Getting a Québec birth certificate...

[Necrotica 0]

So my dear fiancé FINALLY, yesterday, after 3 months of asking him, went to get his birth certificate and chose the standard processing. Needless to say, I'm seriously ticked-off since we've had enough delays the way it is, plus he's going to need to get it translated and notarized, plus I can't make any sort of pleas to the Consulate to give us a quicker interview date until he has it... anyway... they said he'd get the birth certificate in 3 weeks. In your experience, is this true? Or does it take sooner or longer than that in actuality?

[MissStacey 1]

I sent away for more copies a few months ago. It took about 3-4 weeks to get it. He can get it in English. If he hasn't sent it off yet- check off that you want an English version. That will save having to get it translated.

It may be busy there right now. Many people who are applying for Passports are realizing that the old Quebec Birth Certificates are no longer accepted. They were laminated.

[MissStacey 1]

http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/English/formpublications.htm

For $35.00 you can get it accelerated.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Might be worth it to get his a$$ back there to accelerate it????

[Mephys 2]

I sent away for more copies a few months ago. It took about 3-4 weeks to get it. He can get it in English. If he hasn't sent it off yet- check off that you want an English version. That will save having to get it translated.

It may be busy there right now. Many people who are applying for Passports are realizing that the old Quebec Birth Certificates are no longer accepted. They were laminated.

Based on my personnal experience, i asked for an english BC and when the first one have been filed in french, Its IMPOSSIBLE to have it delivered in english. I did it and still received copies in french and had to send them a letter and make multiple phone calls to return the french ones, cause I already had it. Its a law. Anyone that filed in french at birth is gonna receive it in french, same for english.

I sent my forms and received mine 2 weeks after ( the wrong french ones). So it was fairly fast. Had it translated and notarized for 17$.

Edited March 4, 2007 by Mephys

[MissStacey 1]

I didn't know that. I checked the English box- we were an English speaking family when we were there so everything we had would have been submitted in English.

At the same time I sent away for more copies of mine, I also sent away for my mom and sisters so they can get a Passport. I had no problem getting mine- I scanned my Passport and Drivers licence for the 2 pieces of ID they needed.

For my mom and sister- I scanned their Drivers Licences and the old Birth Certificates. They had the applications sent back (RFE) because Quebec wouldn't accept their own Birth Certificate as identification!

[Mephys 2]

Yeah your birth was registered in english if you received it in english, same would apply for you if you would try to get a french certificate they would refuse

You can imagine after waiting 3 weeks and paying the fees, i had a note with the english form saying I needed the BC in english for US immigration papers, and when I received it I called them ans I asked:"How come the person that received my application never called me to tell me it was impossible instead of sending me something I didnt ask for? " After few phone calls and e-mails, cause I was told they would not refund at first, then one lady told me to send back the BC with a letter asking for a refund and an explanation. They finally refund me after 1 month. But im like, dont be stupid, there is a phone number, what is it to take 30 sec to call the person and tell her its impossible and ask if she wants to pursue or drop the application.....right

Its just I thought since its a bilingual province that I would have no problems, but apparently its in the civil code.......weird.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I didn't know that. I checked the English box- we were an English speaking family when we were there so everything we had would have been submitted in English.

At the same time I sent away for more copies of mine, I also sent away for my mom and sisters so they can get a Passport. I had no problem getting mine- I scanned my Passport and Drivers licence for the 2 pieces of ID they needed.

For my mom and sister- I scanned their Drivers Licences and the old Birth Certificates. They had the applications sent back (RFE) because Quebec wouldn't accept their own Birth Certificate as identification!

I had to get the new birth certificate as well because the original birth certificate they gave me was the laminated card and they decided that it was no longer considered a valid Quebec Birth Certificate. So, since it has my parents names on it, I still carry it in my wallet here as the US doesn't know if it is a valid or invalid birth certificate - heck, most Canadians and even Quebeckers don't know unless they have had to use it for official business!

We were also an English speaking family so I was able to get my birth certificate(s) in English, but I understand that if the original act of birth was registered in French then you are only able to get the birth certificate in French and will need to get it translated. Ah, Bureaucracy!

[Zaurok 0]

As far as I know, Quebec is a French only province and New-Brunswick is the only Bilingual province in Canada.

Yep, I was able to get an English BC with no problems even though my original is French.

Yeah your birth was registered in english if you received it in english, same would apply for you if you would try to get a french certificate they would refuse

You can imagine after waiting 3 weeks and paying the fees, i had a note with the english form saying I needed the BC in english for US immigration papers, and when I received it I called them ans I asked:"How come the person that received my application never called me to tell me it was impossible instead of sending me something I didnt ask for? " After few phone calls and e-mails, cause I was told they would not refund at first, then one lady told me to send back the BC with a letter asking for a refund and an explanation. They finally refund me after 1 month. But im like, dont be stupid, there is a phone number, what is it to take 30 sec to call the person and tell her its impossible and ask if she wants to pursue or drop the application.....right

Its just I thought since its a bilingual province that I would have no problems, but apparently its in the civil code.......weird.

[Necrotica 0]

He just informed me that he got it today. So, 2 weeks exactly. That's even better than what they quoted him, thank gods. Now he just needs to get it translated and notarized. Who knows how long that will take him to get done.

*sighs*

Good news is what I needed... I've been feeling like total sh*t over this process, and I was (and still am, in a way) at my bursting point today.

[CutienPurg 0]

That really is good news and Im so glad you finally got some. Im still holding out hope that these glitches wont hold you up so much.

[Catou1181 0]

I had my birth certificate translated into english this week. I didn't get it notarized though. If I wanted to do so, how would I go about it ? City Hall or something ?