Birth certificate - needs a raised seal?

[Selket]

I'll admit with all the passport craziness going on I decided to use birth certificates for our upcoming October cruise.

I looked at all 4 our ours and my husband's he just got last year from the state of Illinois and it doesn't have a raised seal on it. I know it is the official copy from the state.

Here is what the Dept. Of Illinois website where you order your birth cert. says:

Be Informed: There have been reports that some workers in the travel industry mistakenly believe a certified birth record must have a "raised seal". Illinois has not used a raised seal since 1985. Certified copies of records issued by IDPH, Division of Vital Records are now embossed with the state and department seals in the lower right and left hand corners (with the exception of the birth card which may have a stamped seal). The texture of the embossed seals can be felt when running your fingers over them. All types of certified birth records issued by IDPH, Division of Vital Records are legally acceptable.

He does have the type with the seals in the corners that are embossed.

 

[jhannah]

His is fine. Some states use a rubber stamp type seal (like Notaries use) as their official seal. Generally it says so right on the stamp.

 

[Ourtwoprincesses]

I'll admit with all the passport craziness going on I decided to use birth certificates for our upcoming October cruise.

I looked at all 4 our ours and my husband's he just got last year from the state of Illinois and it doesn't have a raised seal on it. I know it is the official copy from the state.

Here is what the Dept. Of Illinois website where you order your birth cert. says:

Be Informed: There have been reports that some workers in the travel industry mistakenly believe a certified birth record must have a "raised seal". Illinois has not used a raised seal since 1985. Certified copies of records issued by IDPH, Division of Vital Records are now embossed with the state and department seals in the lower right and left hand corners (with the exception of the birth card which may have a stamped seal). The texture of the embossed seals can be felt when running your fingers over them. All types of certified birth records issued by IDPH, Division of Vital Records are legally acceptable.

He does have the type with the seals in the corners that are embossed.

The seals in the corners are embossed and can be felt with your fingers. My DH has an IL. birth Cert. It is fine. If you want just print up what you found on the website, I did that on my first cruise, and the Birth Cert. was fine.

Sue

 

[tvguy]

Just make sure it says "certified copy" on it. Usually they are on engraved paper like paper money. It does not have to have a raised seal. However, it can not be a photocopy of one that says "certified copy", it has to be the original.

 

[Selket]

Thanks everyone! It is definitely an original from the state of IL - I remember ordering it from their website.

 

[colbybug]

here's a question for all you birth certificate experts.... our birth certificates were obtained through our state agency and they reduced them down to the size of a credit card and laminated them....will that work? Obviously, you can't feel any kind of a seal because of the hard plastic. Is there some kind of watermark or something? Do we have to get a copy on paper?

Thanks for any help,

Kathy

 

[DrCavin]

here's a question for all you birth certificate experts.... our birth certificates were obtained through our state agency and they reduced them down to the size of a credit card and laminated them....will that work? Obviously, you can't feel any kind of a seal because of the hard plastic. Is there some kind of watermark or something? Do we have to get a copy on paper?

Thanks for any help,

Kathy

I would be cautious of these, if you can see that it says "certified copy" then you are ok.

 

[tvguy]

here's a question for all you birth certificate experts.... our birth certificates were obtained through our state agency and they reduced them down to the size of a credit card and laminated them....will that work? Obviously, you can't feel any kind of a seal because of the hard plastic. Is there some kind of watermark or something? Do we have to get a copy on paper?

Thanks for any help,

Kathy

I'd take it to your local post office that does passports and ask.
Basically, what some states were trying to do with birth certificates didn't meet minimum federal standards. The old, left hand doesn't know what the right is doing.

 

[swilphil]

here's a question for all you birth certificate experts.... our birth certificates were obtained through our state agency and they reduced them down to the size of a credit card and laminated them....will that work? Obviously, you can't feel any kind of a seal because of the hard plastic. Is there some kind of watermark or something? Do we have to get a copy on paper?

Thanks for any help,

Kathy

I ordered a credit card size birth certificate, along with a regular size certified one, when my son was born. My understanding is that the small ones are not certified. Does your state offer regular size ones as well?

FYI: I ordered certified birth certificates for DH and me through www.vitalchek.com. It was very easy. It was actually cheaper to order through the city office than through the state office in Missouri.

 

[FatCat]

Confused.

Prior to Jan 2008. Is a birth certificate required???

I was under the impression that a government or state issued Picture ID was acceptable. (E.G. military id or drivers license)

For those under age 16 or who do not have an official id a birth certificate is to brought in lieu of.

Is it technically a requirement for those with a Drivers License to also bring birth certificate? Or is this just a recommendation.

 

[eva]

Confused.

Prior to Jan 2008. Is a birth certificate required???

I was under the impression that a government or state issued Picture ID was acceptable. (E.G. military id or drivers license)

For those under age 16 or who do not have an official id a birth certificate is to brought in lieu of.

Is it technically a requirement for those with a Drivers License to also bring birth certificate? Or is this just a recommendation.

Everyone must have a certified birth certificate and photo ID OR a passport. So if you do not have a passport, you must have the birth certificate and a photo ID.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Prior to January 1, 2008 you must have a certified birth certificate and a government issued picture ID.

 

[FatCat]

What if child is 15 or under. Will birth certificate only suffice?

 

[eva]

What if child is 15 or under. Will birth certificate only suffice?

Sorry, I should have mentioned that children only need a birth certificate.

 

[tvguy]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that children only need a birth certificate.

Or a Passport.

 

[Aquagirl]

here's a question for all you birth certificate experts.... our birth certificates were obtained through our state agency and they reduced them down to the size of a credit card and laminated them....will that work? Obviously, you can't feel any kind of a seal because of the hard plastic. Is there some kind of watermark or something? Do we have to get a copy on paper?

Thanks for any help,

Kathy

They work fine. This is what we have in CT. My husband has used his on several cruises.