What is a Police Clearance Report?

A police clearance report/certificate is a document that is issued by the competent police authorities and it states the criminal history (if any) of the applicant. Criminal history includes all court cases, arrests, reasons for arrests and the final judgment of each of the cases. For those who have no criminal charges, this should be mentioned in the police clearance report. Those applicants who have been convicted of crime need to also produce Chinese certified translations of court orders and prison records.

Who needs a police clearance report?

Applicants who are applying for an US immigrant visa or US non-immigrant visa K or V, and are over the age of 16, need a police clearance certificate/report which covers the entire period the applicant has stayed in that area. The applicant needs to provide police clearance reports from all areas in his/her native country where the applicant has stayed for over six months after attaining the age of 16. Police clearance report is also required from foreign countries where the applicant has stayed for over one year. Irrespective of how long an applicant has stayed in a particular place, if the applicant has been arrested then he/she needs to produce the police report. The validity of the police clearance certificate is one year from the date it is issued and it must be valid on the date that the applicant’s visa is issued. If an applicant has been convicted of a crime, then he/she needs to produce all court and prison records. If the applicant has spent time in the USA, no police certificate is required for that duration of stay.

Process for obtaining a Chinese Police Clearance Report

If the applicant is employed, he/she should approach their employer for a certificate of good character. The employer should provide this in an envelope sealed with a chop. The applicant should next apply for a police clearance certificate or report to the local Public Security Bureau (PSB). The documents that need to be submitted to the PSB include the employer’s certificate, national/resident identification card and household register booklet (Hukou). The authorities will affix another chop. Applicants with criminal records will receive a certificate with information of convictions. Once the clearance report is received, the applicant should take it to the Public Notary Office (Chinese: 公证处 Pinyin:gōng zhèng chù ), which is an agency of the Ministry of Justice, to notarize/certify the police clearance report. For non-Chinese residents the process is similar, except they need to submit copies of their passport with the relevant Chinese visas.

Content of Chinese police clearance report

A typical police clearance report for someone who has no criminal conviction will contain the information that there are no criminal records, name of the person/applicant, gender, nationality, date of birth, name of the province issuing the certificate, period for which certificate is issued (“from” and “to” date), issuing authority’s name, signature and Public Security Bureau name.

Why is a certified translation of the police report required?

Chinese certified translation of a Police Clearance Report is required by the USCIS as a proove that the applicants are of a “Good Moral Character”. The USCIS “Guide to Naturalization” [M-476 (rev. 01/11)] states the expectations of the United States with respect to “Good Moral Character” of immigrants. Key points from the guide in this regard are mentioned below:

“To be eligible for naturalization you must be a person of good moral character.”

“Committing certain crimes may cause you to be ineligible for naturalization.”

“You should report all offenses that you have committed including any that have been expunged (removed from your record) and any that happened before your 18th birthday. If you do not tell USCIS about these offenses and we find out about them, you may be denied naturalization (even if the original offense was not a crime for which your case would have been denied).”

“If you have been arrested or convicted of a crime, you must send a certified copy of the arrest report, court disposition, sentencing, and any other relevant documents, including any countervailing evidence concerning the circumstances of your arrest and/or conviction that you would like USCIS to consider. Note that unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve an actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver’s license.”

In addition to applying to the USCIS for visas, Chinese certified translation of police clearance report is also required when you approach a bank for a loan. Some US employers and landlords also ask for police clearance report.

Chinese to English certified translation services that we provide.

The Certified Translation offers professional Chinese to English transalation services. We have vast experience in translating documents required by organizations such as the USCIS, US passport agency, US colleges, US schools, US courts, we create police clearance translation in the format that is required by these organizations. Chinese certified translations need to be done as per Federal Regulations 8 CFR 103.2 (b) 2 relating to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Immigration Regulations/Powers and Duties – Availability of Records.

As per USCIS requirements, our Chinese translators will certify that the Chinese to English translation of the police clearance report is both accurate and complete. Our translators will also certify that they are competent to translate from Chinese to English.

The Certified Translation delivers a Chinese certified translation of the police clearance report in as little as 48 hours.