Good place to do SA police clearance finger prints in Sydney

[Stopper37]

I am trying to get an SA police clearance. I am in Sydney so the first step is to get my finger prints taken by the police here. But I have been reading conflicting information regrading this. The questions have probably been asked a million times before but what I could find on the web may be outdated.

Anyway Can anyone tell me about the following:

1) I heard the digital Fingerprint scan printout by the NSW police (or other ozzie state police departments) is now deemed acceptable by the South African Police as far as police clearance is concerned. Is that true. I contacted the SA high commission and the answer was "We don't know, check with the SA police". Yeah good luck getting a email reply from the SAP..... has anyone sent a digital one back and got accepted?

2) If digital prints are out, where in Sydney can I get my prints done the old fashion manner? I believe few station have the old ink kit..... and I also heard some of them will not let you take the prints home, they insist on sending the prints on your behalf, which makes it pointless. I will also willing to drive out of Sydney if there a better station to do it....

Thanks guys, hope you have had a good weekend and had a braai

[rozellem]

Yes, you can now send digital prints. Not sure if you have to use your local one. My friend used Ryde and some say Hornsby is good to use.

[Stopper37]

Cool thanks! I live in Rhodes so Ryde station is a good place to try. Thanks a mil!

[Stopper37]

Hi there, another question. Just called doc-assist, the bloke on the phone insisted that I have to use the ink prints.... if SAP has started accepting digital prints and the doc assist guys don't even know about it, Do I really want to trust them with my documentation needs. Which other gigs do you guys know of that I can try?.

[Stopper37]

BTW, I just called Criminal Record Center - SAPS (012) 393-3928 The guy who picked up the phone said it must be in ink, but then he also said the Embassy (surely he meant high commission ) will do the print...... now I am pulling my hair out

[Batsie]

My experience here in Qatar is that the embassy has the forms and the ink so they can take the prints for you, have used them a couple of times. Once you have the prints taken you can courier them back to SA yourself. Not sure how it works that side. Good luck.

[Stopper37]

I have contacted the high commission here and they said they can't do it, the Oz police has to do....... this is killing me now.....

[Stopper37]

I phoned around, one police station has an ink kit, will report back once done

[rozellem]

Just checked again, a few friends had it scanned in Sydney over the last few months and it was all good on the RSA side.

[Stopper37]

Thanks Rozellem. I wish the SAPS put up the exact requirement on their web page.....

Anyway, I just got back from Hornsby police station. Did the ink print. They insist on sending the stuff on my behalf, but it can be addressed to anyone in SA (so whats the difference between releasing the doc to me and to post it to say a mate on mine in Jozi?). Good thing I had a pre-paid A4 size registered mail package. The paper work should be on the way to Doc assist now....... Phew

[Stopper37]

A word of advise to anyone wanting to do the prints in Sydney. The police stations usually have the finger print thingie by the detention cells. So if they have any suspects, they will turn you away. They detention process takes about 3-4 hours they say. So phone ahead and get into the car as soon as they say they can do it.

The officers at Hornbsy are pretty good once I get there...... did stuff pretty fast. Also I forgot to put South Africa on the address. So I phoned and asked them to check just now and they fixed it for me quickly.....

[moerbei]

Hey guys,

 

I'm currently going through the process of obtaining a SA police clearance and, to say the least, I am at my wit's end.

 

I've engaged Docassist in South Africa to submit the application on my behalf BUT that is not where my problem lies.

The problem is with respect to getting ink fingerprints. I've called a number of police stations in my immediate area in Sydney and they all seem to question why I need ink prints. I finally got some traction with Kings Cross police station which said they can assist but when I went there, I was met with reluctance by the constable on duty. Eventually, they brought out the kit but then the constable asked me if I have a prepaid envelope. I then explained that I had already arranged for DHL couriers to come and collect it the following morning from Kings Cross police station. He then said, sorry but they only accept prepaid and addressed envelopes...which I didn't have with me.

 

Since I want to get the paperwork to South Africa ASAP I went to Auspost and looked at their international express options. They have an International express satchel that gets to SA in 2-4 days. BUT when I went to pay for it they told me that I need to bring the documents to the post shop and they will send it off as they need to see the contents. So, based on this it would seem my only option is to send it by normal registered mail which could take up to 4 weeks.

