Does anyone know if you need a long form birth certificate if you're adopted? Our lawyer says my SO probably won't be able to obtain one b/c it contains information on the birth parents which is most likely protected (and I know my SO had no desire to locate them or find this information anyway). Anyone been through this situation before?

I am adopted and all that was required from me was the New Birth Certificate but im not the beneficiary

Hi,

Note: For cases in which the subject of a birth record was adopted, see "Adoption Records" below.

Adoption Records
For adoptions in Canada, provincial and territorial vital statistics authorities usually alter original records to obscure the names of birth parents. Therefore, birth certificates issued to applicants who were adopted likely will not accurately reflect the circumstances of their birth.

Access to pre-adoption birth records and adoption orders is restricted by provincial law, and the availability of such records varies by province or territory. In general, provinces and territories will release adoption records to adopted children if the birth parents do not object. However, there may be lengthy delays as the province or territory attempts to contact the birth parents or gives them an opportunity to object to the release of information.

Due to the difficulty in obtaining adoption records, U.S. diplomatic posts in Canada usually do not require adopted applicants to obtain their adoption records for visa purposes unless the adoption record is essential to demonstrating the relationship through which a benefit is claimed. However, U.S. posts reserve the right to request them if the circumstances of the case require it. Applicants who need to obtain pre-adoption birth records and adoption orders should use the contacts listed below. link

Thank you so much for that info Trailmix!! I really appreciate it, as I was starting to stress!

So, do you think we'd just provide whatever adoption papers his adoptive mom has?

Like Trailmix said, if you get his long form birth certificate it will be altered to read his adoptive parents as his mother and father. I'm not sure what province you're in, but I know that in Alberta that is what they do. The adoptive parents bring the adoption records in and the birth certificate is altered to show the adoptive parents as the parents. This is how we did it at the registries here. I can't imagine that the other provinces would be too different. I do believe that the US government just needs the long form birth certificate the way that it is now, with the adoptive parents on it.

ETA: Having whatever papers his adoptive mom has could never hurt! I always say the more prepared the better!

I see, I think I was confused... so we still DO need the long form? I guess I thought we would not be able to get it. But we can, and it will just be altered?

Thank you for your answers!

You should be able to get the long form birth certificate no problem. It should be altered to reflect the adoptive parents on the certificate. What province are you in?

I think it's a better idea to have the birth certificate, which is asked for in Packet 3, and the adoption papers rather than just the papers themselves. I think they're going to need a birth certificate either way.

My SO is in Ontario. I was just concerned that it might be a problem to get the certificate. Our lawyer started filling out the form but did not have all the info, so we will need to do it. But I don't know if he knows what hospital he was born at or his birth weight or the other things the online application is asking for.
I agree with you that it's better to have it; I'm just concerned about the ability to obtain it, concerning our limited knowledge of the details of his birth.

Well, usually the people at the registries are able to pull up the birth registration with a little bit of information. I know in Alberta the full name, birth date, and parents names were usually all that was needed to at least try to pull up a little information. We could usually match it after that, even if they didn't know where their parents were born, etc.

Just so we're correct here, you need to get the long form birth certificate which says his name, mom's name, dad's name, and where each of them was born. As far as I know, the hospital isn't on the certificate, nor is his birth weight etc. That would be more like the certificate of live birth, which isn't needed.

You know, here in Alberta you could always call the vital statistics number and explain the situation and then ask what is needed exactly. I bet that there's a 1-800 number on the online application and you could give them a call. If you explain why you need it and what information you have exactly I'm sure they'll be able to help you or at least give you a little more information.

I hope that helps!

Okay, it wouldn't let me edit my last post so, I looked at the website and the amount of info they ask for is crazy! The amount of info that's actually on the certificate is kind of crazy too!

If I were you I'd give them a phone call. I found this number here: Toll Free: 1-800-461-2156 (Ontario Only)

Hopefully it helps.

Okay, also when looking at the application, only the spots that have '*' by them are required. If you don't know the other information it's alright, but it will just be a little more difficult to find. As for Mother and Father's names I'd put the names of the adoptive parents.

I know, all the stuff they're asking for is a crazy amount! I just wish I didn't feel like every little step of every part of this process was a headache, that's all. *sigh*

Thank you so very much for your help.

It is all a headache, but just imagine how great it will feel once the headache goes away! ~giggles~ Like the best painkiller out there. Just take it one step at a time and it will all get done!

No problem! I'm here to help. Good luck. I'm sure everything will be just fine.

You are so right and that is what I need to remind myself of whenever I feel stressed.

btw, just noticed some similarities in our timelines:

both of our SO's birthday's are in march (Scott's is today actually)
we both sent back P3 on the 13th
we both have medicals scheduled for the 27th

But you are lucky lucky going through Vancouver. Good luck to the both of you as well!

Thanks! That's neat to have our timelines be pretty similar! I actually have to take that medical date out! I was going to have it done here in Edmonton but that doctor no longer does immigration medicals anymore. SO, I'll have it done in Vancouver the day before the interview! That's a little bit scary, but it will be just fine!

You guys have been waiting for a long time! It's almost over. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Montreal isn't moving nearly as slow as it was before, thank goodness for that!

Ooh that is a bit stressful, but I'm sure it will be fine! So much of this stuff just seems like a giant (stupid) formality anyway.
Yes, we have been waiting a long time. Our lawyer told us Montreal is taking 4-5 months but I have been watching Liz's spreadsheet like a hawk and am really really hoping it'll happen in May or June.
*fingers crossed*

definelty i expect mid may too if the recent liz timeframe keep on going well

in the packet 3 they say in the supplemental information on obtaining required doc that...
adoption certificates : if you were adopted, please submit the original or a court certified copy of the adoption decree.

I wonder if you need that extra of the birth certificate.

Really?! See, my SO is the one who got P3, so I have not actually read it. Thank you so much for mentioning that Melusine! I will have him look it over for sure.
And yeah, I don't want to *expect* mid-May, but I am certainly hoping hoping hoping for it.

My fingers are definitely crossed for all of you waiting for Montreal interviews! I myself am hoping for a mid-April interview. Actually, I INTEND to have a mid-April interview. I'm an optimist now you see!

woohooo ! medical today ! we'll wait for a review !
Also, i sent them an email about some kind of adoption certificate too (but from france so it is different).

explain them the situationand they should answer exactly what you need

Yes, the medical is all done, woohoo! I would write a review but I am the USC and unfortunately my SO is just not as detailed as me, so I don't have much to share. Basically he said he had to get a bunch of shots that cost about $80 because he couldn't get his records, and he was there for 3 hours. He went to Medisys, and had to go to 2 places because they do the x-rays somewhere else. (I'm sure I've read that before but for anyone who wasn't aware, there it is). And the stuff will be ready for him to pick up on Monday, so that seems like a pretty good turn-around. Whereas he also asked for his police records yesterday and they told him 2 weeks.

On another note... our P3 seems to be missing, and I've been freaking out today.

I called DOS this morning and they said they sent us a letter TODAY about our NOA2 expiring tomorrow and how if they don't hear from us they are going to destroy our case! The woman I spoke with actually used that word: destroy. eeeeek. I tracked our Fedex and I know it arrived on Friday morning 2 weeks ago, March 14th, so I just dont' know what the problem is. I'm having our lawyer look into it -- though many people seem to have very bad experiences with lawyers, I'm happy to have one. Right after calling DOS I got super busy at work and couldn't deal with this stuff, and I guess I felt a little better knowing someone else was looking into it. Though overall, obviously I'm really not happy with the situation. I wonder if this will set us back... I guess it probably will. Damnit.