An applicant living in the USA had their PR application refused about 30 days after AOR because the US police certificate had been issued more than 6 months before the application date. What the group established:
- Know the two different PCC rules. For the country where you currently live, the police certificate must be issued within 6 months before you submit the application. For countries you previously lived in, the rule is different (issued after you last left). Mixing these up is exactly what sank this file.
- AOR is not approval. Completeness checks happen after AOR — a file can be bounced weeks later for a document defect, and the fees/draw position can be lost.
- If it happens, you have two paths. Members suggested (a) filing for reconsideration, attaching a fresh PCC and arguing the error is cured — occasionally reconsidered but not guaranteed; or (b) reapplying with a compliant, freshly issued PCC, which is the reliable route.
- Time your PCCs against your submission date, not your ITA date. If your PCC will be older than 6 months by the time you actually submit, order a new one before filing.