Using a birth certificate

[saladdays]

I read that it says a copy of a state-issued birth certificate is OK to bring. Does that mean that I can make a copy of my original BC myself and take it along?

 

[bumbershoot]

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID.

I know of many people from cruisecritic who have, indeed, used a photocopy of the official one.

Do I want to play games and do this? No. Do I put a mystique on my certified birth certificate that makes me want to leave it in a safe deposit box and take a copy? NO. Heck, I'm on my 3rd certified copy and it works just as well as the 1st. They're easy enough for me to get. I put it in a ziptop bag, keep it at the bottom of a bag, etc. (DS was a lap baby on his first flight and I was worried about Disneyland not believing he wasn't 3, since he was tall, so I did that for the flight and park visit)

Do I support others in using the actual official wording? Yes. Even though I'm a passport person.

So I say...just take the certified copy and don't mess around with it. But if you choose to go the photocopy route, as is officially said, I support that, too. (just don't do it because you're scared of losing the BC. if you're worried about that, get another certified copy and keep that in the safe deposit box)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

In my opinion, the wording is, at best, ambiguous:
U.S. Citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country on the cruise with proof of citizenship, such as an original or copy of his or her birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) and, if 16 or older, a government issued photo ID.

It's not real clear whether the original must be issued and a copy of that is fine. OR if both the original and copy must be issued by the Vital Records Department).

Since what you get from the Vital Records Department is not the actual original birth certificate (at least where I live), what's issued is a "certified copy of the original" document. And, thus, is a copy issued by the Vital Records Department.

All that being said, there are reports of people just using a xeroxed copy of the copy they got from the Vital Records Department to board cruise ships.

 

[saladdays]

OK. Thanks for the advice. I think I'll probably just take the originals.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I just had to go thru obtaining a new birth certificate when I applied for my passport (I was denied first time). Had to go to building of Vital Statistics and get a new birth certificate because my other one (which was two documents) did not have my parents name listed "ALL TOGETHER." When I got the new one, with RAISED SEAL, I got several additional ones (ALL WITH RAISED SEALS). IMO, I wouldn't chance it. Too many what if's. I always carried my original (2 piece) birth certificate and never had a problem until I applied for a passport.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just had to go thru obtaining a new birth certificate when I applied for my passport (I was denied first time). Had to go to building of Vital Statistics and get a new birth certificate because my other one (which was two documents) did not have my parents name listed "ALL TOGETHER." When I got the new one, with RAISED SEAL, I got several additional ones (ALL WITH RAISED SEALS). IMO, I wouldn't chance it. Too many what if's. I always carried my original (2 piece) birth certificate and never had a problem until I applied for a passport.

Just one note, not all birth certificate have a raised seal. Some places just have a certification stamp, or watermark to designate it as "official". I know ours have a stamped, signed (by the registrar) statement that the copy is an official copy of the original document.

 

[bumbershoot]

To me the ambiguity is in "original". Because there's no such thing as an "original" BC unless we're saying "the originally received certified copy of the info vital statistics has" about you.

And unless there's been a change in how the BC looks, as some states have had happen (much discussed back before 2008 with Hawaii), my "original" looked just the same as my current certified copy.

To me, "copy" isn't ambiguous. If they meant "certified copy" they would say it. They don't.

 

[WeLoveM1CKEY]

OK. Thanks for the advice. I think I'll probably just take the originals.

Take the originals. I took the originals in my luggage and showed the copies. When arriving back at port, they did not end up making me dig out the originals but i got a good lecturing on making my own copies. Apparently it is illegal to use copies you make yourself.

 

[MaleficentRN]

To me the ambiguity is in "original". Because there's no such thing as an "original" BC unless we're saying "the originally received certified copy of the info vital statistics has" about you.

And unless there's been a change in how the BC looks, as some states have had happen (much discussed back before 2008 with Hawaii), my "original" looked just the same as my current certified copy.

To me, "copy" isn't ambiguous. If they meant "certified copy" they would say it. They don't.

Because I am an idiot, I forgot my and DH's passports. (You want to talk about your heart dropping to your feet!) A neighbor faxed our birth certificates to the port. We used the faxes when we disembarked and the CBPO joked, "This seal isn't raised much." I said it was because of people pressing on it too hard.