Check your PCC validity..

PCC reply from Chennai

All,

I have been posting info on this thread with whatever info I been getting after doing some digging around. It is up to an individual to decide the best for itself.

I shot three e-mails to three consulates (New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai) yesterday to get to the bottom of the issue. I received a reply from Chennai and Mumbai only. Both the replies are different.

My Conclusion: PCC is required and is atleast valid for 6 months. So folks, to be on asfer side and to avoid unnecessary point of discussion at the interview, try to have a PCC which is valid for 6 months on the date of the interview.

My suggestion: Whoever might be using this forum to share experiences, gain knowledge about the CP process, or help others, please refrain from pointing fingers at any ethinc group(desi or pardeshi). It's not a part of healthy communication.

Good Luck to all in your endeavors.
--------------------------xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--------------------------

Below is the reply from US Comsualte, Chennai.
"Chennai, IV" <ChennaiIV@state.gov>
03/28/2003 12:22 AM

To: "XXXX@YYYYY.ZZZZ" <XXXX@YYYYY.ZZZZ>
cc:
Subject: RE: What is the validity period of PCC from USA?


Indian PCC is valid for 6 months from date of issue.

Customer Service Unit
American Consulate General
220, Anna Salai
Chennai 600006
Phone - 91-44-28112060(dir)
91-44-28112000(board)
Fax - 91-44-28112027/2032
Website -http://chennai.usconsulate.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: XXXX@YYYYY.ZZZZ[mailto:XXXX@YYYYY.ZZZZ]
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 2:48 AM
To: Chennaiiv@state.gov
Subject: What is the validity period of PCC from USA?


Dear Consular Officer,

There are lot of rumors floating around about the validity of the PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) issued from the Indian Consulate in USA. I am presently in USA and will be attending a CP interview in India very soon.

Could you please confirm the validity period of the PCC issued from Indian Consulate in USA?

Thanks.

XXXXXX XXXXX
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What was Mumbai Consulate's response?

cpDelhi,
what was the response from Mumbai Consulate?
you mentioned "different"
could post the reply,
thanks
KYCP
 
PCC reply from Mumbai

"MUMBAI, I V" <MUMBAIIV@state.gov>
03/27/2003 10:11 PM

To: "xxxxx@yyyyy.zzz" <xxxxx@yyyyy.zzz>
cc:
Subject: RE: What is the validity period of PCC?


The PCC is valid for one year.
-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@yyyyy.zzz [mailto:xxxxx@yyyyy.zzz]
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 1:53 AM
To: MumbaiIV@state.gov
Subject: What is the validity period of PCC?


Dear Consular Officer,

There are lot of rumors floating around about the validity of the PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) issued from the Indian Consulate in USA. I am presently in USA and will be attending a CP interview in India very soon.

Could you please confirm the validity period of the PCC issued from Indian Consulate in USA?

Thanks.

XXXXXX YYYYYY
 
Thanks

cpDelhi,
thanks for the posting...

I guess, we (the candidates/applicants) having the burden of proof, should present the documents as required by the consulates. While they (consulates) wrestle with defining the validity, lets assume a validity of 6 months and prepare documentation accordingly.

thanks,
KYCP
 
Reply from Chennai

Hello :

Following is the reply which I got for my question regarding the validity of PCC (mine was issued in Oct 02 and am expecting a May/June interview)

"Indian PCC is valid for 6 months from date of issue.
Please obtain a fresh one from the Indian Consulate in USA"''

The consulate did not comment on my question whether I can get a PCC from India once I reach India.

DMN
 
Visited Mumbai Consulate

As I mentioned in another post, as per Mumbai consulate PCC issued from Indian consulate is valid for one year. Last week my wife went to Mumbai Consulate and showed the PCC issued Oct-2002. She also informed them the our interview will be in May. They said you do NOT need new PCC.

I got the similar reply of my email from them.

I guess Chennai and Mumbai consulate have different requirements.

bjajal
 
PCC requirement in Mumbai

Friends,

I came back last week after succesful CP. I am just trying to address the concern raised by one of the forum member.

1. PCC validity definately varies from country-to-country. Refer to Reciprocity table on DOS/INS site.

2. If any document is considered missing/not valid, consulate will not cancel your current visa and will ask you to come back with their required document.

While I was at Mumbai consulate, one of the girl was sent back saying please come back with PCC and other family (family based case) was sent back as they did not had one of the required doc.

