Sending notarized criminal record check to TRO in the UK

Legal Visa & Residency
1

Hi. Currently undergoing the arduous task of applying for a JFRV, and my parents are helping me get the requisite criminal record check in the UK while I’m laid up in Taiwan on visa exempt status.

So here’s the situation, the criminal check from Disclosure Scotland has been apostilled and authenticated by the FCO in the UK, and now must be sent to the TRO in Edinburgh. This is where I’m a bit confused. According to some information on the ROC site, it says original ID must be sent to them and also a notarised copy of the apostilled criminal check. Is this really the case?

Seeing as I’m in Taiwan right now and my original ID is in my possession, it seems it will be impossible for me to have my criminal check authenticated by the TRO and sent to me in Taiwan before my visa expires in a couple of months. If anyone could shed some light on this, I would be extremely grateful.

2

Hi jmr204,

I’m an unmarried American, so I’m in 'way over my head on this issue, which means it’s possible this post is 'way off base. If this post doesn’t appear to hold out any hope of being helpful, feel free to ignore it.

As you stated, the Edinburgh Taipei Representative Office’s instructions on authentication of documents seems to require original identification:

(1) All applicants or their agents are required to fill in application form for authentication and present original identification papers (passport / ID / photocard driving license) and enclose a copy of the applicant’s passport/ID/driver license or Certificate of Incorporation, along with the form. [boldface added by me]

http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ukedi_en/post/720.html

I don’t know Chinese, so I could be wrong about the following, but the page linked below appears to be the Chinese-language version of instructions for authentication of police record check documents, and it appears to say about the same thing as the English-language instructions:

http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ukedi/post/906.html

I got the link to what seem to be the Chinese-language instructions on authentication for police record check documents from this page, which also seems to contain instructions for the authentication of other kinds of documents:

http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ukedi/cat/9.html

All of that having been said, the other UK Taipei Representative Office page (the non-Edinburgh one) for instructions on authentication of documents says the following, in pertinent part:

Note 1: If applying by post, please provide a photocopy only. Please do not send the original ID. [boldface added by me]

Note 2: If applying in person, please present the original ID and a photocopy. The original ID will be returned to you after inspection by the staff.

I found that page here:

http://www.roc-taiwan.org/uk_en/post/27.html

So it appears that a page with instructions pertaining to one part of the UK instructs the applicant not to send the original ID by post, but the page with instructions pertaining to another part of the UK does not instruct the applicant not to send the original ID by post.

I wonder if it would help to contact the Edinburgh Office of the Taipei Representative Office:

Taipei Representative Office in the UK, Edinburgh Office
Address: 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7PE, UK
Telephone: +44-131-220-6886；+44-131-220-6890
Emergency Assistance: +44-7900-990-385 (for R.O.C. Taiwan nationals only)
Fax: +44-131-226-7748
E-mail: edi@boca.gov.tw

http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ukedi_en/contact_us.html

I hope this helps, or at least doesn’t cause any harm.

Take care,
Charlie

3

Can confirm that when I went through this irritating process, my mother sent it on my behalf to the London office, and only a copy of my passport was required.

I can try to help if you have any other questions, but typing on my phone is a pain, so just a quick reply this time!

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