Question:
I have a problem with my greed card application, that I dont have a
original birth certificate. Is the passport good enough as a certificate
of birth or do I need to get an original from back home. I also heard
that the embassy will issue you a certificate if you show them the
passport. Is this true. Any suggestions or advice would be welcome.
Also, is there a FAQ for this list that I can access?
Answer:
Both INS and the State Dept have always taken the position that a
passport is not valid proof of date and place of birth. It's hard to say
why they have this rule, except that some countries do not check anything
when they issue a passport; others will show their country as your place of
birth--even if they know you born somewhere else; etc. Thus,
certificates issued by Embassies, based upon info in the passport, are not
given much weight by INS.
Try to get the birth certif from home. If it is not available, or does
not exist, get a letter (preferably under seal) from the local or
provincial registrar of births/deaths that the birth certif does not exist
on the records. Then get at least two affidavits from
parents/relative/friends who knew the family and were around when you were
born. They should list your parents names; your date and place of birth.
Best to get the certificates authenticated (norarized) by the officials,
and the nearest U.S. consulate. That will work just fine
I am assuming that the problem is with the green card application, not
greed card application(do cowboys call it greed card? dunno).
The certificate that the consulate (not embassy) issues says that the
DOB is taken from the passport, where as INS wants a birth certificate.
From your name I am AGAIN assuming you are from India. You need to
get a 'certificate of non-availability' from your municipality or city
or whoever the local birth record maintaining agency is saying that there
is no record available about your birth. Also, you need affidavits from
close relative and parents sworning that you were born on that date and
they were present there. Make sure one of those is not from your
younger brother or sister. The affidavits must be notarized.
I recommend four affidavits
