Rare situation regarding the timing for requesting an FBI police certificate ..

[ahmadka]

According to CIC rules the following is unconfirmed, but it is what is commonly said on this forum: For a country of which you're a citizen, you can have a police certificate made while you're still in that country. However for all countries which you're NOT a citizen off (and have lived there for 6+ months since turning 18), you must generate a police certificate from there AFTER you've left that country.

If the above is true, it puts me in a difficult spot:

I was in the US previously for 2 years, and since I was 18+ at the time, I have to get a police certificate from the FBI. However I am planning to re-enter the US in August this Fall for academic purposes, so the timing here can be a problem. FBI states on their website that it currently takes them about 3 ~ 4 months to generate a police certificate (excluding mailing times), and I'm thinking of applying for Entry Express in mid/late July, right before I leave for the US in August.

So should I initiate the police certificate request with the FBI now, or AFTER I've landed in the US, knowing that it can take 3 ~ 4 months to get it ? If I start AFTER landing in the US, it can create a problem: What if I receive an ITA really soon, and then have to file a full PR application within 60 days ? I might not have received the police certificate from FBI in time for that ! On the other land, if I start the process now, I may have the police certificate by time I get an ITA when I'm in the US, but then CIC may say that that police certificate is invalid, as I've re-entered the US, and so should get a new one.

So what should I do ?

 

[ButterflyChemist]

According to CIC rules the following is unconfirmed, but it is what is commonly said on this forum: For a country of which you're a citizen, you can have a police certificate made while you're still in that country. However for all countries which you're NOT a citizen off (and have lived there for 6+ months since turning 18), you must generate a police certificate from there AFTER you've left that country.

If the above is true, it puts me in a difficult spot:

I was in the US previously for 2 years, and since I was 18+ at the time, I have to get a police certificate from the FBI. However I am planning to re-enter the US in August this Fall for academic purposes, so the timing here can be a problem. FBI states on their website that it currently takes them about 3 ~ 4 months to generate a police certificate (excluding mailing times), and I'm thinking of applying for Entry Express in mid/late July, right before I leave for the US in August.

So should I initiate the police certificate request with the FBI now, or AFTER I've landed in the US, knowing that it can take 3 ~ 4 months to get it ? If I start AFTER landing in the US, it can create a problem: What if I receive an ITA really soon, and then have to file a full PR application within 60 days ? I might not have received the police certificate from FBI in time for that ! On the other land, if I start the process now, I may have the police certificate by time I get an ITA when I'm in the US, but then CIC may say that that police certificate is invalid, as I've re-entered the US, and so should get a new one.

So what should I do ?

You need to get start the process of getting your FBI PCC now. You won't need a new PCC from the FBI until you have been there for an additional six months this time around which you wouldn't get to until next January or so

 

[pk1988]

I am currently on H1B visa in the US, and have submitted my application on 05/05. I have received an AOR as well. I however did not submit a PCC from the US along with my application as I am still waiting to get it from the FBI. Unfortunately, as there isn't a way to expedite this process, I submitted my application without a PCC from the US. I did however include a letter of explanation for the same as well as the receipt of the documents delivery to the FBI US. Would it be possible that CIC might reject my application as incomplete - I have not heard anything about my Medical Exam yet. So kind of wondering if CIC even process my application without a PCC. Is anybody in a similar situation?

 

[dobes]

According to CIC rules the following is unconfirmed, but it is what is commonly said on this forum: For a country of which you're a citizen, you can have a police certificate made while you're still in that country. However for all countries which you're NOT a citizen off (and have lived there for 6+ months since turning 18), you must generate a police certificate from there AFTER you've left that country.

If the above is true, it puts me in a difficult spot:

I was in the US previously for 2 years, and since I was 18+ at the time, I have to get a police certificate from the FBI. However I am planning to re-enter the US in August this Fall for academic purposes, so the timing here can be a problem. FBI states on their website that it currently takes them about 3 ~ 4 months to generate a police certificate (excluding mailing times), and I'm thinking of applying for Entry Express in mid/late July, right before I leave for the US in August.

So should I initiate the police certificate request with the FBI now, or AFTER I've landed in the US, knowing that it can take 3 ~ 4 months to get it ? If I start AFTER landing in the US, it can create a problem: What if I receive an ITA really soon, and then have to file a full PR application within 60 days ? I might not have received the police certificate from FBI in time for that ! On the other land, if I start the process now, I may have the police certificate by time I get an ITA when I'm in the US, but then CIC may say that that police certificate is invalid, as I've re-entered the US, and so should get a new one.

So what should I do ?

Your assumptions are a little off. It's more about how long the certificate is valid for. If you are in that country, it is valid for 6 months. You should get an FBI certificate and then keep it current while you are in the US by getting new ones every 6 months, so that you have a valid one when you get an ITA. A police certificate obtained after you left a country is valid indefinitely, assuming you have not returned since.

 

[vehla_ji]

if anyone need FBI certificate faster let me know. i got mine in 7 days.

 

[ahmadka]

if anyone need FBI certificate faster let me know. i got mine in 7 days.

How did you get it that quick ?

 

[vehla_ji]

How did you get it that quick ?

check inbox if you like it hit +1 Good button

 

[vehla_ji]

it will cost you around $200 same amount i paid ;D

 

[ahmadka]

it will cost you around $200 same amount i paid ;D

I don't want to do anything illegal .. I would rather wait than do something wrong :/

 

[vehla_ji]

its not illegal. approved program by fbi and as i said i use same thing in my ee file and no problem at all. police and fbi already pass by cic

 

[ahmadka]

You need to get start the process of getting your FBI PCC now. You won't need a new PCC from the FBI until you have been there for an additional six months this time around which you wouldn't get to until next January or so

Don't mean to question the advice given to me earlier, but I've been thinking ... Is there any concrete CIC based statement which supports the above advice ? I can't seem to find anything on CIC's website which supports the above directly ..

 

[rajanvnv]

its not illegal. approved program by fbi and as i said i use same thing in my ee file and no problem at all. police and fbi already pass by cic

vehla_ji,

Can you provide more details around this. This would be highly beneficial for many candidates

 

[pk1988]

its not illegal. approved program by fbi and as i said i use same thing in my ee file and no problem at all. police and fbi already pass by cic

Can you please provide more details? I submitted a FBI request on Mar 30th and called up the FBI Customer Service to check in the status - they are working on the requests received before March 16, and there isn't any way they can expedite the process. What did you do to get yours in 7 days?

 

[ssudarjothi]

I am currently on H1B visa in the US, and have submitted my application on 05/05. I have received an AOR as well. I however did not submit a PCC from the US along with my application as I am still waiting to get it from the FBI. Unfortunately, as there isn't a way to expedite this process, I submitted my application without a PCC from the US. I did however include a letter of explanation for the same as well as the receipt of the documents delivery to the FBI US. Would it be possible that CIC might reject my application as incomplete - I have not heard anything about my Medical Exam yet. So kind of wondering if CIC even process my application without a PCC. Is anybody in a similar situation?

Pk1988, even I am in the same situation. submitted the application with explanation letter and proofs.. did you get any updates about your application? please keep me posted dude..

 

[pk1988]

No updates yet. Not sure if CIC is processing applications from within Canada first as I have seen people getting medical results reviewed within a week of submitting eAPR. Hoping to get an update soon!