Brissie Steve

Hi, just wanted to make people aware that the procedure for UK police checks has now changed. You will no longer be able to apply through your local police station and the processing fee has gone from £10 to £35 or even £70 if you require priority checking.
Additionally, you need to produce passport photo's certified on the back by either someone from the medical profession, a teacher, judge ect. so more expense added on there!
I have been assured that the process time will be dramatically reduced. However, the new style certificate will only be valid for six months!!!

More details on the following web page:

http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp

stellaman

FYI Got a mail from the Police. You may know already

Pilot scheme for police for people wanting PCC's for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America.

http://www.acpo.police.uk/certificates.asp

stellaman

OH and its now £35

memewest

I've just taken a look at the site and not only has the fee gone up from £10 to £35, but you have to have a passport photo of yourself, signed on the back by a guarantoryou also need a copy of your passportand at least 2 utility bills, bank statement or something to prove your address.....
Oh and the final nail in the coffin?? is that your police certificate will only be valid for 6 MONTHS!!!
I did plan on frontloading my meds and pcc when sending of for our visa, but this isn't going to happen now??

stickygreen

Hi Guys

We have just used this service as the CO wanted our son to have a PCC as he is now 16. I have to say whilst expensive, the premium service costs £70, it was duly turned around and on our door mat in the advertised 2 days.

The old way (£10) is still available but we reasoned why wait up to 40 days for its processing and then the inevitable longer wait for the visa, horses for course I suppose.

Rob

memewest

Hi Rob, does your son's pcc also have a validation date of 6 months or is it for 12 months as are the old £10 ones??

stickygreen

Hi Memewest

It is only valid for 6 months which, means that it will run out before we intend to go, however, we used this service so as not to slow up our application, fingers crossed and all that. What we intend to do now is apply for the old £10 one which will give us the whole 12 month window and with it more flexibility.

Rob

jutang

Its really expensive form 1101 only charges $32.75, but I suppose if you are in a hurry to get a police check.

memewest

Think i am going to go into my local police station on monday and see about sending off the old £10 form, as it takes about 40 days to come through, it may just last the whole visa process...at least it'll be valid for 12months and not 6....
I think this will stop a lot of people frontloading their pcc's as they run the risk of them outdating....

TJUK

It also only looks at your address for the last 5 Years:

"Have you lived at this address for 5 years or more? Yes  No 
If No, please provide details of your previous address(es) for the last five years (including dates) on the separate continuation sheet."

Glad I did mine early!

helena39

Is this a UK pilot scheme? Here in Ireland the pc's are free or so I have been told anyway.

Helena

TJUK

From the link above:

Police Certificates

The ACPO Criminal Records Office is piloting an initiative to provide Police Certificates for Visa purposes. The four countries involved in the pilot are Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America.

The attached application form and associated guidance should be used when applying for a Police Certificate, which will provide the results of a criminal record check.

Pollyana

Having spoken to a couple of agents, I should pass on the info that as yet DIAC have not indicated that they will accept the new checks, regardless of what the ACPO site says. One major agent advised me that until form 47P is updated by DIAC he will not be advising people to use the new checks because it is unclear as to DIAC's view on them.

Also underdebate in other forums -
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=510996
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=514053
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=514258

Pollyana

Two threads on the subject merged

stickygreen

Well I'll be able to give you a definative answer pretty soon!

Rob