original US birth certificate

[kristinmadu 0]

hi there,

we've been informed by the US Embassy in Sri Lanka that we'll need both of our original birth certificates. Unfortunately mine (the american) has been missing for a long time-- but I do have an official copy with a raised seal.

has anyone gotten rejected or delayed the process for something like this?

Edited December 4, 2008 by kristinmadu

[SomedaySomehow 1]

I am pretty sure that can't reject it if it is a officially sealed document. Most people don't have the very original now days. Others may want to verify this. I know for my passport it says original as well, but as long as it is officially sealed document it is acceptable.

[*Giuly and Rocky* 0]

I am pretty sure that can't reject it if it is a officially sealed document. Most people don't have the very original now days. Others may want to verify this. I know for my passport it says original as well, but as long as it is officially sealed document it is acceptable.

We sent a sealed birth certificated for my US citazen fiance and it was perfectly fine...u can order it online (http://www.vitalchek.com/), its cheap and it will be delivered it to u very fast too. Good Luck!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

A certified copy of your birth certificate is what's needed. Normally your "real" birth certificate would be filed at the county clerk's office where your birth was registered. (Now with 50 states, there could be some deviation ie, Louisiana doesn't have counties) So if you need a birth certificate, they copy the one on file and sign/date it and use an official stamp or embossed seal to show it's a certified copy of the original. That's all you need and it sounds like what you have.

Because birth records are a function of each state, not a central US thing, I would check with the county of birth or the state of birth for an official government website to pursue an additional certified copy.

[KimandRuss 0]

Just wanted to reiterate what nick said... original = certified...this means either raised or embossed seal.... not the very first one ever made for you.

Wouldn't it be something if we all had to get that?

It was requested that I send my original as well. Just picked one up in the city I was born.

[kristinmadu 0]

Just wanted to reiterate what nick said... original = certified...this means either raised or embossed seal.... not the very first one ever made for you.

Wouldn't it be something if we all had to get that?

It was requested that I send my original as well. Just picked one up in the city I was born.

ok, thank god. i sent an email to the consulate saying i have a certified copy from the health dept with the seal and they said, "no, we need the original." so it's just a matter of semantics-- i was about to have my mom and dad rip their attic apart!

thanks to everyone who's replied to all of our questions!