Birth certificate query for interview
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 35
Birth certificate query for interview
I just received an email from the NVC with my interview date today (in the first week of October), which was great news.
However, the wording of one part of the NVC email has worried me.
It first states that the originals for all documents submitted to the NVC should be brought to the interview. It then says if you do not bring all the originals to the interview the consular officer will reschedule your interview.
My issue with that is that when I initially submitted documents to the NVC they replied saying they wanted to see the birth certificate with my birth parents names on. I was adopted when I was just a few weeks old and had initially sent them the birth certificate with my (adopted) parents names on. This panicked me slightly as I had never been asked by anyone to see the other certificate before and didn't know where it was.
After rummaging around in my parents study one afternoon I found a black and white photocopy of a certified copy of a birth certificate dated a few days after my birth, but not the original document itself. I called the NVC back and explained that I could only find a photocopy. The operator told me to make extra copies of the photocopy, send one to them, and work on getting a certified copy before the interview.
This is exactly what I did. I have since got in contact with my birth family for the first time in almost 25 years and obtained an official certified copy – not the original and not the same copy that I sent to the NVC (though obviously it has all the same information on). The whereabouts of the original copy remains a mystery to everyone – adopted family, birth family, adoption services etc. At this point I think it's very unlikely to ever be found.
So my question is: is the consular officer likely to take issue with the fact that the certified copy is not exactly the same as the photocopy I sent to the NVC. The date of issuance is different and one is typed, the other handwritten but all the other information (DOB, parents names, place of birth etc.) is exactly the same.
I literally don't know what I would do if they were to take issue as, like I said, I don't see the other copy ever being found.
Hope that all made sense and thanks for any advice.
However, the wording of one part of the NVC email has worried me.
It first states that the originals for all documents submitted to the NVC should be brought to the interview. It then says if you do not bring all the originals to the interview the consular officer will reschedule your interview.
My issue with that is that when I initially submitted documents to the NVC they replied saying they wanted to see the birth certificate with my birth parents names on. I was adopted when I was just a few weeks old and had initially sent them the birth certificate with my (adopted) parents names on. This panicked me slightly as I had never been asked by anyone to see the other certificate before and didn't know where it was.
After rummaging around in my parents study one afternoon I found a black and white photocopy of a certified copy of a birth certificate dated a few days after my birth, but not the original document itself. I called the NVC back and explained that I could only find a photocopy. The operator told me to make extra copies of the photocopy, send one to them, and work on getting a certified copy before the interview.
This is exactly what I did. I have since got in contact with my birth family for the first time in almost 25 years and obtained an official certified copy – not the original and not the same copy that I sent to the NVC (though obviously it has all the same information on). The whereabouts of the original copy remains a mystery to everyone – adopted family, birth family, adoption services etc. At this point I think it's very unlikely to ever be found.
So my question is: is the consular officer likely to take issue with the fact that the certified copy is not exactly the same as the photocopy I sent to the NVC. The date of issuance is different and one is typed, the other handwritten but all the other information (DOB, parents names, place of birth etc.) is exactly the same.
I literally don't know what I would do if they were to take issue as, like I said, I don't see the other copy ever being found.
Hope that all made sense and thanks for any advice.
#2
Re: Birth certificate query for interview
The only 'original' is the register itself. All certificates issued by the GRO are copies. Your 'original' birth certificate is simply the copy that was made at the time of your birth was registered. Providing you now have a new certified copy from the GRO then they shouldn't have any problems with that.
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 35
Re: Birth certificate query for interview
The only 'original' is the register itself. All certificates issued by the GRO are copies. Your 'original' birth certificate is simply the copy that was made at the time of your birth was registered. Providing you now have a new certified copy from the GRO then they shouldn't have any problems with that.
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Birth certificate query for interview
Except for your name, address, and case number, the rest of the entire letter is boilerplate language. Everyone gets the same letter regardless of circumstances. Your concern seems to be with something that is not actually directed at you specifically. As BritInParis suggests, what you have should be fine.
Ian
Ian