Late Registered Birth Certificate for K1

[Hopeful76 2]

Has anyone had any experience with a late registered birth certificate in the K1 visa process for the Philippines.  We are waiting for our NOA 2, and have some concerns with my fiancé's birth certificate. It was first registered when she was 15 years old (she is now 27).  We have notarized affidavits from her parents and midwife,  but are having some trouble with earlier records -- no baptismal certificate and her elementary school was small one in the province and she thinks they may not have kept her records -- but we will of course try.  Has anyone been approved with affidavits only?  Her birth certificate is PSA, she has a valid passport and all kinds of other IDs.

Also, her birth address on the front is slightly different than on the back (same city),  and her parents ages are listed as being 1 year older than they actually were when she was born (as if they were rounded up).  Does anyone know if this is a big deal?  We are looking into getting a corrected BC but sounds like it can be a long process, and we may not have time.  Thank you so much for any insight anyone can provide.

[RO_AH 1,659]

Just get anything you can. School pictures, school records, doctor records, etc. Also the things that you have listed. ring it to the interview.

[IWander 589]

1 hour ago, Hopeful76 said:

Has anyone had any experience with a late registered birth certificate in the K1 visa process for the Philippines.  We are waiting for our NOA 2, and have some concerns with my fiancé's birth certificate. It was first registered when she was 15 years old (she is now 27).  We have notarized affidavits from her parents and midwife,  but are having some trouble with earlier records -- no baptismal certificate and her elementary school was small one in the province and she thinks they may not have kept her records -- but we will of course try.  Has anyone been approved with affidavits only?  Her birth certificate is PSA, she has a valid passport and all kinds of other IDs.

Also, her birth address on the front is slightly different than on the back (same city),  and her parents ages are listed as being 1 year older than they actually were when she was born (as if they were rounded up).  Does anyone know if this is a big deal?  We are looking into getting a corrected BC but sounds like it can be a long process, and we may not have time.  Thank you so much for any insight anyone can provide.

 

You will not be the first to show up to the Consulate with a late registered BC.  The Consulate is aware these situations exist and as long as you present a BC from PSA, as the issuing authority, all should be fine.

 

Alternate documents are only accepted when PSA indicates "no record available"

Edited November 26, 2023 by IWander

[RO_AH 1,659]

1 hour ago, IWander said:

You will not be the first to show up to the Consulate with a late registered BC.  The Consulate is aware these situations exist and as long as you present a BC from PSA, as the issuing authority, all should be fine.

Not true. They will issue a 221G asking for more supplemental documents. That's why it's best to bring them in advance. Here is what my wifes 2221G said:

 

Edited November 26, 2023 by RO_AH

[IWander 589]

3 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Not true. They will issue a 221G asking for more supplemental documents. That's why it's best to bring them in advance. Here is what my wifes 2221G said:

 

Really?  Ok. 

 

Alternate Documents: (Will only be accepted when the certificate issued by PSA indicates “No record available”). Other pertinent documents determined by the adjudicating consular officer to his/her satisfaction for visa purposes.  May include: Personal copy of birth not available from PSA, LCR, and National Archives.  Baptismal certificate from the church or substantiated by affidavits from two disinterested persons who have personal knowledge of the birth, death, or marriage, Certificate of Foundling issued by the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB).  

Edited November 26, 2023 by IWander

[RO_AH 1,659]

2 minutes ago, IWander said:

Really?

 

Alternate Documents: (Will only be accepted when the certificate issued by PSA indicates “No record available”). Other pertinent documents determined by the adjudicating consular officer to his/her satisfaction for visa purposes.  May include: Personal copy of birth not available from PSA, LCR, and National Archives.  Baptismal certificate from the church or substantiated by affidavits from two disinterested persons who have personal knowledge of the birth, death, or marriage, Certificate of Foundling issued by the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB).  

I am trying to figure out what that has to do with late registration. If you come with a PSA BC that is marked with "late registration"

you will need supporting documents. I am not here to argue as I have been there done that. Better have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I wish that I knew you when my wife had her interview, maybe I could have had you explain to the CO that it was not needed.

