Obtaining fingerprints for INIS naturalisation process

hkjohn

Months after we submitted all paperwork for my wife's naturalisation, INIS have asked for a certificate of good behaviour from the police force in the country we lived in before moving here five years ago. Only way we can apply for this is to send the police force there various documentation including a full set of fingerprints. Problem is it is almost impossible to get the local garda station here to take the fingerprints.

Anyone had a similar problem and got some advice?

splinter65

hkjohn wrote: »

Months after we submitted all paperwork for my wife's naturalisation, INIS have asked for a certificate of good behaviour from the police force in the country we lived in before moving here five years ago. Only way we can apply for this is to send the police force there various documentation including a full set of fingerprints. Problem is it is almost impossible to get the local garda station here to take the fingerprints.

Anyone had a similar problem and got some advice?

Write to INIS and explain the difficulty you are having. Include a copy of proof that you are required to have finger prints to get the police clearance.
I was helping some Syrians to get their citizenship and nearly 18 months into the process they were asked for police clearance from Jordan where they had been in refugee camps.
We looked into it, Jordan only give police clearance to Jordanian citizens.
I wrote to INIS and sent them proof that Jordan would not give police clearance to Syrian citizens.
Still they wrote back and insisted that it was a requirement.
I wrote again an exasperated letter repeating that there was nothing could be done.
About 3 months later they got their letter awarding them citizenship.
I’d already done battle for months about the issue of Syrian passports.
INIS are very difficult to deal with.

mdebets

Did you try and ask the embassy of that country you want the police clearance from, if they are able to take your fingerprints?

hkjohn

Thanks for that S65.

Hate dealing with the gardai. Apparently the only officers who can take fingerprints are the Scene of Crime Officers who are understandably rushed off their feet handling crime scenes. That said, it's unbelievable that after a week of calling them at 0830 in the morning (as the desk sergeant told me to do because it's the only time the are guaranteed (yeah, right!) to be there), they've not bothered to get back to me.

BaronVon

The Guards charge for the fingerprinting service, you should contact the Superintendents office, and you should be able to make an appointment to have them done. AFAIK, an Immigration officer can do them too.

splinter65

hkjohn wrote: »

Thanks for that S65.

Hate dealing with the gardai. Apparently the only officers who can take fingerprints are the Scene of Crime Officers who are understandably rushed off their feet handling crime scenes. That said, it's unbelievable that after a week of calling them at 0830 in the morning (as the desk sergeant told me to do because it's the only time the are guaranteed (yeah, right!) to be there), they've not bothered to get back to me.

I don’t mind the Gardai really it’s INIS that are the big problem.
When the Syrians arrived in the Lebanon or Jordan at refugee camps their passports were taken away from them and not returned.
When the Irish government were arranging for the Syrians to come here as refugees they knew they had no passports so they issued them with Travel Documents. They even renewed the Travel Documents later because they knew that the Syrian Embassy in London stopped issuing passports in 2012.
Then when the Syrians started applying for Citizenship after 3 years INIS ( the same department that issued the Travel Documents) immediately demanded to see the Syrian passports that they knew didn’t exist, or detailed written explanations as to why they didn’t have passports (they knew why) and what efforts they’d made to get passports.
Ludicrous time wasting and stress.

RobbieMD

hkjohn wrote: »

Months after we submitted all paperwork for my wife's naturalisation, INIS have asked for a certificate of good behaviour from the police force in the country we lived in before moving here five years ago. Only way we can apply for this is to send the police force there various documentation including a full set of fingerprints. Problem is it is almost impossible to get the local garda station here to take the fingerprints.

Anyone had a similar problem and got some advice?

Whereabouts are you based? I may be able to assist if you’re based around Dublin

hkjohn

In Roacommon. Next time will be up in Dublin will be mid-Aug.

hkjohn

infacteh wrote: »

The Guards charge for the fingerprinting service, you should contact the Superintendents office, and you should be able to make an appointment to have them done. AFAIK, an Immigration officer can do them too.

Unfortunately, the Imm guy just refers me on to the SOCOs.

Would imagine they do charge and would be quite happy to pay but they do not bother getting back.

Thanks for the tip about the SI's office, btw. Will give that a go on Monday but seems unlikely can get everything sorted before my wife goes away for a month to visit her dying dad on Weds am. All of which means we'll lose a month

RobbieMD

hkjohn wrote: »

In Roacommon. Next time will be up in Dublin will be mid-Aug.

Any garda station can do this and any Garda can take your fingerprints. Every garda is trained to take a set of wet ink prints. There is a fee. Used to be €20 but I believe it’s €40 now. Maybe try some different garda stations near you, or if you’re around Dublin at any stage I can give you a dig out

hkjohn

Roscommon garda finally came through and the chap who took the prints couldn't have been nicer or more helpful/


Apparently lack of communications was due to their being very short-staffed so hence the frustration.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions