Foreign Birth Certification

[soonerbldr]

I was born overseas and have a Certificate of Live Birth for US Citizens. I have to submit that to the state with the rest of my application but can I send in a notarized copy or do I have to send in the original? If I have to send in the original do you get it back from the state? It is not that big of a deal but any time I need a birth certificate I have to have this form. If I have to re-order it the form is about $50 and it takes about 2 months to get one...

Does anyone have any experience with this?

[Crossfire]

Do NOT send in the original. You will never see it again. Just make a copy. Doesn't even have to be notarized.

[ScooterSissy]

I was born overseas and have a Certificate of Live Birth for US Citizens. I have to submit that to the state with the rest of my application but can I send in a notarized copy or do I have to send in the original? If I have to send in the original do you get it back from the state? It is not that big of a deal but any time I need a birth certificate I have to have this form. If I have to re-order it the form is about $50 and it takes about 2 months to get one...

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Crossfire is correct, just a plain old unnotorized copy will do. I was born in Germany (father was military), and through the years I've learned that the Certificate of Live Birth for US Citizens is more important to me than my actual birth certificate (which few folks in the US can read anyway). I called DPS, and they told me just what Crossfire said, normal copy, don't send the original, you won't get it back. That's what I did, and though I'm waiting on the background check to finish, the proof of citizenship has cleared.

[RoyGBiv]

If your bank will make you a notarized copy for free (mine will) or for a small fee, I would send a notarized copy to DPS, just to be extra certain. Sounds like this would be overkill, but, that's what I'd do.

Welcome to the forum.

[soonerbldr]

Thanks for the information guys! I was worried about having to send in an original since they are a pain to come by.

There is a lot of great info on this form, I am glad to have found them!

[troglodyte]

What ScooterSissy says. My parents were civilians teaching in the DOD schools in Frankfurt when I came along. My "Army" papers are more valuable than my birth certificate (and much more costly to replace IIRC).

I send in a copy of my DOD papers (which are hard to read being 50 yo typewriter on 50 yo paper), not notorized. I did this with my orginal, first renewal, and instructor's and never had a problem.

[WillowJane Nicks]

My husband and I are starting down the path of CHL. My dilemma - my husband was born in Thessoloniki, Greece. I have been trying unsuccessfully for 12 years to get a copy of his birth certificate from Greece. We do not have contact with his parents.

He is an American citizen and served in the military. I do have an original copy of his DD-214 and his passport - from when he was 10 years old :) Will DPS accept an old copy of his passport and DD-214 as proof of American citizenship?

Thanks,
WJN

[The Annoyed Man]

I was born overseas and have a Certificate of Live Birth for US Citizens. I have to submit that to the state with the rest of my application but can I send in a notarized copy or do I have to send in the original? If I have to send in the original do you get it back from the state? It is not that big of a deal but any time I need a birth certificate I have to have this form. If I have to re-order it the form is about $50 and it takes about 2 months to get one...

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Yes, I do. I was born in Morocco in 1952, and all I have is a photocopy of the original Certificate of Live Birth signed by the U.S. Consul in Casablanca at the time. My first application was held up pending my providing them with this document. I sent them a photocopy of the photocopy in my possession and that was good enough.

[tacticool]

My husband and I are starting down the path of CHL. My dilemma - my husband was born in Thessoloniki, Greece. I have been trying unsuccessfully for 12 years to get a copy of his birth certificate from Greece. We do not have contact with his parents.

From the horse's mouth. http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/internetfo ... CHL-40.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Like Crossfire said, they don't have to be official copies or notarized copies. Plain old xeroxes are fine as long as you give them both the front and back. For passports and other documents with an expiration date, it has to be before the expiration date.

[BritOnTour]

My husband and I are starting down the path of CHL. My dilemma - my husband was born in Thessoloniki, Greece. I have been trying unsuccessfully for 12 years to get a copy of his birth certificate from Greece. We do not have contact with his parents.

He is an American citizen and served in the military. I do have an original copy of his DD-214 and his passport - from when he was 10 years old :) Will DPS accept an old copy of his passport and DD-214 as proof of American citizenship?

Thanks,
WJN

If you have a US citizenship certificate, that is all you need. Send a copy though!! I know it says on the certificate that it shouldn't be duplicated, but I guess this is one of the many exceptions that the government makes with this regard!