My suggestion is,

1. Be on safer side.
2. If you are too close to interview date, fly to India in advance and try to get local PCC as well. (may save you some from potential delay).

If you will become one of those unfortunate, you have 364 days to produce the doc or case will be closed. so do not panic for PCC or any other docs. Your current visa will stay valid till their validity.

PS: Raju595 is an asset to these forum and I always followed/verified his opinions/views. if you don't mind, trust the forum member, unless proven otherwise.
 
gpiyush,

Thanks for the kind words.

As you said the information is always consulate specific. If a
consulate replies with a email saying that the validity is 1 year
then that itself is proof enough.

About getting a new PCC at a short notice, members have said
they called several Indian Consulates and the replies they got
were not encouraging.

But I still feel, a personal visit to the Consulate and talking to
a consular officer is worth a shot (Unless it is very far off ).

The last resort is as suggested by you, apply for a PCC from the
local passport office (back home). Since the candidate would be
carrying a PCC already, this should not take weeks.

Based on urgency I feel they can give the PCC in a much shorter
time. Ask someone back home to go to the Passport office and
enquire about this aspect.

Raju
 
Friends,

Few members have confirmed that they were able to
get a fresh PCC in one day ( 3 days in mail ), by submitting their out dated PCC.

I believe these posts relate to Chicago consulate. But they are
reason enough to try and apply here in US.

Good luck.
Raju
 
PCC in NWD is valid for six months only

Here is the reply from NWD regarding PCC. I have requested them to schedule the interview around last week of May as I have just applied for the fresh PCC and not expecting it before 15th May as New York consulate need 45 days to issue.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sir:

Till date your interview has not been scheduled yet. As far as the
PCC is concerned it is valid only for six months.
Once the interview is scheduled you will be informed at your local
address in delhi.

Thanks.
 
Hello SPP 2000

I am in the same situation.

But.. the 45 days for NY consulate is a sort of mandatory waiting period they should observe before they issue a PCC, IF THEY DONT GET A REPLY FOR THEIR REFERENCE TO THE PASSPORT OFFICE WHICH ISSUED YOUR PASSPORT. If they get a timely reply for this querry, NY can issue the PCC in a day or two.

I was told that they usually send out the reference in a couple of days after your application and we can try to expedite it from the indian passport office with the case number issued from NY consulate.

This is exactly I am doing. I made my application to NY this week. Once I get the case number I will contact the passport office in India (Trivandrum in my case). My wife who is India now talked to the Trivandrum office and they agreed to process the reference as soon as possible.

It may worth the effort in your case as well...

Good luck

DMN
 
Thanks DMN for your suggestion. I think this should work. My question is how to get the case number from NY ? Pls suggest.

Thanks
 
Hello SPP2000 and Friends

Acutally it is not my suggestion rather it is from the Indian conulate in NY itself. If you call a couple of days after your application reached NY, they should be able to give you a reference number..

Even otherwise you should be able to contact your home passport office with your passport number since it is the ultimate reference number you can think of..!

In my experience the NY consulate was very helpful in this matter and appears to be willing to help us out ..the only problem is that they are very strict in saying they can issue the PCC only after checking with Indian office.. unlike DC and Chicago consualtes which issue PCC without reference based on your existing PCC provided you did not travel after obtaining it.

My wife also talked to Chennai US consulate and was told that ALL OF US WHO ARE LIVINNG IN the US PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW SHOULD OBTAIN THE PCC FROM THE INDIAN CONSULATE HERE ..THE OPTION OF USING ONE FROM INDIA IS NOT APPLICABLE!!

This is an option only for those who went to India six months prior to the interview date..

Good luck..

DMN
 
Friends

Please don't take the "desi" remark too seriously. I only meant that since we have so much red tape in India, we Indians tend to take every little rule seriously and increase our stress in the process.

As far as this PCC is concerned, it definitely seems to be valid for only SIX months now, and those of us who have an older PCC should definitely try to get a new one.

I am still mystified though that the Chennai consulate does not have this validity clearly stated on it's website. Imagine the plight of someone who just follows the website and does not follow our discussions here??? I think they could legitimately say they followed whatever instructions were on the webpage.

But yes, when one does know that the PCC is valid for only six months, why have this discussion at all... just get a new PCC.

Cheers!

Aish
 
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