[old and tired]

we get no validation of First Communion from the Diocese.

I don't know about every diocese, but I can tell you that when my son married about 10 years ago (in Philadelphia), there was an issue of whether or not he had received his First Communion. We'd had it recorded in our family bible so we even knew the date. He'd made his first communion in Metuchen, but the parish of his baptism never recorded it. I'm not sure what happened, but there was some issue of paperwork that involved two different parishes - St. Francis in Metuchen and St. John Baptist in Philadelphia. Eventually, his pastor stepped in for him and the issue was resolved. I'm not sure how, but I do know he would have had problems marrying in the Church without some sort of certification.

[Dominick]

The certificate is signed at the Parish level. It is registered at the parish level, it isn't approved at the diocese. There would be too much paperwork!

I have all my certificates, and kept them, but I can write not to my old diocese but to my home parish. No approval from the Bishop needed. Like I said, shaggy dog story.

Many times, the First Communion isn't a problem for older Catechumens either. A simple letter from a Pastor suffices, especially from overseas.