US visa application: What is a "police certificate" from "all places lived"?

Question

For the k-1, k-3 and immigrant visa for a spouse one of the requirements is "Police certificate from all places lived since age 16" -- What is a "police certificate" and what does it mean "places lived"? My fiancée has been a missionary for the last 10 years. She's been based in one location but has been all over the world for 2 weeks to 3 months. What can we do to satisfy this requirement?

Answer 1

It is simply a document provide by the foreign national's hometown police department/s stating that the applicant isn't a felon and has no outstanding criminal proceedings against them. In most 3rd world countries ... that document is a joke. The police are the biggest criminals ... that document is easily paid for. Nonetheless, it is a requirement ...  so you must provide the appropriate document.

You should just get your fiancee's hometown police to certify the document. It would be smart of you to prepare the document for them ... let them stamp it with their official seal. There aren't regular documents that they have for this purpose  ... plus they are usually extremely lazy and dumb.

Answer 2

Immigrants are required to get police certificates from any country that they've lived in for at least six months after the age of sixteen, unless they aren't available.  The embassies have a list of countries where police certificates are available, and where they aren't, and how to go about getting them. The fact that is might be a hassle to get the certificate doesn't mean that you won't be required to get one.  The certificate gives basic information on any prior arrests, convictions or other records. Basically, the US wants to be assured that they aren't letting in any criminals as immigrants. Presumably, your missionary fiancee has nothing to worry about on that score.

Answer 3

you go to the police department and ask them for the cerificate, it tells where you have lived since you were 16.  The police know everything, usually based on your license. thats all

Answer 4

what they mean by that is basically a police records, and since she has been a missionary, she will contact her head office ,that will in turn give the places where your fiance has been on volontary or missionary for the last 10 years.