New Police Certificate Policies for Indian Immigrant Visa Applicants

Commencing on February 1, 2002, certain Indian applicants for Immigrant Visas will be required to obtain police certificates from the local Passport Office. This requirement applies to all Indian applicants who are 16 years of age or older, and who are residing in India. More specific details on the new police certificate policies are:

• Applicants for whom Indian passports were issued within the six months prior to the Immigrant Visa application may present the Passport Office Police Certificate, and need not obtain additional police clearances.
• Those applicants who are 16 years or older who hold passports which were issued more than six months prior to the visa application, must also obtain a police clearance from the District Police Office serving the applicant's place of residence.
• Indian passport holders applying for visas outside of India should obtain a statement from their local embassy or consulate confirming that they have no criminal record.
• Non-Indian Immigrant Visa applicants residing in India should obtain police certificates from the District Police Office serving their area of residence.

Indian police certificates are not available for non-Indian applicants applying outside of India.