How to get birth certificate?

[MARM 7]

The original birth certificate for my fiance is in really bad condition (does not have his name on it, poorly written, etc.). I wanted to know how to obtain a new one for him in Karachi, Pakistan. Anyone have any ideas?

ALSO, I wanted to mention that we are showing my fiance's metric/school certificates as well as his mother's affidavit of his birth for him and also the original birth certificate in bad condition at the interview. He is Pakistani citizen but in the UK on student visa.

Does anyone have any recommendations on what we should do in his case since his original birth certificate is in bad condition? Is the affidavit of birth from mother and school certificates fine? Or should we still include his original birth certificate and also get a new one made?

Anyone with similar experiences, I would like to hear from you.

Edited December 15, 2008 by MARM

[YuAndDan 153]

Birth Certificates

Available. Reporting of births is voluntary, and records are not uniformly kept, particularly in rural areas. Almost all records of vital statistics of the Karachi Municipality were burned in 1948. Where a record of birth exists, a certificate to that effect may be obtained from the Registrar of Births and Deaths or the Director of Health Services in the municipality or, in rural areas, from the union council, district council or district health officer. Caution should be used, however, in accepting such certificates, since they frequently do not match the original ledgers. Births also may be registered late. In lieu of a birth certificate, Pakistanis often use school records attested by the headmaster or principal of the school or matriculation certificates, both of which identify the father and the date of birth.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciproc...ocity_3644.html

[MARM 7]

Thank you YuAndDan, I will print out the web page link you have given me here in-case we get questioned about the birth certificate.

[ELW 5]

You should be fine with the documents you have, don't worry!