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| State Criminal History Checks | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 20 2010, 12:07:00 PM (252 Views) | |
| abby | Aug 20 2010, 12:07:00 PM Post #1 |
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Anklebiter
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Hi, I'm currently going through the process of getting a Spouse visa done onshore and wondered if anyone here would be able to answer my question. My CO has asked me for "Foreign Penal Clearance Certificates". When I handed up my application (July 2010) I had sent in a local police check from Florida that I had done a month before I left for Australia (I had the local police check done back in July 2009). I realize it may not be acceptable based on the fact my CO seems to have asked for another one. On to my question. Has anyone submitting a Florida State Criminal History Check ever turned in the ONLINE version of the criminal history check to immigration? I mean they ask for the "original response to you" but they don't say it had to be certified. However Florida Department of Law Enforcement advises that "Certified results are generally required for immigration" and that I would have to mail them asking for a certified result from them as well as a $24 fee (either by check or money order in US currency... which is going to be somewhat of a nightmare problem since I have no checks from my bank account in the states and I'm not sure if they will accept an International Money order from a bank here through my husbands account) they also want fingerprints. When I got my local police station to get my criminal history check, over a year ago now when I was in Florida, I only had to pay a $15 fee and didn't need fingerprints at all... I haven't been able to contact the police station I went to yet but I'm getting the feeling they simply did the online check and just signed/dated it given the fact they didn't ask me for fingerprints and I got it on the spot. Any help in the matter would be greatly appreciated. |
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| shylady | Aug 20 2010, 12:16:08 PM Post #2 |
oldYank
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 hi abby,Police checks are only good for 1 year, so that's why the CO is asking for a new one. Can't help you with the FL online/fingerprint question. Have you done an FBI check, as well? Fingerprints needed for that, too!  Lisa |
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| abby | Aug 20 2010, 12:41:26 PM Post #3 |
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Anklebiter
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Thanks for the reply. I knew the Police checks were only good for a year, I was just hoping that they would still accept it because I submitted everything I had at the time to them a few days before the Police Check was due to expire. Ah well... Yeah I managed to get fingerprints done for the FBI one a week ago and sent them off the same day as well as sending off my Australian Police request. So yeah that's out of the way but it looks like I might need to pay another $104 for fingerprints again for the Florida State check if the online version of their response isn't accepted by Immigration. |
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| michaelavelli | Aug 20 2010, 02:03:38 PM Post #4 |
True Blue Mate
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I have my appointment to lodge my 820 on Tuesday - never got state police checks, was kinda hoping to get by without them. I guess that's not going to happen! Still waiting for the FBI check anyway, so hopefully won't be a big deal. |
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| abby | Aug 20 2010, 02:14:53 PM Post #5 |
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Anklebiter
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Are you lodging your application in Adelaide? Mine is already in there. Would suck for me if you didn't need to get a State one like I do, lol. GL with your app. |
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| abby | Aug 20 2010, 03:56:28 PM Post #6 |
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Anklebiter
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Well good news for me. I called up my CO in Adelaide, turned out since I have been in Australia for a year now I did not need to supply immigration with a State check just an FBI one. 
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| shylady | Aug 20 2010, 04:00:25 PM Post #7 |
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oldYank
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| michaelavelli | Aug 20 2010, 05:32:17 PM Post #8 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hmmm...when I apply I will have been in Australia for 1 year minus like 9 days. I wonder if I'll have to get a US state check? I do have an AFP one, maybe that'll be enough. |
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| crapola | Aug 20 2010, 09:30:09 PM Post #9 |
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True Blue Mate
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for future reference, get your international money orders from your local post office... |
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| blarg | Aug 21 2010, 11:38:58 AM Post #10 |
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True Blue Mate
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I just went ahead and got a state check done to make sure there would be as few delays as possible. 
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| Dana63 | Aug 22 2010, 07:08:38 PM Post #11 |
Piker
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Hello - I use to live in Florida- I want to tell you it only takes the state to come back with your back ground check with in 5-7 working days, NO  Please don't use the online check - as it is not what they are looking for. They will reply back with a request for a hard copy as internet one can be made up with in one of them crafty word programs. After they get this check they do contact you straight away. Provided your not waiting for more information. I just got home about 3 weeks ago after a 3 month wait- from start to finish. Don't ever want to leave Australia again. 
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| abby | Aug 23 2010, 05:02:40 PM Post #12 |
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Anklebiter
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Nah I asked Australian Post if they do International money orders, they said they stopped doing them a year ago so I would have to get one done through a bank. Of course none of this matters now cause I don't need this police clearance anymore but for anyone else needing to know... I found out from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that according to the reply they gave me on payment options they do not take international money orders. The option they did accept from me was getting a family member in the USA to pay the fee with a USA bank check . |
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| crapola | Aug 23 2010, 07:48:16 PM Post #13 |
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True Blue Mate
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well there ya go... goes to show how long it is since i got an international money order... |
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