[milktart]

Hi everyone,

Which Police Clearance certificate from the USA is required for the Greencard lottery interview: is it an FBI Clearance or the Criminal Background Check from your local Police Station?

And then - for the South African Police Clearance, did anyone have to submit photographs?

Thanks!

[Ems]

milktart, on 14 January 2010 - 11:20 PM, said:

And then - for the South African Police Clearance, did anyone have to submit photographs?

Thanks!

For the SA one you only need your fingerprints, fee and completed form. No photos.

[Dolphin]

milktart, on 14 January 2010 - 01:20 PM, said:

Hi everyone,

Which Police Clearance certificate from the USA is required for the Greencard lottery interview: is it an FBI Clearance or the Criminal Background Check from your local Police Station?

And then - for the South African Police Clearance, did anyone have to submit photographs?

Thanks!

If you've been living only in SA up until now, you only need the South African Police Clearance.In my case I had been living/working in the US for a few years prior to going for the GC interview, so to be on the safe side, I took both the SA clearance and the FBI clearance.

[milktart]

Yes we are currently in the USA which is why we need Police Clearances from here as well. I've noticed, though, that there are 2 kinds in the USA.
The one I have is the one that you can apply for for from your local Police Station/Court House, the clerk does a background check on you and you receive it within 5 minutes.
And then I believe there's a different one that you have to apply to the FBI for, and submit and application along with fingerprints. I was just wondering which of the 2 they require.. I would hate to arrive for my interview with the wrong one

[sonbossie]

I lived in the USA for 2 years before I went for my interview in the UK. I only needed a police certificate from SA and the UK last year. Didn't need anything from the FBI. Is that a new requirement????

[milktart]

Not sure if it's a new requirement...(Im new at this myself)... but as far as I know you need to get one for each country that you've lived in for 6 months or longer..?
I don't want to take a chance and rock up for the interview in Jhb without a Police Clearance from the USA (where I am currently residing), but Im just confused as to which one they require...
I think I'm going to phone them today, for those of you that also currently stay in the USA and are waiting for your interview I'll let you know what they say

[milktart]

Hi, me again

Just an update - called the USCIS, they said you only require Police Clearances from each country you have lived in (for 6 months or longer) apart from the USA. ie. I don't even need to get one from the USA even although I have been here for a couple years already. All that worrying for nothing

Thanks to everyone who responded. Hope this is helpful to someone else out there!

[sa_nz]

Hi all

I'm currently residing in New Zealand, been here for the last 5 years . Would I still need a Police clearance Cert from the SA Police when I go for my interview later this year?

Cheers,

sa_nz

[Malamute]

sa_nz, on 23 March 2010 - 10:05 PM, said:

Hi all

I'm currently residing in New Zealand, been here for the last 5 years . Would I still need a Police clearance Cert from the SA Police when I go for my interview later this year?

Cheers,

sa_nz

Yes you will - for each and every country that you have lived in for more than 6 months since turning 16. (I had to get 3, including one for a country I last lived in 20 years earlier!)Suggest you apply now, as it will still be valid if you are no longer living in SA - avoid a last minute rush.

[Boer08]

I have lived in a couple of countries since I was 16, how do one get clearance from all these countries if you don't reside there anymore? Just curious...

[Malamute]

Boer08, on 25 March 2010 - 03:07 PM, said:

I have lived in a couple of countries since I was 16, how do one get clearance from all these countries if you don't reside there anymore? Just curious...

Go to:
http://travel.state....ocity_3272.html

Select the country you lived in.
Scroll down.
Under the heading Police and Prison Records, you will find the detail of how you can obtain this for each country. The certificates must not be older than 12 months at the time of the interview, except for your current country of residence, where the certificate cannot be older than 6 months.

[Boer08]

Malamute, on 26 March 2010 - 08:00 AM, said:

Go to:
http://travel.state....ocity_3272.html

Select the country you lived in.
Scroll down.
Under the heading Police and Prison Records, you will find the detail of how you can obtain this for each country. The certificates must not be older than 12 months at the time of the interview, except for your current country of residence, where the certificate cannot be older than 6 months.

Thank you very much, this is really helpful...

[sa_nz]

Malamute, on 25 March 2010 - 02:03 AM, said:

Yes you will - for each and every country that you have lived in for more than 6 months since turning 16. (I had to get 3, including one for a country I last lived in 20 years earlier!)Suggest you apply now, as it will still be valid if you are no longer living in SA - avoid a last minute rush.

Thanks Malamute, as always we can depend on your answers. Cheers and thanks for helping us!