Police Certificate, What is it?

[pablo_max]

Hi,
As I understand it, I must get a police certificate for my wife.
We live in Germany now, but we live in the US for 2.5 years.

What is a police report. I know the literal translation, but after reading on the internet I am very confused what I need to do!
I thought that I needed to get it from the local police station somehow, but I have also read that I need to contact the FBI.
We need to submit the stuff and I have no dang clue how to do it.
Can anyone please tell me how to get it from the US?

[pablo_max]

Anyone???

[rayb]

Contact an FBI-approved "channeler":


and talk to a couple of them until you get a credible description of how to get your FBI record to German.

--Ray B

Anyone???

[pablo_max]

Thanks a lot Ray.
I have read from a lot of people in the German forums that they didn't provide a US police report and it wasnt a problem, even though they lived in the US before.
Do you think that could be the case?
Also, do I really need to go through the FBI? I can also request a police report from California. Is that not good enough?

[rayb]

A "California" specific criminal history record won't work, as it will show only activity in California.

The link I gave you was to the "channelers," who have access to the FBI database, but who normally provide the reports much faster than using the FBI direcly

I've seen many visa applicants who previously lived in the states apply for U.S. visas and were not asked for a U.S. police report.

--Ray B

Thanks a lot Ray.
I have read from a lot of people in the German forums that they didn't provide a US police report and it wasnt a problem, even though they lived in the US before.
Do you think that could be the case?
Also, do I really need to go through the FBI? I can also request a police report from California. Is that not good enough?

[pablo_max]

A "California" specific criminal history record won't work, as it will show only activity in California.

The link I gave you was to the "channelers," who have access to the FBI database, but who normally provide the reports much faster than using the FBI direcly

I've seen many visa applicants who previously lived in the states apply for U.S. visas and were not asked for a U.S. police report.

--Ray B

Many thanks for your help Ray. I helped a lot.