Venezuelan Birth Certificate

[Klam 24]

Hi, we're currently considering the CR-1 option for immigration but there's a concern with the birth certificate doc needed by the NVC down the road.  My fiancee's situation might be a bit unusual.  She is ethnically Chinese but was born in Venezuela (grandparents started a shipping business there).  When she was 14, her family emigrated to Canada to escape the new Bolivarian (Chavez) regime.  She's been a Canadian citizen for over a decade now.  Her secondary education, university education, and entire professional career has been in Canada.  English is her primary language and she considers herself a full Canadian national.  She has never been back to Venezuela since and wasn't even aware that she still technically has dual citizenship with Venezuela.

 

We are concerned about the necessity of the original birth certificate from Venezuela.  She has a notarized English translation of her birth certificate (which was required for Canadian immigration) but she doesn't think she has an original (her mother will check their lock box).  Given the current state of the Venezuelan government (or lack of it), we are not at all confident that it's feasible to get an original certificate through official channels.  Returning to Venezuela is absolutely not an option.  She still has her Venezuela passport but it has long expired and she would likely be trapped in a country currently afflicted with famine and a completely inept and corrupt government.

 

What are our options here?  I'm not sure the notarized translation is good enough.  Can we write a letter explaining why it's impossible to get an original at this point in time?  Should she reach out to the Venezuelan Consulate (in Toronto)?  Is there some other third party or service that we can make use of?  Really appreciate and guidance here.

[aratamorne 165]

Wait for her mother to check the lockbox, if none, the first thing to try would be the Consulate in Toronto. 

 

http://www.misionvenezuela.org/V2/index.php/en/consular-services/certificates