Photocopy of Birth Certificate to Canada..Travelling with Baby....

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Do any of you know if a photocopy (not the original) US birth certificate is acceptable for a US-born child to cross the border into Canada with?

The reason why I ask, is because I plan on going back to Canada again, but I don't know if just a photocopy is acceptable for my son....

If at all possible, I don't want to bring the original with me, as I don't want it to be lost/damaged/stolen, etc.....

Have any of you done this before? Can this be done? Is this allowable?

And does the photocopy have to be certified/notarized, or anything like that? Anything else I need to make note of?

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, would be appreciated...Thanks...

Ant

Edited February 13, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[trailmix 77]

Ant - take the original.

[neiks 19]

I would recommend an original but that's not to say that a copy wouldn't be accepted. I would definately make sure it was a certified true copy. But if you have an original I would bring it - keep it safely with your passport. When I ordered my sons' birth certificates - one from Manitoba and the other North Dakota I made a point of ordering at least two. One to put away for safe keeping and the other to use for travel.

[antda 13]

Ant - take the original.

Trailmix-I did that before....No problems..

BUT.....Because me and my fanily make so many trips to Canada.....(about once a month or so)

I'm pretty sure that the original is going to be damaged/lost/stolen....

And it would be such a hassle and cost to replace it...lol...

But yes, if all else fails..I will have to take the original again...sigh...

Another alternative I thought about was an NYS Enhanced Driver's license/ID Card.....

I asked the DMV about this...

They said they can issue such for children...(lol..The ID card portion..not the driving part...)

But will the border guards accept that as proof too?....

Any other thoughts about this too...Thanks..

Ant

[trailmix 77]

Why not just have 3 copies. Have one in your purse, one at home and give one to your family in Canada for safe keeping. Then no matter where you are, you will have a spare.

Edited February 13, 2010 by trailmix

[neiks 19]

Another alternative I thought about was an NYS Enhanced Driver's license/ID Card.....

An "enhanced" DL/ID is perfectly fine for land crossing. But I generally I don't think it is much harder to get another BC. I'm sure every state is different but it's probably worth the effort to have a few copies on hand.

[antda 13]

I would recommend an original but that's not to say that a copy wouldn't be accepted. I would definately make sure it was a certified true copy. But if you have an original I would bring it - keep it safely with your passport. When I ordered my sons' birth certificates - one from Manitoba and the other North Dakota I made a point of ordering at least two. One to put away for safe keeping and the other to use for travel.

Neiks-Thanks for replying abot the original and copy. I have the original..And that is a true and certified copy....(there was a letter that came with the birth certificate that said such, and the certificate itself has a seal on it....).

Interesting to know too, that a cetified copy is acceptable.....That's what I thought when I posted this...but wasn't sure about it...

Though if I make my own copy...I can get it notarized by the town clerk or something...Is that ok if that is the "certified copy" to use for travel?

Good idea about ordering two birth certificates....Though they almost my son's first birth certificate (sent to the wrong address)...Not sure if I want to go through them again....lol.....Plus it costs $30-40 and a few weeks for another copy...uggh...But I can consider that idea too......

And yes, I do keep my son's birth certificate with my passport....(lol..scrunched up inside.....not too good for the birth certificate...)

But yes, if all else fails..I will have to take the original again...sigh...

Ant

[antda 13]

Why not just have 3 copies. Have one in your purse, one at home and give one to your family in Canada for safe keeping. Then no matter where you are, you will have a spare.

Trailmix-Good idea about ordering two or more birth certificates....Though they almost my son's first birth certificate (sent to the wrong address)...Not sure if I want to go through them again....lol.....Plus it costs $30-40 and a few weeks for another copy...uggh...But I can consider that idea too......

An "enhanced" DL/ID is perfectly fine for land crossing. But I generally I don't think it is much harder to get another BC. I'm sure every state is different but it's probably worth the effort to have a few copies on hand.

Neiks-Yes, EDLs/IDs are fine for land crossing..which we do travel to Canada by this way......My husband and I both have EDLs...no problems..

But are EDLs ok for children too? Will the border guard refuse an EDL because it is issued for a child instead of an adult?

Lol...EDLs cost about $45 or so for a child.....good for 5 years.....and it is wallet-sized and convenient....

Just seems a bit odd for a baby to have a driver's license though....not sure how the border guards will handle this one...lol....

That's the same (or more or less) the same cost for another copy of the birth certificate.....

But getting another copy is not a bad idea in the future anyways...lol...gosh knows if my son ever wants to immigrate to Canada someday....lol.....

Wish I could get copies of my birth certificate and naturalization certificates (lol...easier said than done.....that's another story...)

Ant

Edited February 13, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[neiks 19]

....(lol..scrunched up inside.....not too good for the birth certificate...)

I have a passport holder thing. I just fold my sons BC and place it inside. I travel very frequently across the border.... at least twice a week and it holds up find. Before the passport requirement came in my husband used his "certifided true copy" to cross all the time. It was the one issued to his mother when he was born. It's 30 years old and held up fine with frequent use.

I don't recommend a copy of a "certified true copy". I don't think it can be "certified" again as a 'true copy" because it's not a copy of the original.

[antda 13]

I have a passport holder thing. I just fold my sons BC and place it inside. I travel very frequently across the border.... at least twice a week and it holds up find. Before the passport requirement came in my husband used his "certifided true copy" to cross all the time. It was the one issued to his mother when he was born. It's 30 years old and held up fine with frequent use.

I don't recommend a copy of a "certified true copy". I don't think it can be "certified" again as a 'true copy" because it's not a copy of the original.

Neiks-Good idea about the passport holder thing! Lol..I have to get myself one of those...By the way, where can I get such?

I usually just carry around a big plastic folder for his birth certificate....Which I find kind of to clumsy and too big to travel with at times....lol..

And when I have to hand it over to the border guards...It is scrunched up in my passport...lol...

Good to hear that your sons' birth certificates hold up in the passport holder thing with no problems...Wow..twice a week is pretty frequent to cross!

Lol...Don't they give you an exemption or something for being a border guard? Oh well...I guess everyone must carry documentation, regardless..

I know what you mean about your husband's birth certificate..As my husband used to travel this way too..(before June 2009 rules)...

I was amazed how long-lasting that was..Held up despite 40+ years..and frequent travel over the border (lol...sure didn't help when we used it so many times to visit me over the years)....But it was beginning to get worn out...I had to tape up the darn thing and put it away in a safe place for good...

Lol..If it wasn't because of the new rules...He'd still be travelling with a birth certificate...Gosh knows what would have happened if it fell apart at the border! Lol...And hence, I don't want the same fate for my son's birth certificate.....Uggh....

Good point that you made too about not getting the photocopy certified...Makes sense that it was not a true copy..as it's not the original...So I won't do that then

Hmm..So it's back to the original certificate...an original copy of the certificate....or something else...yikes....

Ant

Edited February 13, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA