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Q: How to get a criminal background check from Britain?
Does anyone know how I get the criminal backgroun check from Britain? Who do I email etc. And how long does the process take? I assume a while and that it has to be posted to China as well.
10 years 13 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
You can get the new.A.C.P.O.This will show any convictions,warnings during your entire life,or Disclosure Scotland,even if you are English,does not show spent or cautions.
Disclosure and barring service in the UK. Previously known as the CRB check. My current employer did the last one on me. I have the original copy, and a duplicate sent to my employer. Enhanced version needed if your working with children or in the medical sector which is mandatory. Its is pretty comprehensive.
Disclosure and barring service in the UK. Previously known as the CRB check. My current employer did the last one on me. I have the original copy, and a duplicate sent to my employer. Enhanced version needed if your working with children or in the medical sector which is mandatory. Its is pretty comprehensive.
I happen to be doing the same process myself. Waiting for Disclosure Scotland to mail me the application form - the official channel may take months! But I e-mailed British embassies asking if there might be a quicker alternative that satisfies Chinese gov't's demands. My boss told me a rumour that a Brit in Shanghai could get a quick document from the consulate there - I was lucky that they even replied to my vague hearsay rumour. They replied with this:
"""Thank you for your email. The British Embassy or Consulates in China have no authority to conduct criminal record checks and are unable to provide British nationals with proof of no criminal record.
If you wish to obtain a criminal record clearance for time spent in China, you will need to apply for it from the Chinese local Public Security Bureau (PSB). I guess the document you mentioned which the other British national obtained from the Consulate in Shanghai is the Statutory Declaration which we do not issue any more. You could find relevant information here https://www.gov.uk/living-in-china#criminal-record-checks .
If you want to find more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/ . Hope above information will be helpful.
...
I just double checked with my colleague regarding your enquiry. I have to correct with you that currently the British customers who are in China and wish to make a Statutory Declaration in British Embassy/Consulates still can apply. However, it is a decision for the Chinese authorities about whether to accept the Statutory Declaration as proof of no criminal record. Statutory Declarations witnessed at our offices carry a disclaimer stating that the document is not certified as binding in law (whether under UK law or otherwise). Moreover, the Chinese PSB are responsible for issuing the report for your time spent in China. You could apply for it with the PSB as I suggested below.
Hope the above explains well. if there is anything unclear, please feel free to contact us again. """
Currently, I'm waiting for my boss to find out whether or not the Statutory Declaration is sufficient to satisfy demands of the local immigration authorities...
smoglife:
Thanks. This is really helpful. When you say months, how many do you think?
coineineagh:
well, i'm still waiting to receive the application form Disclosure Scotland said they'd send to me 3 weeks ago (you remind me that i should e-mail them about it again). postage should take 2-3 weeks from China to Britain. Once I post my application form back, they will have it ready within 2 working days, and post it where you want to. it also needs to go past FCO and Chinese Embassy London (unless you know someone who'll help you, you'll need to enlist a courier service, like me). Then the completed document can be sent to you in China. It could theoretically be done in less than 2 months, but you should always prepare for delays. One thing I worry about, is whether the Chinese authorities will confiscate the original documents when you apply for a Z visa - then you'd need to do this every time you switch jobs in China!
Do you have to get this for a renewal of Residence Permit, and where are you now?
Does the criminal record check have to be legalised as well? I went on to the gov.uk website and it says sometimes Chinese authorities require it to be legalised too (costing 30 quid and a whole load more hassle) -anyone done it without?
coineineagh:
If you're already in China like me, this will take a whole lot more time and money. 1: let Disclosure service send you applcation in the mail (they won't let you print it yourself). 2: mail back and wait. 3: They send the docuemnt to you, or a courier service you specify. 4: Courier service must bring it to the CFO for countersigning. 5: Sam courier service picks up countersigned document from the commonwealth office to bring to the Chinese Embassy in London, where they legalize it. 6: Courier service sends it back to you.
So you definitely have to get it legalised too then?! Bummer!!!
