snorkmaiden

Ah, I misunderstood the paragraph about not needing to update the certs if you have not recently lived in the country. I've not lived in the UK for five years.

I'm not sure they'd need to go as far as crystal balls to find that out either, but thanks ;-)

websheep

Hi Spruce, can you tell me where it says on the Canadian CIC website that police checks only last 3 months?

I've heard so many conflicting views - 3, 6, 12 months. Bit confused!

Thanks.

websheep

You do have to declare where you have lived, however. Also I'd be surprised if CIC doesn't have access to our passport info. (ie. every POE it's been swiped).

snorkmaiden

I am glad I am not the only one - I can't find the bit about it lasting three months either, but feel like I read it somewhere at some point.

snorkmaiden

Ah, knew I had read it recently - it's here - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/informa...cert/intro.asp

"In general, you and everyone in your family who is 18 years of age or over (16 years of age in certain jurisdictions) need to obtain a police certificate. You must obtain a police certificate from each country or territory where you have lived for six consecutive months or longer since reaching the age of 18.

The certificate must have been issued no more than three months before you submit your application."

But seems to conflict with the answer on this page - http://www.canada.org.uk/visa-info/f...20certificate?

" How long is my police clearance certificate valid?

Your police clearance certificate is valid for a period of one year from the date it was issued. If the validity has expired before your visa is issued you will be requested to provide an updated police certificate from the country you are currently living in. If you have already submitted police certificates from other countries where you have not recently lived you will not have to provide an update."

PMM

Hi

Note the certificate can't be more than 3 months old (London) when submitted and then it is valid for 1 year after submission. They never usually ask for a new one. You have to be able to read governmentese sometimes.

snorkmaiden

Ah right thanks, and bollocks, that means I do have to send off for the old style subject access and hope that my accompanying letter explaining I have a right to one, and I don't want to be re-routed to the ACPO pilot scheme works, and doesn't cost me any time.

JAJ

Just don't tell them it's for immigration purposes. Legally you do not have to give any reason.

snorkmaiden

Won't they kind of guess at that though as I am applying for it from a Canadian address?

I don't want to apply for it with no letter, only to get the form back later with instructions to use the ACPO form.

We are going to try and get the woman who deals with this stuff at hubby's office to get on to the lawyer on Monday and see if he has any specific guidance.

I am starting to wonder if I should just get both and have done with it so we are covered either way, although it is going to be a right royal pain in the arse trying to get someone on the ACPO list of acceptable type people to sign our photographs as we've not lived there for years but have only been here for seven months.

I asked today what we needed to do in that case, as the form seems to imply there might be an exception for people who live out of the UK and are having difficulty getting someone to sign their photo's, and she actually said that we should just send them to someone we know in the UK.

I've sent off for our FBI stuff today after being fingerprinted yesterday, so I'd just like to get the Brit checks done now so it's all organised.

JAJ

The alternative is to make it very clear you have legal rights to the Subject Access form and will not accept any alternative.

You can lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commissioner if they refuse to respond to a Subject Access request. You can also complain to your MP in the United Kingdom (did you go on the overseas electoral register?)



Which is all very well but not everyone has someone in the U.K. they can send them too.

This ACPO fiasco shows in microcosm many of the things that have gone fundamentally wrong in the U.K. under its current leadership.

snorkmaiden

The whole thing smacks of a quick attempt to make some cash.

Looking through the list again, I don't have anyone who I could easily track down to sign for me, everyone I know in those professions I am related to.

I am filling out the forms now for the old style check and am going to go with your suggestion to make my rights clear. It seems to be the easiest way to go at this point.

joystens

We just got a letter today asking for updated UK police checks, which we had already submitted, but were dated July 31st, and we ultimately submitted our application on December 23rd, so the three months expired and they wanted new ones. Just a dumb mistake and now its going to cost us 2-6 months. This was through family class application, I don't know if the rules are different for Skilled Worker.