(Vanity) Replacing a Foreign Birth Certificate with a US Birth Certificate

[PigRigger]

My daughter was born in China, we adopted her 3 years ago; we live in New York State. We are looking to replace her Chinese Birth Certificate with a US recognized Birth Certificate....anyone in the FR community been through this process that can point us in the right direction?

[PigRigger]

I've been on the phone all day with the INS and CDC...still no luck...

[lsucat]

We had to go through a "readoption" proceeding in court in order to get U.S. birth certificates for our foreign-born children. I think a good resource for your state would be your local Families with Children from China group. Good luck. We hired a lawyer to take care of it, but in some states you can do the paperwork yourself. Our costs were minimal.

[wideawake]

If she was born in China how can you possibly obtain a document from a US state claiming she was born in that state?

I don't understand what you're trying to accomplish.

Why not just get a translator to translate the certificate and have the translation notarized?

[T Minus Four]

I googled "China adoption" and found a wealth of web sites and support groups. Good luck! I bet she's a cutie-pie :-)

[Modernman]

Out of curiosity, what are you trying to accomplish by getting her an American birth certificate? (If that'e even possible)

[lsucat]

You don't get a document saying she was born in the U.S. You get a U.S. birth certificate that states her place of birth as China and lists the adoptive parents as the parents for things like school registration, etc.

[Quilla]

I'd try the US Department of State, Office of Children's Issues, 1-888-407-4747.

[old and tired]

In our state, Pennsylvania, you can readopt the children through your county. It really doesn't cost much. You fill out some papers, you get a court date and it's a done deal.

Did you ever file for your daughter's citizenship papers?

[Clemenza]

While I wish you good luck in your quest to get the certificate, I was wondering why you chose China over other countries.

In any event, aay you and your child have a wonderful life together.

[Constitution Day]

Can you help PigRigger?

[trebb]

I don't think it can be done - my daughter was born in Italy when I was stationed there and the State Department (Cap Weinberger at the time) signed paperwork saying she was a U.S. citizen, but the birth certificate remains Italian and is from Brindisi, Italy.

[lsucat]

It also lists the child's legal name, which is legally changed in the readoption proceeding. I wouldn't want to try to register my son for school, etc, who has the name we gave him, with his Vietnamese birth certificate which lists a different name.

Also, while there is now a law that says my children are U.S. citizens since I adopted them, the U.S. birth certificate has a stamp that says "Not Proof of U.S. Citizenship." So, now I have to apply for another piece of paper to clear that up.

[PigRigger]

We've met other families that have had their child's Chinese birth certificates "converted" to US recognized document. Unfortunately, we've lost their number.

We are trying to get all things squared away before she starts school full time....we've heard stories about problems arising concerning foreign birth certificates....just a precaution on our part....

[stuartcr]

White-out and a scanner?

[txroadkill]

Requesting a Copy of a Consular Report of Birth

If you were born in a foreign country to a U.S. citizen parent or parents, and your parent registered your birth at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the form of a Consular Report of Birth (Form FS-240), and you would like evidence of your birth and United States citizenship, you should submit a written request which includes the following five items:


Your full name at birth, and date and country of birth.
Parents' full names, including mother's maiden name, and their dates and places of birth and nationality.
A daytime telephone number.
You or your parents’ signature. A legal guardian's signature is acceptable only when accompanied by a certified copy of the guardianship papers or court order of adoption.
A $40 fee per document. (Check or money order made payable to the Department of State.)
All requests should be mailed to:

Passport Services
Correspondence Branch
Suite 510
1111 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20522-1705

[T Minus Four]

I was wondering why you chose China

I betcha because China tends to kill off all the "surplus" baby girls. Which means most of them.

[PigRigger]

We re-adopted her already; also received citizenship papers....the birth certificate is just the last thing we need to put to bed...for our own sanity...

[HEY4QDEMS]

If she was born in China how can you possibly obtain a document from a US state claiming she was born in that state?

Actually it would be issued by a consulate representative of the federal government. It is a Birth Certificate of a "US Citizen Born Abroad". I used to work with a man born Laos who was adopted by Americans when he was a child, he has such a document and it is recognized as a legal proof of citizenship.

[evets]

You must be 'born again'.

[Quilla]

Two of my sisters were born in London when my father was stationed there with the Air Force. I have copies of their Report of Birth, Child Born Abroad of American Parent or Parents (Form 240). They have used these forms as their official US birth certificates for passports, etc.