 

My entire citizenship application is done and ready to be submitted except for the police clearance and it seems like this is now going to stall the process.

 

Any advice or insights will be appreciated. 

[moerbei]

UPDATE: Docassist came back to me saying that a printed version of digital prints are acceptable but that I have to courier it. So, I'm still going to have a problem convincing the police to accept a courier pick up....

Does anyone have suggestions for police stations that happily allowed couriers to pick up the prints?

[Gya]

I've worked in about 4 countries for more than 90 days. Am snot sure how I'll recollect police clearances when my time comes 

[Muzz]

On 11/13/2017 at 5:33 PM, moerbei said:

UPDATE: Docassist came back to me saying that a printed version of digital prints are acceptable but that I have to courier it. So, I'm still going to have a problem convincing the police to accept a courier pick up....

Does anyone have suggestions for police stations that happily allowed couriers to pick up the prints?

 

Did you eventually get your PCC? I'm trying to get fingerprints done now in Sydney and it's a nightmare. I went to the city P.O. and they said there has been 15 other people wanting fingerprints done this week alone, so you have to queue up on the weekend, first come first serve. I am planning on getting one of the Auspost International courier satchels for them, should take 1 - 2 days to get to SA. I also had to explain to them that I am getting a third party (Docassist) to handle everything for me, as they were a bit iffy and said they had to send directly to the police address in Pretoria.

 

Does anyone know how much of a mission it is to get prints done in ZA these days? I will be in Cape Town next week on holiday.

[rozellem]

I just heard from a friend that she went to Andre Burger and Associates in The Rocks in Sydney (he is right next to the Harbour Bridge). He has permission to take your ink fingerprints and look over your application to see that its done correctly. You pay the local police $44 for this and I believe he charges $75. Well worth it if you need it done asap and correctly. 

[Muzz]

14 hours ago, rozellem said:

I just heard from a friend that she went to Andre Burger and Associates in The Rocks in Sydney (he is right next to the Harbour Bridge). He has permission to take your ink fingerprints and look over your application to see that its done correctly. You pay the local police $44 for this and I believe he charges $75. Well worth it if you need it done asap and correctly. 

 

Wow thank you for posting this, I called them and they do indeed do everything from end to end including prints. It is $200 per person though.

[CyberJoe]

Thank you for highlighting the service of Andre and his team. While planning a holiday for the end of the year, I realised my South African passport is expiring and since I just started a new role, I wont be able to take leave soon to go and renew the passport in SA. Will definitely contact them on Monday to find out more detail.

 

Also realised that my South African driving license expires next month. Is there anything I can do to renew it from here? If not... guess I'll take the taxi's when I go back to visit 😵

[frosty]

3 hours ago, CyberJoe said:

Thank you for highlighting the service of Andre and his team. While planning a holiday for the end of the year, I realised my South African passport is expiring and since I just started a new role, I wont be able to take leave soon to go and renew the passport in SA. Will definitely contact them on Monday to find out more detail.

 

Also realised that my South African driving license expires next month. Is there anything I can do to renew it from here? If not... guess I'll take the taxi's when I go back to visit 😵

 

Just drive on your Australian Drivers license when you return to SA

[ottg]

10 hours ago, frosty said:

Just drive on your Australian Drivers license when you return to SA

 

I have done this homework before but there is a conundrum around this. 

http://www.saaustralia.org/topic/43450-dual-citizenship-and-travel/?do=findComment&comment=423449

http://www.saaustralia.org/topic/43450-dual-citizenship-and-travel/?do=findComment&comment=423530

Specially this last comment

http://www.saaustralia.org/topic/43450-dual-citizenship-and-travel/?do=findComment&comment=423556

 

Noted back in 2013 in RSA:

To pickup a rental you will need a valid passport & driver license. However, I used my Aust driver license to pickup. 

I drove on my expired RSA driver license, got pulled over at a checkpoint, got advised that my RSA driver is not valid (I knew that), then used my Aus driver license. I was told again that is also not valid in RSA. While careful not to start an argument, as I had to catch a plane, I said I was told it is but lets called the Australian Embassy. While I was let of the hook it could have cost me my flight.

Just get an International via RAC online using pics from you PC camera directly. I did that recently for Italy trip and took me 2-days express post and a few dollars