Birth Certificate

[Our Mao 0]

I will have my interview at the Vancouver Consulate. My question is, do I need a certified copy of my birth certificate? I was born in Hong Kong and if I do need one, I guess I should ask for one right now? People that interviewed for K-3 at the Vancouver consulate, do you need a certified copy of your birth certificate or is the original good enough? Please advise!

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

I will have my interview at the Vancouver Consulate. My question is, do I need a certified copy of my birth certificate? I was born in Hong Kong and if I do need one, I guess I should ask for one right now? People that interviewed for K-3 at the Vancouver consulate, do you need a certified copy of your birth certificate or is the original good enough? Please advise!

I went through Vancouver on a K-1 Visa and I needed the original birth certificate long form. I am not sure what you mean by certified copy because isn't the original your actual birth certificate ??.

Make sure what ever bith certificate that you are using is the original and shows both of your parents names on it.

Edited August 28, 2006 by Waiting in Vancouver

[Our Mao 0]

Thanks Waiting in Vancouver,

The reason I asked was because I saw others (not Canada) require a certified copy if the birth certificate. So I just wanted to make sure I dont need it for the interview in Vancouver. It'll be a couple of weeks if I do need to get the 'certified' copy from Hong Kong?! Thanks for your response.

[Marilyn. 340]

the copy you have should be certified.... I know here in Canada you never even get the original.... just a certified copy of the original

[QC2CO 1]

One thing that should be added is that if your birth certificate is not in English, it will need to be translated and certified. Which, in Quebec, most of us have to do.

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

One thing that should be added is that if your birth certificate is not in English, it will need to be translated and certified. Which, in Quebec, most of us have to do.

Thats intresting, I was born in Quebec but pretty much lived my whole live in BC (my french is not so good) and mine was already in english ... I gather I must have choosen english at the time I ordered it but I don't remember ...

[Mephys 2]

If your birth was registered in french, then your birth certificate is in french and you need to have it translated. So since you're english your birth was prolly registered in english as well you don't to bother with that

[Reba 2]

a "certified" copy of a birth certificate just means that it has the government seal of the office that issues it. In Canada, this office is the Provincial Registrar, in other countries it may be called something else.

No one ever gets an "original" certificate, the "original" is always kept by the issuing office, and we get "certified" copies.

And yes, you'll need it for your interview.