After my US visa interview (see here) I was left to check up on my outstanding police clearances.

I emailed the Hong Kong Police, who told me that their clearance had been sent directly to the Consulate on March 17. I checked (twice) with the Consulate, who confirmed they had never received it.

I asked HK for the tracking number (they send my registered post) and checked that with Australia Post who told me that they never had the item released to them on arrival in Australia. That’s right: my police clearance had officially gone missing.

What followed was a back and forth with HK over the police clearance, as according to their records, it has been delivered, although when I checked the same tracking number with HK Post, it only shows the item as having left for its destination on March 18. It seems I’m in a complete bind because HK refused to send another clearance, while the US has definitely not received it. Reapplying for the clearance from overseas will require me to have my fingerprints taken, a service the Australian Federal Police provide (cost: A$26), the filling in and resubmission of the forms (and another HK$210) and of course, a nervous wait to see if that copy is delivered or lost.

Today, HK told me they will send another copy of the police clearance to the Consulate, so fingers crossed this copy is received and does not become another piece of lost mail!