Veronika

I have a bit more news on this actually:

It is still true that the new PCs are still not "official", but according to an ACPO person we spoke to they have now updated the form and they have also been changed in terms of validity, so they are now valid for 12 months (they were not, a few days ago).

Apparently there will be a change over period until August where both checks will be accepted. After August, people wanting the old subject access requests will not be able to obtain them for migration purposes (apparently it is costing them over £20 to issue each one and they are running at a massive loss).

ACPO are currently based in Hampshire. Which is why the Hampshire Constabulary are really pushing the program.

They are willing to accept bank transfers in limited circumstances (she did not say what they were) but they do prefer cheques/banker’s drafts etc. Also, they are able to send them directly to the agent if the applicant includes a cover letter asking for that to occur.

At the moment they can only accept postal applications (and because they are at a PO Box address, they cannot accept couriers either), but they will turn the documents around in the stated time.

This update has come from ACPO and not DIAC, but the lady seemed to know what she was talking about.

Cheers

Pollyana

Thanks!
If someone with a DIAC connection, maybe as an agent or working for an agency, could verify the DIAC position on this ACPO update too, it woudl be great.

stellaman

So please clarify!!

I can get this new form for PCC (I live in Hampshire, local police station does not do old form) get approved and it will be vailid for 12 months now!?!?

I would like to front load so just want to know when to kick off the process!!

ianbrown

The old way isnt available anymore, we went to our police station to re-validate th eone's we have already lodged with DIAC and was re-directed to the new system (35.00 for 6 months), so the 12 month one's we have submitted to DIAC expire in October 2008, not much point doing them again..............I think the Police have acted without any consultation with DIAC, Migration agents or anyone else with any common sense or knowledge of the visa process!.............Typical really, another fund raising scam for the Police if you ask me on top of all the speed camera's etc!, 35.00 is outrageous!

Zoe Bell

I realise that the acceptance of these certificates is under debate , we are having exactly the same problems over on the canada board.

But any police station that tells you that the old 10ukp subject access route is unavailable is WRONG.

You have a right uder the data protection act to access any information held about you on their computers . They are only allowed to chrage a maximum of 10ukp for this service and you do NOT have to provide a reason.

just my two cents worth , i think it is disgusting that this new "service" at three times the price is being touted in this way.

grays

For info my wife and I have both applied for PCC's at seperate police stations and both accepted the 'old' £10 application forms. It would seem these forms are still valid......at least I hope they are !

NikiL

I can email you the old style hampshire form if you want it. If you do want it pm me with your email address.

tawkins1

They do still accept them as I scanned my pccs to my CO on 23/2/08 & my visa was granted yesterday

Veronika

They do definitely accept the "old" police clearances and they also accept the new. As soon as there is a change in the law and they completely rule out the old clearances I will post a thread up about it, don't worry.

As for the validity of the "new" clearances, yes they are now apparently valid for 12 months. The new form available from the website no longer has the information about them only having a validity of 6 months. And we have verbal confirmation that the 6 month restriction has been removed.

So you should be fine with either.

Cheers

ianbrown

Hi all, we are in another thread about this

I can see that DIAC are still accepting the old pcc's- this isnt our problem

We are finding it hard getting the police to do us one of the old ones



In October we went to our local police station, handed in the forms, show ID and paid the fee, we got our police checks no problem

We then decided to have new police checks done because we wanted them to be dated roughly the same time as our meds (12/3/08) and went through the same procidure only this time to be told at the same local police station (Dewsbury) that they no longer do it there and they gave us a website address,

My husband downloaded the forms 3wk ago but they were asking for £35 and said only valid 6months (some say its now 12months) we then went on west yorkshire website and saw they still did do the subject access so we printed off the forms, sent in the £10 each with all the info and thought it would be okay but they came back on wednesday saying we had to do it the ACRO way because these new changes had just come into force :curse:

Go Matilda will be getting back to us about this ... been wondering whether we might as well stick with the original plans of making the move in September instead

Anyway we will see what Lorraine has to say first because we honestly dont know whats going on with it all- west yorkshire police dont seem to want our money even though DIAC are still accepting the subject access ones!!

Will keep you posted guys

Pollyana

Have a read of the posts in THIS thread. As you will see there is no evidence as yet that DIAC will accept the new forms, but watch this space for updates.

As for getting the old checks, the police CANNOT refuse to process a request for subject access. These reports are done for many reasons besides migration, and you are perfectly entitled to apply for one. If the police are being difficult, then just don't tell them its for migration purposes.