Is fingerprinting necessary for Canadian PCC

[sanjays11]

I need answer to this question by tomorrow morning. Here, I've found out that there are 2 procedure, one is to go to nearest RCMP office and by paying $15 and other paperwork, one can get it the same day.

Another procedure is to go to there head office in the city and give fingerprints etc and then it will take around 30-60 days to get the PCC?

Looking for your insights.

Thanks

[cper2002]

You are partly right. There are two types of PCC from Canada: name-based and fingerprint-based. Both are suitable for CPIV. For fingerprint-based, you need to get fingerprinted at your local police station and send the fingerprints to an address in Ottawa. Details are on www.rcmp.ca. Turn around time is about 45-60 days. This is the way to go if you don't live in Canada and it is inconvenient for you to go. The second type is name-based. The RCMP usually contracts this out (one company is called "Identification Canada") and usually is same day or next day service.

[sanjays11]

thank you.

So, since I'm staying in Canada, it's okay to use the first option (this is faster too).+

[cper2002]

Note that since you live in Canada, your PCC from there cannot be older than 6 months at the time of your interview.

[mallikgiri]

Hi cper02,
I am a Canadian Landed Immigrant now living in US. My wife had stayed in canada for two years before joining me here.To obtain Canada PCC, I called my local (US)County Police office and they said they will not do fingerprinting for Immigration purposes. I am left with no option but to visit Canada do have finger printing done for my wife. You have mentioned that 'Identification Canada' company can give PCC within one or two days. Is it true?. Is that Name based PCC acceptable for Consular Processing?. Can you please give more details ie, website or office phone number of that company so that I can know more details?.
As we are living in US on H1 and H4 visas for more than six months, since 1997, is there a possibility that the Canadian Immigration officer at the border raise questions about our Landed Immigrant Visa status and refuse to allow us inside and cancel our Canadian Visa status?. If he allows us inside, do we need to turn in our current I-94 cards?
I first came to US with my son as visitors and obtained H1 visa in April 1997. But my son did not go to Canada to obtain H4 stamp at the border and started to attend middle school since april 1997. He obtained H4 visa at the border in October 1999. He is still 17 years old. We successfully extended our H1 and H4 visas last year. Does my son's stay in visitor status for almost two years, cause any problem when we go to India to obtain US Immigration Visa?. I have filed US taxes showing my son as my dependant all these years.

Thanks.

Thanks.

[cper2002]

Look at www.canada411.ca for the address of Identification Canada. It's on Ste. Catherine street in Montreal. Name-based should be sufficient. State Police may also do the fingerprinting.

It appears that your LI status in Canada is in jeopardy. Indians typically need a visa to enter Canada. I was born in Canada and consequently I know little about Canadian immigration procedures. Sorry.

Did you son get an H4 when you got your H1B? If so, an approved H4 petition shows he was in status. You don't need a stamp to show you are in status. If his H4 was not processed at the time of your original H1B, then you have issues that will require some legal consultation. There's a fix but it's complicated.

[sanjays11]

Normally, you should not be out of Canada for more then 6 months, when on Landed Immigrant status, otherwise to retain your status, you may have to apply for returning resident permit. Or else you should have abandoned your status in Canada.

For people on H4, when they become Canadian landed immigrant, the US authority will take out the I-94 card saying that they no longer need it. But in your case they may not take it out since you still live in US.

For myself, the lawyer asked me to get the fingerprint done too. So I have got the one based on name search right away, while the other one based on fingerprint should take 60 days to come.

Ask your lawyer, if they will need fingerprinted PCC or the name based is okay.

Good luck!