birth certificate original

[wolverine 0]

Hello everybody,

My fiancee is awaiting Packet 4 for her interview date. Everything seems ready to go except in regards to her birth certificate. She is a Canadian citizen (w/ Canadian passport) but was born in Pakistan. Seems that she only has a copy of her original birth certificate and not the actual original. I am guessing such a photocopy will not be acceptable?

Is there a process by which we can get that photocopy notarized or something that would be acceptable for the US Consulate? Any suggestions would be helpful? Thanks much

[Lona.C. 16]

Hello everybody,

My fiancee is awaiting Packet 4 for her interview date. Everything seems ready to go except in regards to her birth certificate. She is a Canadian citizen (w/ Canadian passport) but was born in Pakistan. Seems that she only has a copy of her original birth certificate and not the actual original. I am guessing such a photocopy will not be acceptable?

Is there a process by which we can get that photocopy notarized or something that would be acceptable for the US Consulate? Any suggestions would be helpful? Thanks much

in my case they asked and looked at all original certificates at the interview ,

I dont know if a nothorized certificate will be good enough , ( you will also need a translated one if its not in english )

my best advice would be call the pakistani embassy and see ,what they can do to get a original certificate , or get your copy translated and nothorized by them ( even thou I know you could translate it your self , but it probly would give a better impression to have it done by them, incase you wont be able to get the original , at least you have a stamp from the original embassy responsable for you )

hope it works good luck

[SonoranSongbird 3]

It needs to be an original or certified copy. I have no idea how you would go about getting one from Pakistan, but Lona's suggestion sounds like a good place to start. Best of luck! And good luck on your interview, too.

I have a related question. I know that they ask for one original or certified copy and one copy. We have my fiance's original birth certificate, but we only have one, no certified copies or anything. Will they just ask to see the original and keep the copy or will they need a certified copy submitted?

[Lona.C. 16]

It needs to be an original or certified copy. I have no idea how you would go about getting one from Pakistan, but Lona's suggestion sounds like a good place to start. Best of luck! And good luck on your interview, too.

I have a related question. I know that they ask for one original or certified copy and one copy. We have my fiance's original birth certificate, but we only have one, no certified copies or anything. Will they just ask to see the original and keep the copy or will they need a certified copy submitted?

Hi in my case I brought a normal copy( not nothorized or certified or anything special ) and the original, the took the copy and looked at the original handed me back the original and that was it good luck to both of you

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Lona, thank you. That's what I thought, but I wanted to be sure.

[trailmix 77]

Thought this info might help:

Birth Certificates - India

Available. Prior to 1970, the reporting of births was voluntary. Birth certificates of Europeans, Anglo-Indians, Armenian Christians, Jews and Parsis born prior to l970 may be obtained from the State Registrar General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. No standard or uniform certificate is issued by the authorities. In addition, acceptable certificates may often be obtained from the municipal and rural registration records, which are maintained under the state laws. Europeans, Anglo-Indians, and Indian Christians are usually able to obtain church baptismal certificates.

Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act of l969, births are required to be registered in almost all of the States and Union Territories of India. Birth certificates are available to any applicant born on or after April l, l970, upon payment of a nominal fee to the appropriate authority.

In cases where birth certificates from the authorities are unavailable or contain insufficient information regarding the birth or the parents, a sworn affidavit executed by either the parents, if living, or other close relatives older than the applicant, may be submitted. It should set forth the relationship between the deponent and the applicant, how well the deponent knows the applicant, date and place of the applicant's birth, the names of both parents, and any other related facts. Such an affidavit, when a birth certificate is unavailable, should be accompanied by a document from a competent governmental authority confirming that the certificate does not exist, or no longer exists. link

Also:

Translations

All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations.

The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the:

Translation is accurate, and

Translator is competent to translate.

Edited March 3, 2008 by trailmix

[Delicia 1]

Try contacting the closest Pakistani Embassy/Consulate for a certified copy of the original. My husband was born in Santiago Chile and was able to secure a certified copy of his birth certificate through the Chilean Consulate in Toronto.

[wolverine 0]

Thanks for the advice on this one. The birth certificate we have is a copy, at least it is in English. I'll have her check with the Pak Embassy to see if they can help. If not, there is an option in packet 3 which states that if you can't get an original birth certificate that you can get a notarized statement from your mother saying you are who you say. This has to be done in a sworn affidavit. Has anyone ever gone this route? Can it be done fairly quickly?

[emt103c 10]

Thanks for the advice on this one. The birth certificate we have is a copy, at least it is in English. I'll have her check with the Pak Embassy to see if they can help. If not, there is an option in packet 3 which states that if you can't get an original birth certificate that you can get a notarized statement from your mother saying you are who you say. This has to be done in a sworn affidavit. Has anyone ever gone this route? Can it be done fairly quickly?

You have to get a copy from the registrar for the district that she was born, it has an official stamp. My husband's is actually hand written. Some places it comes from the Union Council. My husband's was in English as well.

[Carlawarla 1]

There seems to always be confusing information about origianls, certified copies and notorizations.

For birth, death, marriage and divorce papers....no one will get an original. Period.

You can ask for a certified copy. This is a copy given by the agency that has on file within it's organization, the original. It will be stamped, or have a raised seal, indicating it is a certified copy. When asked for "originals", this is what you would show to someone. Almost always, this will be returned to you. This is what you would bring, after sending in a photocopy of something unless they specifically ask you for a certified copy.

Getting something notarized is when someone ( a notory) has seen the certified copy, and will stamp the photocopy of the certified copy, and will attest that they have seen the certified copy (and they may even say have seen the original), and attests that it is a true copy. They also will sign off on documents where you need to sign something in their presence, indicating that that is your signature.

For this visa journey as well as other legal endeavours, you should have several certified copies of these documents. Sometimes, you will have to submit a certified copy. You might even lose a certified copy. Having several copies will ensure that you'll have a back-up.

I'm just posting this because it seems there are threads where people use these words interchangeably and it can get confusing.

[Desigal 1]

There seems to always be confusing information about origianls, certified copies and notorizations.

For birth, death, marriage and divorce papers....no one will get an original. Period.

You can ask for a certified copy. This is a copy given by the agency that has on file within it's organization, the original. It will be stamped, or have a raised seal, indicating it is a certified copy. When asked for "originals", this is what you would show to someone. Almost always, this will be returned to you. This is what you would bring, after sending in a photocopy of something unless they specifically ask you for a certified copy.

Getting something notarized is when someone ( a notory) has seen the certified copy, and will stamp the photocopy of the certified copy, and will attest that they have seen the certified copy (and they may even say have seen the original), and attests that it is a true copy. They also will sign off on documents where you need to sign something in their presence, indicating that that is your signature.

For this visa journey as well as other legal endeavours, you should have several certified copies of these documents. Sometimes, you will have to submit a certified copy. You might even lose a certified copy. Having several copies will ensure that you'll have a back-up.

I'm just posting this because it seems there are threads where people use these words interchangeably and it can get confusing.