Online & Offline Methods for PCC from India for Immigration

Opportunities do call from foreign, which Indian diaspora often grabs. But, the immigration is not about successfully applying for a passport and procuring visa. It also has a ton of challenges that are apart from merely booking a flight to the USA or the UK or any other country.

Also known as PCC, the Police Clearance Certificate is what you should also have in certain conditions. You can get through those conditions in the subsequent sections of this article. Let’s come across what it is first.

As its name suggests, this police verification certificate determines a legal document, certifying that its bearer has or doesn’t have a criminal background. Also, it states the type of offence, if the record books of police have its mention.

Who do require it?

Being related to legal information, this document is issued in the scope of safeguarding the interest of the person and the country where he/she is migrating to. To be précised, this certificate is issued to those who have an appointment letter provided by the employer from the foreign. In short, if you are officially invited to work in the USA or Australia, let’s say, you should have it.

There are two more conditions in the context of its issuance-one, the NRIs who have been migrated to abroad and now, want to apply for a resident permit there; second, those who have applied for a long-term visa.

Exception: The tourists are barred from its requirement. Simply say, those whose motive is to go on a foreign visit, need not undergo any police verification for seeking the certificate.

Competent authorities with its issuance right

India delivers this certificate through these authorities -local police station, PSK or Passport Sewa Kendra, Post Office Passport Sewa Kendra.

These authorities are set up in various districts with a view to deliver convenience and comfort to its seekers. To make its application process less cumbersome, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also opened its window to accept & process its overwhelming requests.

PCC for Emigration Check Required (ECR) counties (18):

Since every country has different immigration policies and authorities, India taps all such provisions and adopts different procedures accordingly to administer the PCC requests for different countries. Broadly, the foreign countries are split into two groups- ECR countries and Non-ECR countries.

ECR Category:

In all, there are currently 18 countries categorized under ECR countries, viz. Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Even if the aspirant is employed through a recruitment agency, the procedure to get PCC would be different as per the purpose of work/employment. The professional profile, gender, skills and qualification would determine it particularly and differently.

Non-ECR Category:

The Non-ECR, formerly called Emigration Check Not Required/ECNR, category people need not avail police verification certificate. This category includes such applicants who are:

• Individuals who have passed 10th class/grade or higher degree
• Official and diplomatic passport holders
• Gazetted government officers, their spouses and children
• Individuals who are above the age of 50 years
• Children up to the age of 18 years.
• Income taxpayers (including agricultural income tax payers), their spouses and children under 18 years.
• Professional degree holders such as Engineers, Doctors, CA etc., their spouses and children.
• Who have visas for permanent immigration / resident visas for the US, UK, and Australia
• Individuals who have spent three years overseas and their spouses
• Individuals who have a diploma in nursing under the Indian Nursing Council Act-1947
• People holding diploma in Polytechnic from any recognized institute.
• People who work in Sea with Continuous Discharge Certificate or Sea Cadets and Deck cadets.

Offline process to obtain PCC for NRIs:

As the PCC process depends on your qualification and employment, you have to get ready with your documents and flawlessness. A flaw or an error could let you wait for months. Therefore, focus on procuring all documents and forms filled with accurate information. If the requisite information is in a proper place, the PCC is issued on the very same day.

On the flip side, the erroneous information or mismatched details could lead to rejection. Therefore, always keep your originals together with their photocopies so that the passport authority can instantly verify. Upon finding any mismatch, the authority directs for police verification in a month.

Those who have been residing in the foreign, need not apply for the PCC from India in person. Rather, they can approach the Indian consulate in that country.

Online method

If willing, its online application form is also available. The person can download that form from India’s consulate office official website. Upon filling, the form can be sent to the consular office. Its service fee can be paid in cash or by a cheque. There is no alternative to pay its fee online.

The online application form facility in the metropolitan cities is open. If you want to get off the physical visit to the police station, you can apply online. However, the police may call you for a brief background check. Kerala police has been administering these requests digitally.

Manoj Sodhani is an Nri consultant whose concern areas are immigration-based documentation, such as passport, visa and transcripts.