Immigrant Visas: Related Information on Applying for an Immigrant Visa

Police Clearances from Hong Kong and Macau

Police clearances for Hong Kong and Macau will be sent by the police authorities directly to the U.S. Consulate General. The Consulate General will liaise directly with NVC when the police clearances are received. There is no need to confirm the receipt of your police clearance with either the Consulate or NVC. Please note that failure to apply for a police certificate at least 6 weeks before the scheduled interview date may result in a delay with processing the visa application.

 

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Applying for a Police Clearance from Hong Kong

The issuance of a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction is a charged service provided by the Hong Kong Police Force. Both individuals residing in Hong Kong and individuals residing outside of Hong Kong may apply.

Individuals residing in Hong Kong

All applicants should appear in person at the Certificate of No Criminal Conviction Office which is located at 14/F, Arsenal House, Police Headquarters, 1 Arsenal Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. The office is open from 9am to 5:15pm from Monday to Friday. (Note: The payment window is closed daily between 1-2pm and stops accepting payments at 5pm.) Applicants may elect to make an advance appointment through the Automatic Telephone Appointment System at 2396-5351, no less than one day in advance of the intended appointment. Please note that the “Certificate of No Criminal Conviction” or an appropriate reply together with the applicant’s police record will be sent directly to the Consulate General and/or immigration office specified on the application.

An applicant should be prepared to present the following items:

1. his/her Hong Kong Identity Card or valid travel document;
2. the original and a photocopy (for each applicant) of the letter from NVC which contains his/her name and the checklist of documents necessary for obtaining a visa (the one that references the need for police certificates);
3. the original and photocopy of a document proving his/her relationship with the principal applicant for the visa if item #2 does not contain the applicant’s name;
4. the processing fee of HK$250 per person – payment via cash, Octopus cards or checks payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”

All applicants must consent to have their fingerprints taken. Each applicant must sign an authorization that the fingerprints can be retained by the Hong Kong Police and that details of any criminal conviction recorded in Hong Kong can be disclosed to the U.S. Consulate General.

Individuals residing outside Hong Kong

Applications should be made in writing to:

The Commission of Police (Attn: EO CNCC)
14/F, Arsenal House
Police Headquarters, 1 Arsenal Street
Wan Chai, Hong Kong

An applicant residing outside Hong Kong must submit the following items. Please note that documents issued in languages other than Chinese or English, must be accompanied by an official transcript, in Chinese or English, endorsed either by the issuing authority or a certified translation services body.

1. A photocopy of his/her Hong Kong Identity Card or valid travel document;
2. A photocopy (for each applicant) of the letter from NVC which contains his/her name and the checklist of documents necessary for obtaining a visa (the one that references the need for police certificates);
3. A photocopy of a document proving his/her relationship with the principal applicant for the visa if item #2 does not contain the applicant’s name;
4. a full set of the applicant’s fingerprints taken and certified by a recognized and official police or law enforcement agency where the applicant currently resides. Certification of the fingerprints must clearly state: (i) the full name and rank of the person taking the prints, (ii) the full name of the police or law enforcement agency with their official chop; and (iii) the date and place the prints were taken. Prints that do not clearly show certification will be refused. Fingerprints taken by the applicant him/herself, a legal representative or private/commercial agency are also unacceptable.
5. a bank draft in the amount of HK$250 per person, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.” The draft must be payable in Hong Kong. A personal cheque in Hong Kong dollars, which is issued and authorized by any licensed banks in Hong Kong, is also acceptable.

If an applicant is under investigation by the Hong Kong Police or is currently a defendant in criminal proceedings in Hong Kong or is subject to non-payment of fines including traffic offences, his/her application will not be further processed until the matter has been concluded.

The relevant application form, standard personal data form, and fingerprint consent form can be downloaded from the “Downloadable Forms” web page of “Certificate of No Criminal Conviction” on Hong Kong Police Force website.. Any inquiries may be addressed to Certificate of No Criminal Conviction office, email: eo-cncc-ib@police.gov.hk, phone: +852-2860-6557 (for local residents); +852-2860-6558 (for overseas applicants), fax: +852-2200-4321 or visit. Please refer to www.police.gov.hk for further information and updates on police certificate from Hong Kong.

