Birth Certificates submitted to USCIS - Literal / Long Version??

[Travis y Sara 0]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help answer this question. I've been searching these forums and can't really seem to find anything talking about which version of birth certificate USCIS will accept.

My fiance is planning on traveling to the US on her K1 visa and recently picked up a few extra copies of her birth certificate so we can use them for the AOS package. When she picked them up from the registro they asked if she wanted the literal / long form or not. She just said the normal (not long) version would be fine since that's what we submitted with our interview package. Since the interview was in Costa Rica I don't see any problem with them accepting the "short" version but what exactly does USCIS want?

I didn't even know there were different versions of birth certificates. All I know is that mine (US citizen) states the exact place and time of birth with both my parents names and their places of birth. To me that sounds like a long version and I'm not sure what USCIS expects.

Has anyone else gone through this? Which form did you submit? I appreciate any help on this issue. Thanks!

[ricnally 258]

I think you need the long form.

[Travis y Sara 0]

Does Canada have different versions of birth certificates?

[bernice_lii 1]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help answer this question. I've been searching these forums and can't really seem to find anything talking about which version of birth certificate USCIS will accept.

My fiance is planning on traveling to the US on her K1 visa and recently picked up a few extra copies of her birth certificate so we can use them for the AOS package. When she picked them up from the registro they asked if she wanted the literal / long form or not. She just said the normal (not long) version would be fine since that's what we submitted with our interview package. Since the interview was in Costa Rica I don't see any problem with them accepting the "short" version but what exactly does USCIS want?

I didn't even know there were different versions of birth certificates. All I know is that mine (US citizen) states the exact place and time of birth with both my parents names and their places of birth. To me that sounds like a long version and I'm not sure what USCIS expects.

Has anyone else gone through this? Which form did you submit? I appreciate any help on this issue. Thanks!

Birth Certificates

You (and any family members immigrating with you to the United States) must obtain an original birth certificate issued by the official custodian of birth records in your country of birth, showing your date of birth, place of birth, and parentage.

Important Notice: All Immigrant Visa applicants must submit a long form original birth certificate. Short form birth certificates will not be accepted.

The certificate must contain the:

• Your date of birth
• Your place of birth
• Names of both parents
• Indication by the appropriate authority that it is an extract from the official records

Unobtainable birth certificates

If your birth record is not obtainable for any reason, a certified statement must be obtained from the appropriate government authority explaining why your birth record is unavailable. You must also submit secondary evidence such as:

• A baptismal certificate that contains the date and place of birth, as well as both parents names (providing the baptism took place shortly after birth)
• An adoption decree for an adopted child
• An affidavit from a close relative, preferably your mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parents names, and your mother’s maiden name.

Note: An affidavit executed before an official authorized to take oaths or affirmations must also be provided. More specific information is available from the NVC.

(http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html#certificates)

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help answer this question. I've been searching these forums and can't really seem to find anything talking about which version of birth certificate USCIS will accept.

My fiance is planning on traveling to the US on her K1 visa and recently picked up a few extra copies of her birth certificate so we can use them for the AOS package. When she picked them up from the registro they asked if she wanted the literal / long form or not. She just said the normal (not long) version would be fine since that's what we submitted with our interview package. Since the interview was in Costa Rica I don't see any problem with them accepting the "short" version but what exactly does USCIS want?

I didn't even know there were different versions of birth certificates. All I know is that mine (US citizen) states the exact place and time of birth with both my parents names and their places of birth. To me that sounds like a long version and I'm not sure what USCIS expects.

Has anyone else gone through this? Which form did you submit? I appreciate any help on this issue. Thanks!

Birth Certificates

Available. The civil registry of San Jose (Registro Civil) issues certificates of all births in Costa Rica subsequent to January 1, 1888, the date the registry was established. Births prior to that date may be evidenced by a baptismal certificate (Fe de Bautismo) issued by an ecclesiastical authority of the Roman Catholic Church. There may be a fee for this service. If a birth subsequent to that date is found not to be recorded in the Civil Registry, it may usually be recorded therein on the basis of a certification from the civil or ecclesiastical authorities of the place of birth.

This certificate, consisting of a full copy of the entry in the registry, is typed on fiscal paper, headed by the name and title of the issuing official, and bears a revenue stamp. There may be a fee for this service. Also valid is a certified copy of the microfilmed entry in the Civil Registry, as long as the Civil Registrar's official stamp is placed on the back.

Birth records are routinely changed in the case of adoptions to read in the names of the adoptive parents. A birth certificate of an adopted child cannot be distinguished from that of a natural child.

(http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=9147)

Edited August 14, 2013 by bernice1

[Travis y Sara 0]

Ok so that explains it.

Even though the "short" version of the birth certificate that we've already submitted contains the following requested informaton:

• Your date of birth
• Your place of birth
• Names of both parents
• Indication by the appropriate authority that it is an extract from the official records

Have you seen birth certifactes with less??

At any rate it seems safest to submit the long version just because of this statement:

"Important Notice: All Immigrant Visa applicants must submit a long form original birth certificate. Short form birth certificates will not be accepted."

I really appreciate the help with this!

[TBoneTX 45,522]

It's very smart of her to obtain multiple copies of her birth certificate in general, USCIS aside. She'd do well to do the same with every other conceivable "official" document that would be difficult, expensive, or impossible to get from afar: school transcripts, medical & dental records, divorce certificates if applicable, and anything else that comes to mind.

It would be a boon to get two stamped copies of her vaccination record from her clinic or family doctor. This information might come in handy for the AOS.

If she has no driver's license, she should do everything possible to earn one before leaving. If she has one, she should renew it for the longest term possible, right before she leaves.

[RomaSkirsky 6]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help answer this question. I've been searching these forums and can't really seem to find anything talking about which version of birth certificate USCIS will accept.

My fiance is planning on traveling to the US on her K1 visa and recently picked up a few extra copies of her birth certificate so we can use them for the AOS package. When she picked them up from the registro they asked if she wanted the literal / long form or not. She just said the normal (not long) version would be fine since that's what we submitted with our interview package. Since the interview was in Costa Rica I don't see any problem with them accepting the "short" version but what exactly does USCIS want?

I didn't even know there were different versions of birth certificates. All I know is that mine (US citizen) states the exact place and time of birth with both my parents names and their places of birth. To me that sounds like a long version and I'm not sure what USCIS expects.

Has anyone else gone through this? Which form did you submit? I appreciate any help on this issue. Thanks!

Hi, I had heard that the long version isn't always required but that sometimes in the interview you get an official who asks for it. If you don't have the long version and they ask for it, you cannot get a visa approval till you bring it to the consulate and if it takes awhile you may have to make another appointment. I ordered the long version over the phone. Not online because there were people ordering it online and receiving the short version. We had no issues with the long version when we gave that to immigration. Better safe than sorry. Best of luck.

[TicoLover 17]

How can you tell the difference between a long or a short version of the Costa Rican birth certificate from the Registro?

[RomaSkirsky 6]

How can you tell the difference between a long or a short version of the Costa Rican birth certificate from the Registro?

The long version is a smaller piece of paper that has your parents birth information on it, while the short only has your birth information on it. THe short is like a summarized version, but it's the one they usually give everyone. That's one way to tell the difference. This site kinda helps explain it too. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5908585_long_form-vs_-short_form-birth-certificate.html

Edited August 27, 2013 by RomaSkirsky