No birth certificate

[mikegwils 0]

I am in China now and am getting married in about 3 weeks. My wife to be does not have a birth certificate. She was not born in a hospital, she was born at home on a farm so she does not have and never has had a birth certificate. I know one of the documents needed for the K3 visa is a birth certificate. How big of a problem is this and what do I do? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[payxibka 10,047]

Birth Certificates

Available in the form of notarial certificates, which are secondary evidence. Notarial certificates of birth (Chu Sheng Gong Zheng Shu or Chu Sheng Zheng Ming Shu) for persons living in or recently departed from China are generally reliable, but are best used in conjunction with other evidence. They are most often based upon an AHHR, (Household Record) which is easily susceptible to fraud, especially in villages. Notarial birth certificates for persons long departed from China are most likely based merely upon the testimony of interested parties.

While some notarial birth certificates will list stepparents or adoptive parents along with natural parents, this is not always the case. In some cases, the certificates will list only the natural parents, covering up an adoption.

Some applicants will present notarial certificates of relationship (Guan Xi Gong Zheng [or Zheng Ming] Shu) in lieu of notarial birth certificates. These certificates of relationship are unreliable and tend to be based solely upon the testimony of interested parties. Notarial birth certificates should be required. Care should be taken with any certificate that lists step relationships. These relationships are as of the date of issuance of the certificate only. Marriage certificates should also be required.

[mikegwils 0]

Birth Certificates

Available in the form of notarial certificates, which are secondary evidence. Notarial certificates of birth (Chu Sheng Gong Zheng Shu or Chu Sheng Zheng Ming Shu) for persons living in or recently departed from China are generally reliable, but are best used in conjunction with other evidence. They are most often based upon an AHHR, (Household Record) which is easily susceptible to fraud, especially in villages. Notarial birth certificates for persons long departed from China are most likely based merely upon the testimony of interested parties.

While some notarial birth certificates will list stepparents or adoptive parents along with natural parents, this is not always the case. In some cases, the certificates will list only the natural parents, covering up an adoption.

Some applicants will present notarial certificates of relationship (Guan Xi Gong Zheng [or Zheng Ming] Shu) in lieu of notarial birth certificates. These certificates of relationship are unreliable and tend to be based solely upon the testimony of interested parties. Notarial birth certificates should be required. Care should be taken with any certificate that lists step relationships. These relationships are as of the date of issuance of the certificate only. Marriage certificates should also be required.

She has a Household Record, an Identification card and a Pasport. How do you go about getting a notarial certificate? Thanks again.

[payxibka 10,047]

I am moving this thread to the China Regional forum.... better chance of an answer from that forum

[justashooter 430]

She has a Household Record, an Identification card and a Pasport. How do you go about getting a notarial certificate? Thanks again.

she has to go to the records office in the city in which the hukou card (household record) is registered. for a carton of cigarettes (LOL) and 12 Rmb they will provide her a notorial birth certificate. have her get 3 original copies, as she might need them later. they can direct her to a certified translator.

[Eric & Jin 10]

Birth Certificates as we know them per say are not issued in China so we have all been in the same boat as you. Your fiancée will need to take her Hokou and National ID card to the Gong Zheng Chu, Public Notary Service. The Gong Zheng Chu will produce the so called 'WHITE BOOK' which contains a copy/extract that will attest and say when your fiancée was born, that she is a girl, that her parents were XXXXX, and if parents deceased...etc. Be sure that the certificate contains all of the information that the Consulate is looking for as described in the P3 letter to applicants:

"Applicants born in the People’s Republic of China must have a birth certificate issued by a local notary public office. The certificate must state the date, place of birth and names of both parents (if deceased, so state). The certificate must also indicate that the public office extracted the information from official records."

This 'white book' consists of Front and back white paper and inside is the document in Chinese, followed by the English translation, followed by the certification that they are a reliable translation service, etc, etc. all of this is bound together and forms a "White Book".

It sounds kind of difficult but in fact is pretty common and easy to obtain.

[sleepy999 0]

I am in China now and am getting married in about 3 weeks. My wife to be does not have a birth certificate. She was not born in a hospital, she was born at home on a farm so she does not have and never has had a birth certificate. I know one of the documents needed for the K3 visa is a birth certificate. How big of a problem is this and what do I do? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Anyone born in the People's Republic of China prior to January 1, 1996 does not have any "official" birth certificate. The secondary evidence as provided by Gong Zheng Chu is sufficient.