with a passport photo pasted on it (even though the police clearance letter won't have a photo on it, you need to include the photo). I took a utility bill to prove my address, a photocopy of my first two and last two pages of my passport, and a photocopy of my US visa approval letter (this is important, they don't mention it on their website). I had the fees in cash. All of my photocopies were in color. I also had on me the original documents, just in case they needed it. She did look at my original US visa approval letter, but took the photocopy.

I got mine on the same day, but that's because my passport was issued in NYC. My understanding is that yours will be mailed to you because yours was issued in Mumbai. BUT, a lot of people were getting theirs on the same day so maybe it doesn't really matter.

thanks for the response! So I came to the US on a student visa. What would the visa approval letter be? I was thinking of taking i20 and stuff...

 

[ss0592]

Hi,
I was staying in NJ. So I preferred to travel down to NY and get the PCC in person from the Indian consulate. Let me try to answer your queries:
2. Correct. You notarize docs if you are sending by post, if you are going in person, just carry the originals.
3. You can either go in person or send by mail. If you decide to go in person, carry the original and photocopy of all your supporting docs, carry fees in cash. If by mail, get your supporting docs notarized , send original passport and money order, they will return the passport in 10 working days.
Since I went in person, I got the PCC the same day post lunch. But for a friend of mine, it was not issued the same day as his passport was issued without police verification (as told to him at the consulate). He had to collect it later on.

I don't recall carrying photographs, I had gone way back in April. The PCC they issue does not contain your photo. Since the website doesn't mention it, I think it's not required. If it bothers you, just carry some.

The process is simpler than you think. So don't worry and just go for it.
I wish you good luck!

thanks for the detailed response!
Actually for the photographs, the site doesn't mention it but there is a space on the form to paste a photo.. they really need to update this page!

 

[Nian427]

thanks for the detailed response!
Actually for the photographs, the site doesn't mention it but there is a space on the form to paste a photo.. they really need to update this page!

Ohhk, like I said, it's been a while so I don't really remember. It's a no hassle job actually, keep some extra docs like docs proving your visa details etc just to be safe. They don't ask for any proof from India even if the address mentioned in passport is that of India

 

[actionjack]

thanks for the response! So I came to the US on a student visa. What would the visa approval letter be? I was thinking of taking i20 and stuff...

I don't know. It's been a while since I was a student, but yes you probably are right I-20 would be good.

There is a copier in the waiting area so if you need to make extra copies you can.

In terms of doing it in person or not, it's really up to whatever deadline you are working with. I got to the embassy around 9:30 and left at 12:30 with my letter. It's just a lot of waiting around, which can be frustrating. I'm not sure how efficient and quick they are via mail.