What is a Police Clearance Report?

The local police authorities issue a police clearance report which 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 you have no criminal charges, this should be mentioned in the police clearance report. Indians applying for new Indian passport have to undergo a police verification check before the passport can be issued.

Who needs a police clearance certificate/report?

Those who are applying for an US immigrant visa 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 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 the applicant has spent time in the USA, no police certificate is required for that duration of stay. Since all Indians have to undergo police verification when they apply for a new passport, the US consulate in India accepts the police clearance report from the passport office if the passport is issued less than six months ago. After 1997 the passport records have been computerized and a request to the passport authorities to issue the police clearance certificate is usually honored quickly. If the applicant has stayed in another country for at least 12 months, then if obtainable, a police clearance certificate from that country is required. If the Indian passport holder resides outside India, then a certificate from the Indian consulate or embassy stating that the applicant has no criminal record is required.

Who to contact for a Police Clearance Certificate?

Other than Punjab, for all other states and districts the applicant should get in touch with the local Superintendent of Police/ Senior Superintendent of Police/ Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Police/ the Additional Commissioner of Police/ Station House Officer. For Punjab, only the Senior Superintendent of Police or the local Regional Passport Office can issue a Police Clearance Certificate.

Police clearance certificate from the regional passport office that issued the passport is also acceptable.

Why is a certified translation of the police report required? The reason a Hindi certified translation of the Police Clearance Report is required by the USCIS is because they expect applicants to be of “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, a Hindi police clearance translation is also required when you approach a bank for a loan. Some US employers and landlords also ask for police clearance report.

Hindi to English certified translation services that we provide. Our team of professional and experienced Hindi to English language translators provides thorough Hindi certified translation for police clearance report. Because of our vast experience in dealing with translation of documents for organizations like the USCIS, US passport agency, US colleges, US schools, US courts, we are able to create Hindi certified translations of police clearance report in the format that is required by these organizations. Hindi 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. Our experts can also translated and certify birth certificate documents in Indian languages of Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada and Punjabi.

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