And if you’re trying to get a green card, but have forgotten to bring the passport in which your U.S. visa was located, don’t worry, you can still show that you were authorized to come to the United States. Your I-94 travel record is one of the most important documents in this case. Your I-94 is your legal documentation of your entry to the United States, and you can show proof of legal entry even if you no longer have your passport.
- If you have lost your I-94, you can get it back. If you want to get a copy of a lost I-94 travel record, check the official website or follow instructions from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- If you entered the US on a valid visa before 2013 and are not in the US anymore, you might have to ask for a paper I-94 to complete your file.
Why Should You Get A Police Clearance Certificate, and Who Should Receive One?
A police clearance certificate is proof of your criminal record or not. It’s usually a list of arrests you’ve had, the charges they are for, and what happened to them.
When you are attempting to get a marriage-based green card or any other family-based green card outside of the US, you’ll be required to submit a police clearance certificate from any foreign country where you have been residing for more than 6 months (even if you have no criminal record there).
It’s necessary for the certificate since US immigration officials want to make sure there isn’t a criminal record that might affect eligibility. Although you don’t have a criminal record, you still have to present this form for the countries you have lived in.
What to Do For a Police Clearance Certificate?
A police certificate is a record made by a police department of a country in which you’ve been residing. It displays any arrests you’ve been arrested for while you were there, with all the charges and results of those arrests.
This certificate from the country where you were born (if you were not arrested) is required if you’re seeking a family-based or marriage-based green card from outside the US. This requirement doesn’t matter if you have any record of crime.
Note: You may still qualify for a green card if you have a criminal record. Nevertheless, there are rules and conditions specific to those who have criminal records, and they should be read before applying.
Who Will Need to File a Police Clearance Certificate?
When you apply for a green card from out of the United States, you’ll need to provide a police clearance certificate with your application. This is needed for relatives who want to be immigrants in the United States.
- When do you have to upload it?: If you are at least 16 years old, you have to provide a photocopy of the police clearance certificate to the National Visa Center (NVC). You’ll also need to submit the certificate, either the original or an attestation, to your green card interview.
- What if I’m applying outside the US? You’ll have to bring police records, not a police clearance certificate, if you’re already in the US and seeking a green card via AOS.
What Time Do I Have To Deliver a Police Clearance Certificate?
If you have been in one of the following countries for some time, you need to present a police clearance certificate:
- Your country of origin (if you’ve been there for six months or more).
- your country of citizenship (if it isn’t your nationality and you’ve been there for at least 6 months).
- Any country where you have lived for a minimum of 12 months, at any age.
- You must also present a certificate if you have been arrested in any country even if you have lived there for a while.
How Long Should A Police Clearance Certificate Be?
For accuracy in the document, the police clearance certificate must be under two years old. If it is more than two years old and all of the following are true:
- This certificate is more than two years old.
- You’re still in the country the certificate was issued in, or have moved back.
- If you are older than 16.
- You will then need to get a new certificate before the green card interview.
But what if My Police Clearance Document Isn’t in English?
If the police clearance certificate is not in English, you will need to submit a certified translation as well as the original. This translation must be carried out by a professional service or someone who can assure you that the translation is correct.
Where Can I Get a Police Clearance Certificate?
Your police clearance certificate should be obtained through the issuing authorities of all countries where you have been living. The US Department of State website lists such authorities. And how to find it:
- Visit the website of the United States Department of State.
- Go to the Police, Court, and Prison Records.
- Click your country name from the dropdown, and proceed as outlined to get your police certificate.
- The website will also tell you the current rate and other information for each country.
What If I Do Not Receive a Police Clearance Certificate?
If you can’t get a police clearance certificate as records are not available in your country, you will have to provide a notarized personal affidavit. This affidavit is where you detail how and why you were unable to get the certificate.
By doing these things and following the necessary instructions, you can be sure your green card application is ready for scrutiny. If you are not sure of anything or you have a paperwork issue, Law and Visas can take care of all your paperwork issues so you meet the required immigration requirements.
