no birth certificate

[mimister 0]

Hi Everyone

So I have a problem and want to know if anyone has gone through this or can give advice.

I was part of the vietnamese boat people who was given refugee status in the UK (I basically grew up here) so I have British citizenship.

What I don't have is a birth certificate. I have no way of obtaining one as I have no relatives or people in vietnam that can help me. I have contacted UNHCR to see if they have a record of my family but they have said it could take months to locate-if they have a record at all!

I can get my mum to sign something saying I was born in vietnam and the date.

so my question is if I bring my British citizen certificate and the letter from my mum would that be enough for the London Embassy?

Thanks

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

The London Embassy website says this:

Your birth record may not be obtainable. Some reasons are listed below.

Your birth was never officially recorded;

Your birth records have been destroyed;

The appropriate government authority will not issue one.

Please obtain a certified statement from the appropriate government authority stating the reason your birth record is not available. With the certified statement you must obtain secondary evidence. For example:

A baptismal certificate that contains the date and place of birth and both parent's names providing the baptism took place shortly after birth;

An adoption decree for an adopted child; or

An affidavit from a close relative, preferably the applicant's mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parent's names, and the mother's maiden name.

[mimister 0]

The London Embassy website says this:

Your birth record may not be obtainable. Some reasons are listed below.

Your birth was never officially recorded;

Your birth records have been destroyed;

The appropriate government authority will not issue one.

Please obtain a certified statement from the appropriate government authority stating the reason your birth record is not available. With the certified statement you must obtain secondary evidence. For example:

A baptismal certificate that contains the date and place of birth and both parent's names providing the baptism took place shortly after birth;

An adoption decree for an adopted child; or

An affidavit from a close relative, preferably the applicant's mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parent's names, and the mother's maiden name.

Thanks for this, I will try and contact the Vietnamese embassy.

[Justine+David 218]

You should also be advised that it's more likely that you'll be put into some additional processing since you weren't born in the UK. One of our members, KnightandMagpie, was born in India and was put into AP, although her wait was only about a month. Here's hoping you don't!

[mimister 0]

You should also be advised that it's more likely that you'll be put into some additional processing since you weren't born in the UK. One of our members, KnightandMagpie, was born in India and was put into AP, although her wait was only about a month. Here's hoping you don't!

So I've tried the Vietnamese Embassy no joy

So I'm hoping that my 'certificate of registration as as British citizen' and a letter written by my mum explaining that our documents were lost will be enough. I think I will write a cover note when I send back the check list and I hope that is enough *fingers crossed*

I also hope I don't get put in AP.

[Justine+David 218]

Why don't you call the extortion line and ask? It's a little pricey to do, but the peace of mind you might get could be worth loads. When you call, ask them for the code so that you can e-mail them (they delete all e-mails without the code) to ask or see if they can just answer over the phone.

Copied from MARM's post over in the NOA2-->Interview thread:

US Embassy in London:

Callers from within UK: 09042-450100. Calls to this line are charged at £1.20/min

Callers from within US: 1-866-382-3589. Callers are charged a fixed rate of $16:00 for up to 7 minutes

As you can see from the ridiculous rates above ^, the best way to contact the US Embassy in London is by email:

LondonConsular@state.gov

...

Let us know how it goes! And please fill in your timeline Do you have an interview date?

Edited November 21, 2009 by Justine+David