Do We Need Police Certificate?

[djones9714]

I have a question regarding police certificates.

One of the girls on another website, EWI, is living here in the United States right now. The NVC is stating that she has to get a police certificate from Guatemala. How can she do this if she is living here in the U.S. and you have to go get it in person?

I have been reading about this and I understand Guatemala does not do police certificates. However, she is clearly stating that the NVC is asking for it. Any thoughts?
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[helloyou]

I found a lot of information also stating that they do not provide the certificates, but here is the link to the page on the DOS website stating that Guatemala does provide police certificates:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3572.html

Maybe she can sign some type of power of attorney and have a family member get the certificates for her.


This is what I found on the Canadian website. It looks like an authorized attorney may be able to help.


The Certificado de Antecedentes Policíacos is issued by the six Comisarías de la Policía Nacional Civil, located in the capital city. You must present in person the original and a legible photocopy of your Cédula de Vecindad, and pay the applicable fees. Foreign residents must, in addition, present the original and a legible photocopy of their passport and take the certificate to the Legal Bureau of the Civil National Police Headquarters in Guatemala City for legalization (6a. Ave. 14 Calle zona 1). You should apply to one of the following Comisarías de la Policía Nacional Civil:
No. 11: 11 Ave. 4-01 zona 1. Telephone: 2238-0794
No. 12: 16 Ave. 14-00 zona 6. Telephone: 2254-4239
No. 13: 29 Calle 13-36 zona 5, San Pedrito. Telephone: 2331-0203 and 2334-3158
No. 14: 31 Ave. 4 Calle, zona 7, Colonia Centro América. Telephone: 2432-7067
No. 15: 3 Ave. 1-14 zona 4, Colonia Venecia, Villa Nueva. Telephone: 6631-3910
No. 16: Calzada San Juan 1-67 zona 7 de Mixco. Telephone: 2431-3422 or 2431-3313
The Constancia de Carencia de Antecedentes Penales may be obtained from the Bureau of Criminal Background (Unidad de Antecedentes Penales) of the Supreme Court of Justice. There is an office located in the capital city (see below) and in the majority of departments of the country. Nationals and residents of Guatemala must present their original Cédula de Vecindad. Foreigners must present their valid passport showing their legal status in the country. If You are unable to personally request this certificate, the document may be requested by a lawyer who has been authorized by the applicant. The lawyer must submit the applicant’s original identification document.Unidad de Antecedentes Penales de la Corte Suprema de Justicia
6 Ave. “A” 9-23 zona 9
Guatemala City
Telephone: 2248-7365

Maybe her embassy could help?

[YRuth]

My husband is from Guatemala and when he picked up his police certificate he needed to show his cedula only. The information that helloyou send you is correct. My husband is from Solola, and he went to Solola police station and they gave him 2 police certificates stating that he had no convictions at all and that's what I mailed to NVC and the consulate in Guate.

[djones9714]

Here are the facts: He turned 16 on August 6. He left Guatemala end of November. That means that he has NOT lived in Guatemala 6 months or more since attaining the age of 16. Does this rule still apply?

[helloyou]

Dept of state:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1308.html#pc


"Police certificates are required for each visa applicant aged 16 years or older. The table below shows how many police certificates are required based on where each applicant lives and has lived previously. Present and former residents of the United States should NOT obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the U.S.

IF the applicant is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months
AND is 16 years old or older
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

IF the applicant lived in a different part of their country of nationality for more than 6 months
AND was 16 years or older at that time
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

IF the applicant lived in a different country for more than 12 months
AND was 16 years or older at that time
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

IF the applicant was arrested for any reason, regardless of how long they lived there
AND was any age at that time
THEN the applicant needs a police certificate from the police authorities of that locality.

The police certificate must:

Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area, and
State what the appropriate police authorities records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each case of which there is a record."

CDJ:

http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/wwwfof169_e.pdf

"POLICE CERTIFICATES: Each visa applicant aged 16 years or over is required to submit a police certificate from the police authorities of each locality of the country of the applicant’s nationality or current residence where the applicant has resided for at least six months since attaining the age of sixteen. Police certificates are also required from all other countries where the applicant has resided for at least one year. A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason, regardless of how long he or she lived there."



The information on the state.gov site doesn't specifically say that a police certificate is required if they are no longer living in their home country. The bold section above confuses the situation because this would imply anyone not currently living in their home country would not require the police certificates regardless of age. And I don't think that's the case. The explanation on the Juarez consulate site is much clearer. I would guess it is not required unless he commited some type of crime. I wonder if she could call and explain the situation. Is the entry date correct on the I-130?

[JennyM]

You still need to police records even though he wasn't there. My hubby said that everytime he went to a new job he needed to get police reports....don't worry djones...you still have time...plus you don't need ones from the states cause the government will do that for you.