Applying for an Immigrant Visa

Police Clearances from Hong Kong and Macau

Police clearances for Hong Kong and Macau will be sent by the police authorities directly to the U.S. Consulate General. The Consulate General will liaise directly with NVC when the police clearances are received. There is no need to confirm the receipt of your police clearance with either the Consulate or NVC. Please note that failure to apply for a police certificate at least 6 weeks before the scheduled interview date may result in a delay with processing the visa application.

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Applying for a Police Clearance from Hong Kong

The issuance of a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction is a charged service provided by the Hong Kong Police Force. Both individuals residing in Hong Kong and individuals residing outside of Hong Kong may apply.

Individuals residing in Hong Kong

All applicants should appear in person at the Certificate of No Criminal Conviction Office which is located at 14/F, Arsenal House, Police Headquarters, 1 Arsenal Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. The office is open from 9am to 5:15pm from Monday to Friday. (Note: The payment window is closed daily between 1-2pm and stops accepting payments at 5pm.) Applicants may elect to make an advance appointment through the Automatic Telephone Appointment System at 2396-5351, no less than one day in advance of the intended appointment. Please note that the "Certificate of No Criminal Conviction" or an appropriate reply together with the applicant's police record will be sent directly to the Consulate General and/or immigration office specified on the application.

An applicant should be prepared to present the following items:

1. his/her Hong Kong Identity Card or valid travel document;
2. the original and a photocopy (for each applicant) of the letter from NVC which contains his/her name and the checklist of documents necessary for obtaining a visa (the one that references the need for police certificates);
3. the original and photocopy of a document proving his/her relationship with the principal applicant for the visa if item #2 does not contain the applicant's name;
4. the processing fee of HK$180 per person - payment via cash, Octopus cards or checks payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region."

All applicants must consent to have their fingerprints taken. Each applicant must sign an authorization that the fingerprints can be retained by the Hong Kong Police and that details of any criminal conviction recorded in Hong Kong can be disclosed to the U.S. Consulate General.

Individuals residing outside Hong Kong

Applications should be made in writing to:

The Commission of Police (Attn: EO CNCC)
14/F, Arsenal House
Police Headquarters, 1 Arsenal Street
Wan Chai, Hong Kong

An applicant residing outside Hong Kong must submit the following items. Please note that documents issued in languages other than Chinese or English, must be accompanied by an official transcript, in Chinese or English, endorsed either by the issuing authority or a certified translation services body.

1. A photocopy of his/her Hong Kong Identity Card or valid travel document;
2. A photocopy (for each applicant) of the letter from NVC which contains his/her name and the checklist of documents necessary for obtaining a visa (the one that references the need for police certificates);
3. A photocopy of a document proving his/her relationship with the principal applicant for the visa if item #2 does not contain the applicant's name;
4. a full set of the applicant's fingerprints taken and certified by a recognized and official police or law enforcement agency where the applicant currently resides. Certification of the fingerprints must clearly state: (i) the full name and rank of the person taking the prints, (ii) the full name of the police or law enforcement agency with their official chop; and (iii) the date and place the prints were taken. Prints that do not clearly show certification will be refused. Fingerprints taken by the applicant him/herself, a legal representative or private/commercial agency are also unacceptable.
5. a bank draft in the amount of HK$180 per person, made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region." The draft must be payable in Hong Kong. A personal cheque in Hong Kong dollars, which is issued and authorized by any licensed banks in Hong Kong, is also acceptable.

If an applicant is under investigation by the Hong Kong Police or is currently a defendant in criminal proceedings in Hong Kong or is subject to non-payment of fines including traffic offences, his/her application will not be further processed until the matter has been concluded.

The relevant application form, standard personal data form, and fingerprint consent form can be downloaded from the Hong Kong Police homepage at www.police.gov.hk. Any inquiries may be addressed to Certificate of No Criminal Conviction office, email: eo-cncc-ib@police.gov.hk, phone: +852-2860-6557 (for local residents); +852-2860-6558 (for overseas applicants), fax: +852-2200-4321.

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Applying for a Police Certificate from Macau

Residents of Macau:

• Age requirement: All applicants should be 16 years of age or older.

• BIR Holder: If the applicant is a Macau Identity Card or "BIR" holder (Bilhete de Identidade de Residente de Macau), the card must be presented with the application.

• Non-BIR Holder: If the applicant is not a BIR holder, he or she must submit documents proving his or her ties to Macau, such as an identification permit of non-resident worker or a testimonial letter from a school or employer in Macau.

• BIR and Non-BIR Holders may personally submit their own applications or they may have a family member or representative submit an application on their behalf. Applications made by a family member must include documentation identifying the applicant, documentation identifying the family member making the application, and documentation proving that the applicant cannot apply in person. Applications made by a representative must include a letter of authorization from the applicant, a photocopy of the applicant's identification, and the representative's original document of identification. If an applicant is not appearing in person, a full set of his/her ten fingerprints must be submitted.

• Fees: Regular application (6 working days) costs 50 patacas (approximately $6USD). Express application (3 working days) costs 150 patacas (approximately $19USD)

• Address: Direcção dos Serviços de Identificação - Avenida da Praia Grande, No. 804, Edificia China plaza, 1° andar, Macau.

Non-Residents of Macau:

• Applicants residing outside of Macau may mail an application to Macau P.O. Box 1089.

• Each applicant must submit a letter listing the following information: the applicant's full name, date and place of birth, names of his/her parents, nationality, marital status, purpose for the certificate request (ex: visa application at the U.S. Consulate General) and contact information for the applicant (address and phone number).

• The letter must be signed by the applicant with the print of the applicant's right index finger visible next to the signature. (First time applicants must submit all ten fingerprints.)

• Each applicant must submit documents proving his/her former residence in Macau (documents of identification issued in Macau or a testimonial letter from a former school or employer in Macau).

• Each applicant must submit a photocopy of a relevant document showing his/her parents' names (such as a birth certificate) if the data is not already on record with the Identification Department.

• Each applicant must present a photocopy of a passport issued by the country where the applicant presently resides, or of which the applicant is a national.

• Fees (postage and bank charges included): Standard Service (6 business days) -- bank draft in US$19.00 or HK$150.00. Express Service (3 business days) -- bank draft in US$32.00 or HK$250.00. Payable to: Direcção dos Serviços de Identificação.

Please note that police certificates and/or any records of conviction may be sent directly to the Consulate General and/or immigration authority. Additional information is available at http://www.dsi.gov.mo/documents/cert_index_e.html

 

Related Links

• Document Checklist
• Civil Documents and Police Certificates from the People's Republic of China
• Unobtainable Birth Certificates
• Local Agencies that Offer Assistance in Completing Visa Forms
• Civil Documents and Police Certificates from Philippines, Requesting a Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) through eCensus, Philippines National Statistics Office contact information (PDF file, 945 KB)*
• Medical Examinations (PDF file, 98 KB)*
• Fees
• Visa Photo Requirement

 

*(To view and print PDF files, please download the FREE Adobe Reader.)

 

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Last modified: January 6, 2009