How to Get a Certified Birth Certificate
Obtaining a certified Birth Certificate
If you plan on obtaining a passport from the U.S. government anytime soon, you need to know how to get a certified birth certificate. Sending or faxing a copy of the birth certificate you have laying around the house or in your home safe won’t get the job done.
Because a passport gives you safe passage into and out of the country, the Federal Government wants more proof you are who you say your are. But before we get into why that’s the case, let’s discuss what a certified certificate of birth even is.
What Is a Certified Birth Certificate?
A certified birth certificate is a birth certificate with an embossed seal on the people. This seal of authenticity is raised, so it’s harder to fake than your average certificate of birth.
Because a certified birth certificate goes through an extra process, these documents take up to 6 weeks to receive. So if you need a certified birth certificate for a visa application, give yourself plenty of time.
If getting certification for your birth certificate puts you behind, remember that you can “expedite” your passport. By expediting, you pay an extra $60 per passport, plus whatever overnight delivery fees are added. I’ll soon post a full account of how to expedite your passport.
For now, let’s discuss how you get a certified birth certificate.
Learn the State Where Your Were Born
Find out which state in which your were born. If you have a non-certified birth certificate in your possession, just look on there to make certain. If not, ask your parents which city and state you were born in.
If neither your mother nor your father are available, discuss your birth with whatever family members are available. Learn the adoption agency that handled your adoption and call them for this information. Once you have your birth state, you’re ready to apply for a certified birth certificate.
Office of Vital Records
Find the website for “Office of Vital Records” for the state in which you were born. Once there, find the form to apply for a certified birth certificate and fill out the form.
Print off the “sworn statement” form on the application and sign the sworn statement. This statement, under the penalty of perjury, states you are the person on the birth certificate.
Once you sign this statement, have a local “notary public” notarize this statement.
What Is a Notary Public?
A notary public administers oaths and affirmations on non-contentious matters like deeds, bills of exchange and a number of other legal documents. Go to the “National Registry of Notaries” to find a notary public near you.
Notarized applications are important. You’ll be rejected, otherwise.
Send Your Application Away
Mail your application to the address given on your state’s Office of Vital Records site. The fees are roughly $15 nationwide. Remember to send payment, to make sure your application is approved.
Wait 6 Weeks
Expect to wait around 5-6 weeks to receive your certified birth certificate. Learning how to get a certified birth certificate is a simple prospect, though waiting can be a pain, when you’re under time constraints. If you have any idea you’re supposed to make a trip in the next year, make sure to obtain your certified birth certificate and passport months in advance.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 12:25 pm and is filed under Birth Records, Vital Records. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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