Regarding the birth certificate, I was in a similar situation as you. I was also born in Vietnam and left the country almost 30 years ago without a birth certificate. The instructions on Packet 4 require the petitioner's birth certificate. I sent my wife (fiancee back then) a copy of my naturalization certificate and passport bio page. At the interview, they never asked her for my birth certificate. They did, however, keep the copy of the naturalization certificate and passport. I think the consulate is aware of people in our situation that do not have birth certificates. My opinion is that they want the birth certificate to prove that we are not trying to bring our own siblings over. You know how common last names are in Vietnamese. My wife and I and all our parents all have different last names so I think it wasn't an issure for them. I could be wrong.
If you do get a blue slip for the birth certificate (I'm hoping you don't), I heard that you can get the local officials (if the price is right) in Vietnam to issue you a statement that your birth ceriticate cannot be generated. I think the consulate will accept this statement. You may want to check on that.
We got our interview date
in Asia: East and Pacific
Posted
kvtran -
Regarding the birth certificate, I was in a similar situation as you. I was also born in Vietnam and left the country almost 30 years ago without a birth certificate. The instructions on Packet 4 require the petitioner's birth certificate. I sent my wife (fiancee back then) a copy of my naturalization certificate and passport bio page. At the interview, they never asked her for my birth certificate. They did, however, keep the copy of the naturalization certificate and passport. I think the consulate is aware of people in our situation that do not have birth certificates. My opinion is that they want the birth certificate to prove that we are not trying to bring our own siblings over. You know how common last names are in Vietnamese. My wife and I and all our parents all have different last names so I think it wasn't an issure for them. I could be wrong.
If you do get a blue slip for the birth certificate (I'm hoping you don't), I heard that you can get the local officials (if the price is right) in Vietnam to issue you a statement that your birth ceriticate cannot be generated. I think the consulate will accept this statement. You may want to check on that.