OBC's and Passports?

Question

lately, I've heard a few things about not being able to get a passport with a birth certificate stamped as "amended". Why would the OBC matter if they weren't issuing a passport in that name, anyway? the person on the OBC is no longer a legal entity and can't be issued anything -- SS# won't match up, etc.

also, were you able to obtain the passport with the amended birth certificate after explaining adoption and sealed records? or did you have to open your records under the "good cause" clause?

Answer 1

I was adopted at the age of 3. So my obc would have been amended 3-4 years after my birth & I had no problems what so ever  in canada getting my passport. I also had no problems when I was in europe & lost my passport & had to get a new one from the canadian embassy.

Answer 2

It can be a problem for people if the amended b.c. was filed over 1 year after the birth.  In my  case, it was over 2 years after the birth.  So, this affects people who were adopted and the adoption took a long time, or those adopted older than infancy.  It also can affect those who simply didn't get a birth certificate filed for a long time for whatever reason.  For some older people in particular, this has been an issue.

There is a process of paperwork, yada, yada that a person can go through to have the situation rectified.  It's a big pain in the rear.  The OBC alone wouldn't help, either, for the reasons you are giving.

ETA:  I should have added that it's pretty much a United States issue that really took off after the Homeland Security Act.

I'd get everything you can to help with identification purposes for your child.  Anything to help them see that the reason for the very late filing date is due to adoption.

Answer 3

That is more than likely a myth and not much truth to it. My BC is amended and was done so 2 almost 3 years after my birth, my daughter's BC was amended at age 1 and both of us have current US passports and Romanian Visas. We never had a problem and in fact it was never even brought up. My Passport is 3 years old and my daughter's is almost a year old.

Answer 4

I'm thankful that I got my passport over 10 years ago so I don't have to put up with the new rules.  US Passport Services does not recognize the difference between an amended birth certificate and a delayed birth certificate.  A delayed birth certificate must list ON ITS FACE the documents provided - baptismal certificate, affidavits, etc.

An amended birth certificate does not have a list of documents on its face.  And the ABC is filed when the adoption is final.  I was placed at 5 months but it took another 15 months for my adoption to be final.

NY adoptees have gotten help from the NYS Adoption Registry in getting US Passport Services to listen to reason.  For a recent international adoption - the adoptive parents will have all the papers necessary to support the US passport application.   Most US adult adoptees from the 1940s-1960s do not have anything beyond their amended birth certificate - and never needed anything else, until now.

Answer 5

I have never seen a BC stamped amended.  Unless you were involved in the adoption, you wouldn't know it was amended.

Answer 6

Because the amended birth certificates are different that the regular birth certificates, the State Department questions them.  Mine is not complete.  It doesn't have the date filed.  That makes them suspicious.  I know of a story of an adoptee in Washington who had to open his records to prove he was a U.S.citizen.  If you do adopt 12/13 year old, make sure you have both.  You will be given the third degree on that child.  You know we adoptees are all possible terrorists.

Answer 7

You shouldn't have any problems at all. Good luck.  :)

Answer 8

Our daughter, whom we adopted at age 13 from Colombia, had no problem whatsoever in getting a USA passport.

When we mailed in the application at the passport clerk's window at the post office, the clerk advised us to include the copy of the US court decree recognizing the foreign adoption, the Texas birth certificate, the Colombian passport that had the immigration visa included, the passport application form and the fee. We did just that and about 2 weeks later we received all our documents back plus the USA passport.