New Requirement for U.S. Birth Certificates

Starting on April 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of State will require the below outlined information on all certified birth certificates.

If the information is missing, the certified birth certificate is not acceptable as primary evidence of U.S. citizenship.

Applications already in-process (submitted/accepted) before April 1, 2011 are not affected by this new regulation. Contact the Secondary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship if your birth certificate does not fulfill these requirements.

Original:

• Full name of the applicant;
• Date of birth;
• Full name of parents;
• Signature of the official custodian of birth records;
• Seal of issuing authority;
• The date certificate was filed with the registrar’s office (within one year).
  

Certified Copy:

• Full name of the applicant;
• Date of birth;
• Full name of parents;
• Registrar’s signature;
• Raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal of issuing authority;
• The date certificate was filed with the registrar’s office (within one year).

For more information, contact the U.S. Department of State or see 22 CFR 51.42(a).

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