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Q: Any Aussies here who have gotten their Criminal History authenticated?
New frikken laws have made it that much more difficult and annoying for getting legal visas, and of course, the Chinese government wants to make even the simplest things as difficult and time-consuming as possible... as well as not bothering to supply all needed information (drip-fed, and usually only after you've asked a few times!)
The same is true back home, at the Chinese embassy in Canberra.
I've got my Criminal History check completed (called a 'National Police Check' in Australia), it's doing to DFAT for authentication (as I write), but getting correct information from the Chinese is like blood from a stone!
Their website hasn't indicated whether it can be done through the mail. When I emailed, I was told to "apply through the consulate" - which goes against what SAFEA wants (unless, "apply" means something else) no address or credit card forms are given for this, and they've ignored my email...
So, I'm asking any Aussies who have had to do this in the last few months (and preferably who don't live down Canberra way) what you did and all....
thanks! 
10 years 7 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
Spoiler: racist question
Question for all you Aussies:
how far back into your past do the criminal background checks go ?
10 years?
20 years?
150 years ??
Shining_brow:
Actually, yes - it would be rather racist... given the very high percentage of people's who populated the country in the last 100 years or so - migrants, refugees, etc etc.
However, criminal histories normally only go back 7 years, unless a major crime, in which case it'd stay on record forever!
royceH:
Ｆａｉｒ ｓｕｃｋ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｓａｖ ｔｈｅｒｅ， Ｓｏｒｒｅｌ．
Ｂｅｓｉｄｅｓ， ａ ｌｏａｆ ｏｆ ｂｒｅａｄ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｈａｎｄ ｉｓ ｗｏｒｔｈ ｔｗｏ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｓｈｏｐ．
I Googled your question and got this:
http://www.police.qld.gov.au/services/purchase/polcert.htm
My answer is, but it might be wrong:
If you have your certificate, you need to get it notarised in China.
This is just be a case of going to a local notary office, pay a few RMB, and they chop your paper to say it's not a copy. There are notary offices everywhere. But you need a Chinese speaker to help you. The easiest way to find one is to go to a photo studio where they take the "approved" photos. You know, the one with the bar code. they know where you need to go.
Most Chinese don't know what you are talking about. But the Photo people do. Because the notary office is where Chinese visa applicants have to go to get the papers they need.
Shining_brow:
Sorry, Scots, your answer is... inappropriate!
The SAFEA website (where my HR people get their information) says Embassy! And back home embassy too - not just a public notary!!
ScotsAlan:
As I said in my answer, I Googled it and got an answer that might be wrong.
My answer in not inappropriate.
It appears to be wrong.
Sorry if I gave you the wrong answer, it was certainly not inappropriate 
.
Each city is different, I got mine accepted without getting it authenticated at the Chinese embassy. But I did get mine authenticated by the US State department so it could be used overseas. My situation was similar with yours, The consulate in New York or the embassy's website had no info about and I was told to get it authenticated by both the State Dept and the Chinese consulate, but it doesn't make sense. It is going to be used here in China, why can't the country do what is done at the consulate?
Shining_brow:
Your 'State Department' would be similar to our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) - which is also stamping the history check.
Where are you from? Is this for a new Z visa/RP or for a renewal?
Shining_brow:
New. Had them before, but obviously not since the new laws last year.
And, I'm currently in Hangzhou, so they've introduced it here :(
i am from sydney and have been in china 7 years , every company or school asks for it but legally the chinese schools and government cant check it is real or true because of Australian privacy laws ,australia wont disclose anything about you unless a goverment official goes to the embassy which they wont waiste time doing because its a loss of face and also will say they have too many other things to do
Shining_brow:
Aaaaand... that's why they want it stamped by DFAT and the local embassy!! So they can verify it's legitimate! :)
i am from sydney and have been in china 7 years , every company or school asks for it but legally the chinese schools and government cant check it is real or true because of Australian privacy laws ,australia wont disclose anything about you unless a goverment official goes to the embassy which they wont waiste time doing because its a loss of face and also will say they have too many other things to do
I successfully applied for an Australian Federal Police check last year and it was sent to me in Xinjiang. Took about a month to arrive. The application and payment can be done online. Try the AFP website.
Shining_brow:
The AFP check isn't the problem... it's the Chinese side of things.
I've got the check done (took 24 hours, or less!), had it sent to DFAT, and it should be on the way back to my mates place as I write.
However, after this, who knows? Chinese bureaucracy crap!!!
Spoiler: racist question
Question for all you Aussies:
how far back into your past do the criminal background checks go ?
10 years?
20 years?
150 years ??
Shining_brow:
Actually, yes - it would be rather racist... given the very high percentage of people's who populated the country in the last 100 years or so - migrants, refugees, etc etc.
However, criminal histories normally only go back 7 years, unless a major crime, in which case it'd stay on record forever!
royceH:
Ｆａｉｒ ｓｕｃｋ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｓａｖ ｔｈｅｒｅ， Ｓｏｒｒｅｌ．
Ｂｅｓｉｄｅｓ， ａ ｌｏａｆ ｏｆ ｂｒｅａｄ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｈａｎｄ ｉｓ ｗｏｒｔｈ ｔｗｏ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｓｈｏｐ．
Update: for any Aussies who care (or do a search for this in the near future!)
Firstly - the "National Police Check" was completed in 24 hours! (I did the online thing, sent off 2 scanned IDs - passport and D/L on Monday night, and got an email on Tuesday night saying it was done!
Secondly - I emailed requesting more copies. I was emailed (within a couple of days) saying they'd send 2 more - as 3 was the maximum. They did! (but seperately...)
Thirdly - DFAT in Brisbane is next to Pancake Manor (perhaps this is not a coincidence!) However, they're only open for authentications 9am - 1pm. It can be done through the mail, and it's $20/document. They'll return post for free (regular domestic mail)
Fourthly - and lastly - latest emails have said it does not need to be stamped at the Embassy in Canberra, but any consulate will be ok. They're stamps are basically the same, and there's no difference in 'powers' between them! (we shall see!!!)