[IWander 589]

9 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

I am trying to figure out what that has to do with late registration. If you come with a PSA BC that is marked with "late registration"

you will need supporting documents. I am not here to argue as I have been there done that. Better have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I wish that I knew you when my wife had her interview, maybe I could have had you explain to the CO that it was not needed.

My wife has an annotated bc as well and we did not have to do any additional evidence.  

[RO_AH 1,659]

1 hour ago, IWander said:

My wife has an annotated bc as well and we did not have to do any additional evidence.  

Well when people here ask for advice I want to be accurate. I have seen way too many times where people have received a 221g, to lead them to believe that they will not receive one, or not be required to have more proof. I think that your wife is an exception to what is common.

[Hopeful76 2]

2 hours ago, IWander said:

My wife has an annotated bc as well and we did not have to do any additional evidence.  

Interesting,  was yours a K1 visa?  I am wondering if there is a different standard for K1 visa vs. CR1 or IR1... or maybe just depends on the officer and/or their feeling about the person.

[top_secret 2,458]

1 hour ago, Hopeful76 said:

Interesting,  was yours a K1 visa?  I am wondering if there is a different standard for K1 visa vs. CR1 or IR1... or maybe just depends on the officer and/or their feeling about the person.

It is at the discretion of the interviewing consul and often depends on how late they were registered too.  Being late registered at 15 years old is more likely to draw requests for additional evidence than being late registered at 5 years old.

 

Schools in the Philippines are often good at keeping records. At least to the extent that paper records survive tropical humidity and typhoons.  Request her "form 137" from both elementary and highschool.  If they can't come up with that they may at least give a certification from DepEd that she attended.  My wife also pretty easily obtained her baptismal certificate by simply messaging the local parish on their Facebook page.  The other evidence you mentioned is good too.  It should pass but the more evidence she brings, the more certain the outcome.

[Hopeful76 2]

7 hours ago, top_secret said:

It is at the discretion of the interviewing consul and often depends on how late they were registered too.  Being late registered at 15 years old is more likely to draw requests for additional evidence than being late registered at 5 years old.

 

Schools in the Philippines are often good at keeping records. At least to the extent that paper records survive tropical humidity and typhoons.  Request her "form 137" from both elementary and highschool.  If they can't come up with that they may at least give a certification from DepEd that she attended.  My wife also pretty easily obtained her baptismal certificate by simply messaging the local parish on their Facebook page.  The other evidence you mentioned is good too.  It should pass but the more evidence she brings, the more certain the outcome.

Thanks for the tips!  Were you able to get an original baptismal document or a copy of it -- or did the local parish make you a new certificate?

[RO_AH 1,659]

2 hours ago, Hopeful76 said:

Thanks for the tips!  Were you able to get an original baptismal document or a copy of it -- or did the local parish make you a new certificate?

In my wife's case we did not have a baptismal certificate. We did provide school pictures and school records (form 137e and form 137)) from elementary and high school.

[top_secret 2,458]

4 hours ago, Hopeful76 said:

Thanks for the tips!  Were you able to get an original baptismal document or a copy of it -- or did the local parish make you a new certificate?

The parish will issue a new baptismal certificate based on the ledger that the church holds.  It's as valid as the original.

[AFCF 273]

Just in case you still need information… I am also late registered, but not for that long. I was asked for my baptismal certificate and local civil registry document. As mentioned above, it depends on the officer but if I didn’t have those documents with me, it would have caused delays. I also brought form 137, school ID that I can find when I was in elementary, and even my college transcript of records. 
 

I also had my mother’s name updated since it was misspelled on my original birth certificate. It only took about 3 months then the annotation was added when I requested for copies of my birth certificate before I left for the US. 

[Hopeful76 2]

On 12/15/2023 at 12:55 PM, AFCF said:

Just in case you still need information… I am also late registered, but not for that long. I was asked for my baptismal certificate and local civil registry document. As mentioned above, it depends on the officer but if I didn’t have those documents with me, it would have caused delays. I also brought form 137, school ID that I can find when I was in elementary, and even my college transcript of records. 
 

I also had my mother’s name updated since it was misspelled on my original birth certificate. It only took about 3 months then the annotation was added when I requested for copies of my birth certificate before I left for the US. 

Wow that is much quicker than what I have been hearing about fixing the birth certificate!  What evidence/documents were required for that?  Did you have a lawyer help you?