Wrong birth date on Chinese passport - any way to fix it?

[Ighaepero 2]

My fiancee's official birth date as shown on her Chinese passport is a full twelve months before her actual birth date. As far as official information goes, all our forms are filled in according to the official passport birth date, so there is no issue there. However, I was just curious if there were a way for her to somehow correct her erroneous birth date so that later, when she's in the States, this doesn't have to follow her.

Is there any way to do that?

I have other Chinese friends whose actual birth dates do not correspond with their official ones, I suppose it's not a huge life problem. Just somewhat annoying. But if there were a way to correct it, that would be nice.

[Darnell 8,479]

she's not chased after a birth certificate yet, right?

what's the date of birth in her hukuo book ?

[Ighaepero 2]

Oh hi, Darnell.

She doesn't have a birth certificate because she was born in a village where none was issued. We have already gotten an official document in lieu of birth certificate from the place where her hukou is registered in Zhengzhou, officially stamped and translated.

The date of birth on the hukou is 1/17. Her actual date of birth is 12/25 that same year. So, on paper, she will always be almost a year older.

[Darnell 8,479]

somehow, you need to make all the documents match up.

IMO, though, getting a new passport issued is dead easy - she just goes in and pays the monies, plus special bribes if she needs it fast.

The passport # won't change, so that's a plus.

In the end, a letter of attestation submitted with the DS-230 Part I works wonders to explain the NEW passport with the NEW date of birth.

[Ighaepero 2]

That would only leave two things to consider, then. Firstly, what would she need to get the birth date on the passport changed. And secondly, she'd probably also have to go back to Zhengzhou where her hukou is registered to get another "birth certificate" with the correct date. Though something tells me if it were that easy, she or her mom would have fixed this long ago.

Anyway, I will talk with her and see if there's anything we can do. It's not a pressing matter, but it would be nice. Thanks for the pointers.

[Darnell 8,479]

GUZ IV doesn't review the hukuo book, so that's a plus.

IMO, having the birth certificate birthdate as the 'controlling date' should be best,

then you have all other documents that are submitted into GUZ IV match up that date.

also, IMO, getting a new passport is easier than getting a new birth certificate.

[Ighaepero 2]

If you could pull all that off, you don't think Guangzhou would make a big fuss about it as long as we attached a letter of attestation to the DS-230?

[Darnell 8,479]

yup, a letter of attestation is useful.

IMO, the big bit that will help a Vice-Consul to 'home all birthdates' to the one in the birth certificate.

[Q&R 1]

And secondly, she'd probably also have to go back to Zhengzhou where her hukou is registered

Just curious, where in Henan is she from? Near Zhengzhou i am guessing?

My fiancee and I live in Zhengzhou. Quite rare to see Zhengzhou peeps is all i'm saying!

[Ighaepero 2]

For me, it's nice to see China peeps at all! I just found out we had regional forums. lol

She's from Nanyang, but she lives in Wuhan, that's where we met.

[Darnell 8,479]

ya, Wuhan is a nice place - my wife is a native but shuttles to Chengdu often.

I'll be there soon, tis time for the next trip and there's a rumour of an interview at the IV Unit this year (so, Yay!) It's really hot in Wuhan recently, but a big rain hit also, cooling it down.

re: china peeps - wei - click the flag under yer name, that'll drop you the China Portal. You can study K-1 visa timelines there, sort on 'NOA-2 date' and find folk that are around yer same window.

[Ighaepero 2]

Changing her birth date is not possible because the erroneous date is already on her national ID. The birth certificate she got was based on that date on her ID, so they would not issue her a new birth certificate with a different date. I suggested she could just slip them some money and have them change it but, even then, how would she apply for a new passport? I assume she'd still have to show the national ID.

Basically, there's no way to change the national ID birth date, since that would involve also changing her ID number. Her mom already tried to fix this years ago.

Oh, well. On paper, she'll always be twelve months older but look twelve months younger. Not so bad.

***

ya, Wuhan is a nice place - my wife is a native but shuttles to Chengdu often.

I'll be there soon, tis time for the next trip and there's a rumour of an interview at the IV Unit this year (so, Yay!) It's really hot in Wuhan recently, but a big rain hit also, cooling it down.

The good old 'Han and its humidity. I had my fun there, soul-sucking traffic notwithstanding.

What's a IV Unit?

Edited June 29, 2013 by Ighaepero

[Pitaya 2,577]

IV Unit = Immigrant Visa Unit is the section of the Guangzhou US consulate that processes the visas.

I agree with Darnell's ideas. Additionally, it will make things a lot easier later on down the road in the immigration process in the US if you get your document(s) corrected while still in the PRC. There are a couple of stories of similar issues dealing with the logistics from the US to the PRC.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Operator 1,927]

My wife is in the same boat so to speak. Her mom changed her BD so she could get in to school earlier. She changed a 7 (July) to a 1 (January). She likes to celebrate both birthdays so I told her she has to age 2 years every year...she'll be 62 this year.

If all her documents match I wouldn't worry about it.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Operator

[Ighaepero 2]

Sure, everything is fine as far as paperwork goes. No big deal.

Love the quote. I'd show it to her, except she'll jump on the chance to say, "Right. See? So next time shutup."