Ordering Chinese birth certificate (split topic)

[jamesv 3]

I've just run into the same exact issue .. we have the domestic Chinese birth certificate version, which was used to get my fiancée's Japanese permanent residency. We need the 4-page English version. One thing we're still a little confused about is exactly where the relevant "Gong Zheng Chu" is.

​Does this birth certificate version need to be ordered from where she was born in China? This will be a bit of a hassle, as we're not really sure who will help. Does anyone know if this could be ordered through the Chinese embassy in Tokyo? This would save a lot of time and hassle .. otherwise we're looking at a vacation to China, I guess!

[Darnell 8,479]

I've just run into the same exact issue .. we have the domestic Chinese birth certificate version, which was used to get my fiancée's Japanese permanent residency. We need the 4-page English version. One thing we're still a little confused about is exactly where the relevant "Gong Zheng Chu" is.

​Does this birth certificate version need to be ordered from where she was born in China? This will be a bit of a hassle, as we're not really sure who will help. Does anyone know if this could be ordered through the Chinese embassy in Tokyo? This would save a lot of time and hassle .. otherwise we're looking at a vacation to China, I guess!

One thing I learned,

is that many times the office that handles the official 'notarial translation' documents, aka 'white books'

is not the same office that issues the official documents based on hukuo book. Seems to vary by province, district, and sometimes even city.

So, if you don't want to go back, can you, instead, spend some money?

Your fiancee has a hukuo book. Her family members back in China have a hukuo book, that lists her in it. Anyone that has her listed in _THEIR_ hukuo book can get a new set of chinese docs made, then get the notarial translations made, and then ship them to her in Japan - no plane ride needed. and yes, DOCS are made in her hukuo city.

Let her know this stuff, ask her to talk with her family back in China about it.

[mods don't close this topic, thanks in advance ! ]

Edited November 26, 2014 by Darnell

[jamesv 3]

Hey Darnell,

First - thanks for your help. Looking back through a lot of stuff .. you have been helpful to everyone here.

Our situation is a little tough because the only family which might be helpful in this situation is here in Japan with us...but she's still going to try to reach a few people. She's been in Japan for 10+ years, so seems like connections are a little thin. We decided we want to take a trip to China to her hometown anyway before we head to the US, though (small/medium sized city in Liaoning), and we're bringing her mom back too. Earliest we can get time off is January though.. worst case, if we can't get anyone to help in China before, we'll chase it up ourselves there. We're not in a huge rush because we're already living happily together, but I really don't want to have to apply for the I-129F again.

Our I-129F approval validity ends in mid February, and it looks like this Tokyo approval will come in a couple of stages. I'm wondering if January would be too late, or if it's even going to take a few months itself to get this special copy of the birth certificate. On another note, I had a look over that one she used for her Japanese PR, and it's not too dissimilar from what I understand the English one to be. It's in a 4-page format - but instead of Chinese/English/Chinese/English, it's Chinese/Japanese/Chinese/Japanese...but the same exact documents (3 being some recognition of the notary and 4th being a translation of that into Japanese).

So I'm actually going to call the Tokyo USEM in a couple hours with these same questions .. what I'm hoping is that we could get the 4 page'r we have here translated to English as well, but it sounds like that's not going to acceptable from what everyone has said. Bummer.

Her mom seems to think we won't use the hukuo book, but rather the existing certificate to get a new "English 4 page" version of the certificate. but we'll need to confirm that.

Very slowly things are coming to light, but if anyone has any additional comments, that would be awesome.

Your fiancee has a hukuo book. Her family members back in China have a hukuo book, that lists her in it. Anyone that has her listed in _THEIR_ hukuo book can get a new set of chinese docs made, then get the notarial translations made, and then ship them to her in Japan - no plane ride needed. and yes, DOCS are made in her hukuo city.

[jamesv 3]

I called the embassy and they recommended I put it in writing. I just emailed in this. I don't know what kind of response I'm going to get in "1-2 business days."

Good afternoon,

I’m living with my Fiancée with in Tokyo and we are applying for a K-1 visa (case number TKYXXXXXXXXX). Our I-129F petition was approved, and we’ve been sent a list of required documents to send to the Tokyo US embassy.

My Fiancée has a Chinese passport. The purpose of this email is to request clarification on exactly what type of birth certificate is required.

To apply for Japanese permanent residency 10 years ago, my fiancée used a 4-page notarized birth certificate in Chinese which is also translated to Japanese. This is the 4 page format, but instead of having English translations on the second and fourth pages, it has Japanese translations. If we have the entire 4-page document translated to English, would it be suitable to submit this document with a certified translation?

The instructions we received requested an “Original Birth Certificate for you issued by Gong Zheng Chu - four page document with English translation). The above mentioned document is in fact a 4 page version of the birth certificate issued by the Gong Zheng Chu, and it is notarized. It just requires an English translation, as its included translation is Japanese.

It is not clear to me if this 4 page document (plus a 4 page English translation), which we have in hand, will suit the requirement.