 

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Applying for a Police Certificate from Macau

Residents of Macau

• Age requirement: All applicants should be 16 years of age or older.
• BIR Holder: If the applicant is a Macau SAR Resident Identity Card (BIR) holder, the card must be presented with the application.
• Non-BIR Holder: If the applicant is not a BIR holder, he or she must submit documents proving his or her ties to Macau, such as an identification permit of non-resident worker or a testimonial letter from a school or employer in Macau.
• BIR and Non-BIR Holders may personally submit their own applications or they may have their direct relatives (i.e. parents or spouse or children aged 18 or over) or an authorized person submit an application on their behalf.
• Police certificates and/or any records of conviction are sent directly to the applicants.
• Please refer to “Certificate” web page of the Identification Services Bureau (DSI) of Macau SAR for detailed information.

Application made by direct relative must include:

1. Photocopy of the applicant’s Macau SAR Resident Identity Card (BIR) – for non-BIR holders: a photocopy of applicant’s valid travel document or valid document for entering Macau and documentary proof of the connection between applicant and Macau;
2. Original identity document of the representative making the application;
3. Documentation proving the relationship between the applicant and the representative;
4. A full set of applicant’s ten fingerprints (for first time application);
5. Documentation proving that the applicant cannot apply in person.

Application made by an authorized person must include:

1. Proxy or letter of authorization from the applicant (Samples can be obtained on DSI website: Forms Download – Declaration (Certificate of Criminal Record);
2. Photocopy of the applicant’s Macau SAR Resident Identity Card (BIR) – for non-BIR holders: photocopy of applicant’s valid travel document or valid document for entering Macau and documentary proof of the connection between applicant and Macau;
3. Original identity document of the authorized person making the application;
4. A full set of applicant’s ten fingerprints (for first time application).

Fees:
Normal application (5 working days) costs MOP50.
Urgent application (2 working days) costs MOP150.

Address: Please access DSI’s address and working hours.

Application by mail:

1. Access DSI’s “Postal Application Service” system to obtain an application number and print out an application slip;
2. Mail “Part 2” of the application slip and the required documents to DSI. (Mailing address: Macau Postal Box No. 1089/ Avenida da Praia No. 804, Edificio China Plaza, 20 andar, Macau);
3. After receiving the required documents (see below), DSI will update the application progress in the “Postal Application Service” system. Applicants should check their application status in the system from time to time.
4. When the application status changes to “Please pay for the application”, applicants can pay the fee to complete their application.

Required documents:

1. Application form or application letter, which should state clearly applicant’s name, parents’ name, date and place of birth, usage of the certificate (i.e. “for immigration”), contact information, and type of application (normal or urgent). In the letter, the applicant should sign and impress a right index fingerprint next to their signature. For the first-time application, a set of ten fingerprint impression should be submitted to DSI (the form for fingerprint impression can be downloaded in DSI’s website);
2. Proof of residence in Macao or proof of application for residing in Macao, such as identification documents issued in Macao, proof issued by a school in Macao, a notification letter in regard to Residence Authorization application issued by the Immigration Department of the Public Security Police Force, a document issued by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute to request the applicant to submit the Certificate of Criminal Record and so on;
3. Photocopy of a valid travel document of the applicant;
4. If the applicant does not hold a Macao SAR Resident Identity Card and needs to state his/her parents’ name on the certificate, he/she should submit a photocopy of the relevant supporting documents, such as birth certificate. Such document is not required if the applicant has submitted it to DSI before.

Fee: Application fee + Postage (DSI will inform the applicant of the total amount in the “Postal Application Service” system of DSI)

1. Normal application fee (5 working days): MOP50
   Urgent application fee (2 working days): MOP150
2. Postage amounts vary depending on the destinations and weight of the documents.

Means of payment:

1. Pay online: Pay by credit card in the “Postal Application Service” system.
2. Pay by an authorized person: An applicant can authorize a person in Macao to pay the fee at DSI in person on his/her behalf by stating it clearly in the application letter.

Date of Collection: (The collection date is counted from the following day after DSI received all necessary documents.) Normal application: 5 working days.
Urgent application: 2 working days.

 

Last modified: February 16, 2023