Birth Certificates...copies or original???

[Lesley Mahler]

We are applying for our passports tomorrow (02-23-07) and we sail 05-06-07!!! I am a little worried about receiving the passports on time from another thread I was reading about the passports being delayed. Can we just make a copy of our birth certificates for in case the passports do not come in on time, or do the birth certificates have to be original???
TIA,
Lesley

 

[Tinkified]

They have to have a raised seal on them...so no copies allowed.

We got ours about 3 weeks after we applied for them using normal/standard processing...

I felt very uneasy about handing over the original BC and it made me feel as if they got lost, we wouldn't exist anymore! You can apply for a new BC so you have 2 on hand or to use as back up if your passports don't arrive in time...but I think you are well within a good time limit of getting them in time for your trip! Good Luck

 

["Got Disney"]

need original ...as OP said...need the raised seal

 

[tvguy]

They need to be originals, not copies of a certified birth certificate. A lot of states don't issue raised seals anymore, they print the birth certificate on special engraved paper, the same sort of printing that is on cash. Either of those is legal, a photo copy of either is not.
We all have raised seal BC's, but if I went in today for a new certified copy of my birth certificate, it would come without a seal, but on engraved paper.

 

[scrapperjill]

Yep...like EVERYONE else has already mentioned you have to have the real thing...no copies I'd say if your real worried about not getting the passports back in time (I'm thinking if you send them ASAP you'll get them back before May...but who am I to say)...anyways "IF" your super concerend about not getting the passports back and your cert bc is off with the passport application you could go get a second certified bc as a back up.

 

[Tink rules]

ALSO!!!

They cannot be the hospital birth certificate...

Some hospitals gave out certificates which people think are the official ones... They won't work - they have to be from the municipality/city in which you were born in.

I used to work in the Passport office and often had to deal with people who insisted that the hospital one was the official one and it is not.

 

[tvguy]

ALSO!!!

They cannot be the hospital birth certificate...

Some hospitals gave out certificates which people think are the official ones... They won't work - they have to be from the municipality/city in which you were born in.

I used to work in the Passport office and often had to deal with people who insisted that the hospital one was the official one and it is not.

Great point. I did see a few of those when I was involved in Little League, and unfortunately they carry no legal weight.

 

[Tink rules]

Yep...like EVERYONE else has already mentioned you have to have the real thing...no copies I'd say if your real worried about not getting the passports back in time (I'm thinking if you send them ASAP you'll get them back before May...but who am I to say)...anyways "IF" your super concerend about not getting the passports back and your cert bc is off with the passport application you could go get a second certified bc as a back up.

I agree... if you are close to where you were born...it's always good to get an updated version of your birth certificate from the town/city. Vital Statistics is where you apply.

Make sure that they know you are going in the beginning of May. I do believe that when I got my passport, I had to put a date on it if I was traveling - I was not, but my mom was. They will be able to let you know if it needs to be expidited. (probably not... I got mine back in about a month, but that was last year and before everyone found out that they'd have to start to get them to travel.

As far as the BC from the hospital...if yours has the foot prints on it...that doesn't count either. You should be able to feel the raised seal on it and make sure it's from a town/city.

Also make sure you have your passport pictures (2 of them on a white background) with you. Not every passport office is able to take pictures. You can usually do it at CVS. (They use a window shade, believe it or not for the background!!!)

Good luck

 

[marlower]

They need to be originals, not copies of a certified birth certificate. A lot of states don't issue raised seals anymore, they print the birth certificate on special engraved paper, the same sort of printing that is on cash. Either of those is legal, a photo copy of either is not.
We all have raised seal BC's, but if I went in today for a new certified copy of my birth certificate, it would come without a seal, but on engraved paper.

Thank you for clarifying that for me. I have birth certificates for my girls but no raised seal. It is on special engraved paper, not a photo copy, with a registrars signature but it says "certified copy of vital records" Is this what they are calling an original birth certificate? I don't have time to get passports as we are leaving in 17 days!!!

 

[Mom323]

Thank you for clarifying that for me. I have birth certificates for my girls but no raised seal. It is on special engraved paper, not a photo copy, with a registrars signature but it says "certified copy of vital records" Is this what they are calling an original birth certificate? I don't have time to get passports as we are leaving in 17 days!!!

That should be good. Did you use them when you had to register either of the girls for school?

 

[tvguy]

Thank you for clarifying that for me. I have birth certificates for my girls but no raised seal. It is on special engraved paper, not a photo copy, with a registrars signature but it says "certified copy of vital records" Is this what they are calling an original birth certificate? I don't have time to get passports as we are leaving in 17 days!!!

You are just fine.
If ANYONE ever has a question about their birth certificate, EVEN if you are NOT getting Passports, go to the Post Office in your area that issues Passports and show them the birth certificate, they can tell you if it is a certified copy of your birth certificate.

My birth certificate has not been out of the safe deposit box at the bank since 1976, when I applied for my first Passport. Anytime I need a birth certificate, I just use the Passport.

My wife was VERY smart when both our kids were born......she immediately ordered 2 copies of their birth certificates. As parents of kids in sports such as Little League, and American Legion know, during tournament play these days, those organizations require that a certified copy of your child's birth certificate must be on file with their organization for them to take part. So we always have a spare copy available for those purposes, and a copy at home. You get the BC back after tournament play, and this is ONLY for tournament play, not regular season play.

 

[KimberlyC]

I ordered 3 certified copies of DS's BC (all the legal engraved "copies" from the Vital Records Division of the County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office) when he was born (actually 30 days later because that is the earliest our county claims to receive the certificate of live birth from the hospital). 1 copy will never leave the safe box. 2nd copy was to apply for a passport. 3rd copy was to use to cross the border while waiting for passport (we live in a border town and cross frequently to see friends). It may have been overkill but worth the little extra $$$ IMHO. I'll do the same if/when we ever have another DC.

 

[woody73]

I ordered 3 certified copies of DS's BC . . .

It may have been overkill but worth the little extra $$$ . . .

Good idea!

Woody

 

[marlower]

You are just fine.
If ANYONE ever has a question about their birth certificate, EVEN if you are NOT getting Passports, go to the Post Office in your area that issues Passports and show them the birth certificate, they can tell you if it is a certified copy of your birth certificate.

Thanks so much! I will head to the post office on Monday just to make sure.
Once we get back from our cruise, I will make sure and get my girls their passports.

 

[marlower]

That should be good. Did you use them when you had to register either of the girls for school?

Thanks so much! I appreciate everyones help. I was starting to panic that I didn't have the right certificate, but it looks like I do! Only 16 more days til we cruise Now all I have to panic about is having not received my cruise docs. yet!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

It's always a good idea to order additional copies of a B/C! I had to get a new passport as I'd lost my old one. Couldn't find my B/C so decided to order TWO copies just in case my new passport didn't make it in time. I was nine weeks out from my cruise and didn't want to expedite. I got the passport in time but it DID take 6 to 7 weeks. There has been an upswing of passports being ordered because of the new regulations...

Anyway, when I ordered my B/C it was pretty inexpensive to order a 2nd copy. Now that I'm back, I keep my passport and one B/C in a metal box. Gave the 2nd B/C to my mother who keeps her stuff in a metal box.

You are at what...about 8 weeks? I might tell you to get the extra copy of a B/C JUST IN CASE... It's hard to say whether it's necessary to pay the extra fees to expedite. Maybe the passport office can tell you. Are you applying at a post office or local office? A major center? THAT can make a difference. I would think they might be able to give you an idea...