Trouble with Chinese Notarial Certificate

[Davidjgrey 6]

My wife is Canadian and born in China; we are currently waiting for an interview at Montreal. When we were at the NVC stage, we had a lot of trouble getting her birth certificate to be accepted. We have the notarial birth certificate, issued in 2000, with a cover page, the notarial certificate in English and the notarial certificate in Chinese. At first, were told that we were missing a page certifying that the translation was accurate. We used a certified translation service to say that the translation is accurate and added this to our documents. However, it was still not accepted, with the message “Please replace this with an acceptable four-page birth certificate that features two notarial certificates.” So we said the document is not available as that was suggested through calling NVC. With her interview (hopefully) approaching soon, has anyone else run into this issue and will the notarial certificate we have, plus the certifications of translation be acceptable at the embassy interview? 

[RandyW 149]

 

First make sure you have the correct document

 

The notation on the notarial birth certificate is 出生公证书, or chu sheng gong zheng shu, which is what you need to ask for at the Gong Zheng Chu, or 公证处֤֤֤.

A sample Notarial Certificate of Birth may be found at http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/48295-chinese-essential-documents-white-books/?p=626052

Refer them to the DOS reciprocity tables, which specify this format

Chinese Notarial Documents - see DOS China Reciprocity Schedule under the Birth, Death, Burial Certificates heading

 

Quote

 

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: A notarial birth certificate normally contains a watermark, seal, and red stamp. It indicates the applicant’s name, gender, date of birth, ID number, place of birth, and both parents’ names.  NOTE: Notarial birth certificates issued prior to 2012 may not list the ID number. All notarial documents must have an English translation, and be attached with a certificate stating that the English translation is in conformity with the Chinese original.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Notary Public (Gong Zheng Yuan)

Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available.

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents.

 

 

Note that Medical Certificates of Birth - 出生医学证明 (chu sheng yixue zheng ming) were issued beginning around 1993. Even if you have one of these. the consulate has been insisting on the "white book" format from the Gong Zheng Chu, or 公证处֤֤֤. DO NOT use a "certified translation service" for this - Ask for a 出生医学证明公证书, or Chūshēng yīxué zhèngmíng gōngzhèng shū at the Gong Zheng Chu, or 公证处.

A sample medical birth certificate is at http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/48295-chinese-essential-documents-white-books/?do=findComment&comment=628742

Edited March 18, 2021 by RandyW

[Davidjgrey 6]

Yes, the document is the white book, with 公证处 on the cover. The first page is titled “公证处” with her name, birth date, location and parents names, signed by the Qingdao Notary Public Office. The second page is the English translation of the first page.

[RandyW 149]

 

 

You need the notarial birth certificate - 出生公证书, or chu sheng gong zheng shu - this is what it should say on page 2 (the first page inside the booklet).

 

I can't tell for sure what you have, but 公证处 Gong Zheng Chu simply says "Notarial Office".

 

They issue white books for many purposes - yours should say 出生公证书.

 

 

 

Edited March 23, 2021 by RandyW

[Davidjgrey 6]

It was a typo on my end. that’s what I get for writing Chinese at 4 in the morning😄. The cover and first page actually says 公证书, not 公证处。

[RamonGomez 271]

7 hours ago, Davidjgrey said:

It was a typo on my end. that’s what I get for writing Chinese at 4 in the morning😄. The cover and first page actually says 公证书, not 公证处。

 

The white book should have 4 pages:

 

1. Birth Info (in Chinese) (Stamped/Sealed by Notary)

2. Birth Info (English translation)

3. English translation of page 2 conforms to original (in Chinese) (Stamped/Sealed by Notary)

4. English translation of page 2 conforms to original (in English)

 

The nice thing about the white book is it's pre-translated - if you need to translate it, or if there are more/less than 4 pages, you probably have the wrong document.

 

 

Edited March 24, 2021 by RamonGomez

[RandyW 149]

Yes - bottom line here is - YOU NEED TO HAVE THE CORRECT DOCUMENT.

 

A random "公证书, not 公证处" is NOT the correct document. 公证书 simply means notarial certificate. Like I've said, they can produce 公证书, or notarial certificates for ANY purpose.

 

The 出生公证书 is an official Chinese document to be used as a birth certificate for presenting to foreign entities.

 

The Chinese workers at the consulate are trained to recognize this and will reject what you have at document intake.

 

YOU NEED A 出生公证书.

[RandyW 149]

Yes - bottom line here is - YOU NEED TO HAVE THE CORRECT DOCUMENT.

 

A random "公证书, not 公证处" is NOT the correct document. 公证书 simply means notarial certificate. Like I've said, they can produce 公证书, or notarial certificates for ANY purpose.

 

The 出生公证书 is an official Chinese document to be used as a birth certificate for presenting to foreign entities.

 

The Chinese workers at the consulate are trained to recognize this and will reject what you have at document intake.

 

YOU NEED A 出生公证书.

 

Correction - I see that she is actually interviewing in Montreal. You may or may not get by with what you have, depending on how familiar they are with Chinese documentation.. Good luck.