A police clearance certificate can show you if you have been arrested and had any legal trouble during your time in a particular area. It tells you about arrests, why, and the result of the arrest even if you don’t have a record. When you want a family-based or marriage-based green card from abroad, you’ll also need to present a police clearance certificate from the countries where you’ve been living (even if you don’t have any records).
Criminal history: If you are a criminal, you can still get a green card, but you have to know the rules of the game for criminal-offender applicants.
Who Must Submit a Police Clearance Certificate?
A police clearance certificate usually is required for a family member who wants a green card from outside the U.S. You must submit a copy of the certificate to the National Visa Center (NVC) and take the original or certified copy with you to your green card interview. You don’t have to bring a police clearance certificate if you want to get a green card in the U.S. when you’re inside the country.
You have to provide a police clearance certificate from one of these countries even if you have never been arrested if you are 16 years old or over:
- Your home country (if you were there for more than 6 months at all).
- The country you currently live in (if you haven’t moved there in the past 6 months).
- Anything you’ve been to for 12 months and where you were at least 16 when you were there.
- Any nation you’ve ever been arrested in, no matter how long ago you were there and even how old you were at the time you were arrested.
How Old Does The Police Clearance Certificate Have To Be?
All police clearance certificates should be less than 2 years old. If it’s more than two years old when you submit it for your green card interview, and if you’re living in or have already moved to the country that granted you the certificate, you’ll need a new one.
Why Should I Use The Police Certificate In A Language Other Than English?
If you don’t speak English and your police clearance certificate is not in English, then you will need a certified English translation.
How to get a Police Certificate
For the police clearance certificate, you have to go to the authority where you reside in the country. The U.S. Department of State lists these authorities. You will need to go to their website, click your country, and then click the “Police, Court, Prison Records” tab to learn how to acquire the certificate (including the cost and the process).
What If I Can’t Get A Police Clearance Certificate?
If you can’t obtain a police clearance certificate, state why in a notarized personal affidavit. This statement of the records needs to be in writing explaining why you couldn’t get the document unless that is exactly what the country’s laws state that such records aren’t available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Police Clearance Certificates
1. Do I have to submit a police clearance certificate for each U.S. visa I apply for?
A police clearance is needed for family green card or immigrant visa applications. But for some of the temporary visas you don’t even need one.
2. When is my police clearance certificate valid?
On average, police clearance certificates are good for two years.
3. What if my police clearance runs out before I receive my visa?
You have to get a new certificate if your certificate is older than two years when you attend your visa interview and you have to wait for a new one before your application will be processed.
