My spouse (petitioner) is an American Citizen and I am a British Citizen (beneficiary). We are living together in the UK Currently, and want to apply for the I-130 in order to immigrate to the US. I do not have a birth certificate.
I was born in Afghanistan and immigrated to the UK as an infant. There is no record of my birth in Afghanistan. No Birth or Hospital records. It says I was born in Afghanistan on my passport but that is it. I have reached out to the Afghan Embassy in UK and they told me they can provide Birth Certificate copies, but that I needed my Afghan ID card, which I never had since I was just born there. They told me that I can apply for the Afghan ID card at the Afghan Embassy, however they are not running this service due to the events that unfolded in Afghanistan. There is no date in which they will resume this service, and it has been months now since Afghanistan was overthrown by the Taliban. Now I am stuck with no means to get a birth certificate.
The department of state says the following about Birth certificates for Afghan Nationals:
Birth Certificates
Available:
Not required for IV purposes, see Comments below
Fees: There are no fees.
Document Name: Kart Tawalod (Da Zokry Sanad)
Issuing Authority: Clinics and hospitals
Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: yellow card
Issuing Authority Personnel Title: administrative staff
Registration Criteria: Issued for children who were delivered at a registered clinic or hospital.
Procedure for Obtaining: Parents must present their tazkeras (national identity documents) to the appropriate staff at the clinic or hospital where the child was born.
Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are available.
Alternate Documents: After issuance at the hospital, Kart Tawalods may be registered with the Ministry of Interior’s Population Registration Department and a record is also kept by the Ministry of Public Health. The kart tawalod is not the primary means of establishing identity or citizenship in Afghanistan – rather it is considered as supplemental evidence of birth. The tazkera (national identity document) is the principle document used in official settings for proof of identity, citizenship, and also used as a quasi-birth record. All Afghan applicants applying for U.S. immigrant, special immigrant, or other such visas must present a tazkera, regardless of whether they also choose to submit a kart tawalod.
Exceptions: None
Comments: All Afghan citizens should be able to present a tazkera (national identity document) as proof of their identity and their birth place. Kart tawalod may be considered as supplementary documentation but should not be utilized as primary evidence of date and/or place of birth or identity. Please refer to the National ID section for information on tazkeras.
Does anyone have any advice for alternatives to beneficiary birth certificate for I-130?
My list of potential alternatives to a birth certificate:
A Detailed written explanation why Beneficiary is unable to obtain a birth certificate
A letter from the Afghan Embassy explaining why they are not running the services needed to obtain a Tazkera.
School and medical records from the UK showing my parents' names
Notarised Affidavits of Births from my parents and myself.
I don't have any hospital records, cencus or any other record from Afghanistan. The US State Dept website says that Birth Certificates from Afghanistan are "Not required for IV purposes" (Immigrant Visa?) I'm not sure what this means for me, and the evidence I have to provide. I assume they want the Tazkera.
Any help is much appreciated.
Sources:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Afghanistan.html
https://citizenpath.com/faq/evidence-birth-green-card/