If a different format of the birth certificate is required, we will need to travel to China to get it, as immediate family willing to help is in Japan as well. This would be a substantial expense for what is ultimately a simple translation.

I hope that this document will be sufficient, and I very much appreciate your clarification and time.

Thank you,

--------------

[Darnell 8,479]

I dunno - although yer boots on the ground in Japan -

USEM wants stuff in English on Civil Docs.

I've described a method to get new docs - and new whitebooks - USEM will accept white books without any problem. This other stuff yer chasing after - I dunno man, seems a far-off purple-silk dream, really.

Still, you might have a shot, if'n a Vice-Consul there actually reads yer email, and puts forth a response. Usually it's a Japanese native that replies to the email, without oversight by a USCitizen Vice-Consul, so keep that in mind when you read their response.

[jamesv 3]

Yeah, crossing my fingers .. simply because, even if we do go to China, we have no idea which offices and where to run around to.... and my fiancée's mom is saying it took 2 months for her to get this existing version of the birth certificate we have. That's pretty scary to me.

So there's a chance that if we have to chase down this "white book" (the existing one we have is white book (in chinese/japanese), so I'm not sure if that's the best thing to call it?) ..and we have to go to China in January to get it, then we'll miss the I-129F approval slot and have to start from the beginning.

Do you know if there's a way to extend I-129F approval validity period?

[Darnell 8,479]

you be a USCitizen - I think you should walk in next week to the Embassy during ACS appointment time, ask for Vice-Consul that handles IV matters, and show the stuff to him/her, get a real opinion.

Seriously.

[jamesv 3]

That's cool - I didn't realize that was actually an option.

What do you mean "during ACS appointment time"? Is that something I need to book?

Edit: aha - I think you mean just use the normal booking interface for citizens and chose "other" as a reason. I'll do that!

you be a USCitizen - I think you should walk in next week to the Embassy during ACS appointment time, ask for Vice-Consul that handles IV matters, and show the stuff to him/her, get a real opinion.

Seriously.

Edited November 28, 2014 by jamesv

[Darnell 8,479]

ACS - American Citizen Services - some Consulates/Embassies have a set time slot for it, no appointment needed.

Others need an appointment. Regardless, you should go in, ask to speak with a Vice-Consul that handles stuff at the IV Unit, once yer at the counter. Once you got 'that human', present what you gots, inquire about it.

IIRC, she'll need a white book version of a police clearance certificate as well, from China, so you might wanna rethink stuff, a bit.

[jamesv 3]

Thanks - great idea. I don't know why I didn't think of that. Real humans are the best! I booked for next week.

Surely the "white book" version of the police report is something she can get from the Chinese embassy here... i hope...please china...yikes.

[Ryan H 3,819]

Posts split from old thread as poster is asking about their own situation.

[jamesv 3]

Just an update from my side if anyone's curious (or it helps anyone in the future)..

I did go into the Embassy and asked for some advice. I was pleasantly surprised with how helpful they were, actually .. unfortunately, I can't use the birth certificate we have, despite it being 4 pages with pages 2 and 4 being (japanese) translations of the 1st and 3rd Chinese pages, and being embossed/notorized/stamped/etc/etc.

They want the aforementioned specific format produced in English. I mentioned we're not in a good position to obtain that, with no family in China being available, and she did pull up some documentation which notes that we can potentially ask a friend to do it (rather than family). I am hopeful this is the case that we can do this without relying on a trip to China.

http://i.imgur.com/EOXvRKl.jpg

She also noted that if it takes a while to sort this out, we can extend the petition so it doesn't expire (we're good til February for now). That was actually a big relief.. not too stressed by this because we're already living together in Tokyo and life isn't too bad.. but I do miss home (and making a lot more money). I think if we were separated because of this my blood would be starting to boil.

So the part that's still up in the air is exactly which office will provide this to one of my fiancée's friends, and what documentation they'll require to get it.. hopefully we can figure that out over the next week or so.

I'll post any info here to help people in the future who get stuck in this little pitfall.

Edited December 4, 2014 by jamesv

[jamesv 3]

Also, Ryan (or other mods),

Posts split from old thread as poster is asking about their own situation.

This topic is relevant to a K-1 visa application -- not spouse. Might be more appropriate for the China regional section, though, as it's about Chinese birth certificates.

Also there's a type-o in the split topic name

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

***** moving from CR-1 to China regional forum for country specific answers ******

[jamesv 3]

OK - I think we're on the right track now. Thanks for all of your advice.

I'm just trying to find an example of the 4-page Chinese/English birth certificate that everyone seems to be using. At the embassy, they noted that the hospital/medical version we had was quite different, and that the Chinese/English one was more simple and didn't come from a hospital (I'm assuming the Guang Zhen Chu generates this more simplified version of the front page, or at least they'll direct us where to go for that.. I've been googling all over the place - including here, trying to find an example of this document -- just to make sure we're getting the right thing this time.

Does anyone have an example, by any chance? .. just for confirmation!