Missing Birth Certificate Question

Margarita Posted: Apr 30, 2009 09:50 AM

Missing Birth Certificate Question

So I was reading yesterday that in order to get a marriage license I need a proof of identity (passport, driver's license, or employee ID) AND a proof of age (birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or baptism certificate).

Sadly, when my family immigrated from Russia in 1989, my birth certificate was lost and I have no other proof of age (other than my passport which apparently doesn't count).

Do you guys know if there is any way to bypass these requirements?? Anyone else ever have this problem?

julesrbf Posted: Apr 30, 2009 09:51 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

I know in America you can order a new one (because I just did this as my mom can't find mine. Great.) - can you look into if you can do that in Russia? I am sure you can.

GL!

bag19 Posted: Apr 30, 2009 09:54 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Do you know how much it costs to get a new BC?

Margarita Posted: Apr 30, 2009 09:56 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Posted by julesrbf

I know in America you can order a new one (because I just did this as my mom can't find mine. Great.) - can you look into if you can do that in Russia? I am sure you can.

GL!

I tried to contact the Russian Consulate but couldn't get in touch with anyone. I have no idea where to even start!

Update: All the Russian government websites are in Russian duhhhh -- I can't read Russian!!!

thenewmrsharrington Posted: Apr 30, 2009 10:20 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

do you have a baptismal certificate? that's accepted.

Juhgail Posted: Apr 30, 2009 10:22 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

I think the first thing you do is go to city hall. Go to the clerk and find out what your next direction should be.

They know how to help you!

Margarita Posted: Apr 30, 2009 10:22 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Posted by thenewmrsharrington

do you have a baptismal certificate? that's accepted.

\\

No, I'm Jewish -- is it too late to get baptised?

MrsCtobe Posted: Apr 30, 2009 10:24 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Don't panic, I ordered a new one and used it already to get my passport. No Problems!

I got mine from VitalCheck...do a google search or the website...it came in literally two days and worked fine.

MrsCtobe Posted: Apr 30, 2009 10:25 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

oh u were born in russia....sorry, read that after, im not sure how to go about that.

thenewmrsharrington Posted: Apr 30, 2009 10:25 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Posted by Margarita

Posted by thenewmrsharrington

do you have a baptismal certificate? that's accepted.
\\

No, I'm Jewish -- is it too late to get baptised?

i just remembered that my dad ordered a new bc from ireland. you should be able to get a new one from russia once you find your way.

bag19 Posted: Apr 30, 2009 10:32 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

I know you were born in Russia but are you a US citizen? I only ask bc on that website posted by a previous poster there is a link for US citizens born abroad. Maybe that would work?

Margarita Posted: Apr 30, 2009 10:35 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Posted by bag19

I know you were born in Russia but are you a US citizen? I only ask bc on that website posted by a previous poster there is a link for US citizens born abroad. Maybe that would work?

Yup, I'm a citizen. I'm going to try that, thanks!

FutureMrsM Posted: Apr 30, 2009 11:56 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Do you have copies of your naturalization paperwork? Your paperwork/green card can be used... You should definitely have this, right?

Margarita Posted: Apr 30, 2009 11:59 AM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Posted by FutureMrsM

Do you have copies of your naturalization paperwork? Your paperwork/green card can be used... You should definitely have this, right?

Nope, I was a minor so i got naturalized automatically through my mom. Don't have any official documents

I think I've aged 10 years over the course of this wedding planning.

julesrbf Posted: Apr 30, 2009 12:11 PM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Posted by bag19

Do you know how much it costs to get a new BC?

I think it was around $50. I used the VitalChek website that someone else mentioned. It was super easy - they just ask you a couple of verification questions that you'll easily know because they are about YOU!

You can get it rushed for an extra cost but I ordered mine 6 months before my wedding so I wouldn't have to worry.

pa56 Posted: Apr 30, 2009 12:15 PM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Sometimes it all depends on which clerk you get... My birth certificate is in Hindi (since I was born in India) and the clerk just asked my mom for a translation. We didn't get an official translation done, and she was fine with that. I'm not sure other clerks would have accepted my mom's word.

Can you go down to the clerk's office with whatever you have and explain the situation? You may not get a real answer over the phone.

FutureMrsM Posted: Apr 30, 2009 02:06 PM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Did you try contacting the Russian Consulate in NYC? Here's the info below, maybe they can point you in the right direction...

9 East 91st Street, New York, NY 10128
Closest subway station - '86-th street' (trains 4,5,6)
Phone:(212) 348-0926; Fax:(212) 831-9162

Margarita Posted: Apr 30, 2009 02:35 PM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

Posted by FutureMrsM

Did you try contacting the Russian Consulate in NYC? Here's the info below, maybe they can point you in the right direction...

9 East 91st Street, New York, NY 10128
Closest subway station - '86-th street' (trains 4,5,6)
Phone:(212) 348-0926; Fax:(212) 831-9162

Thanks -- I did contact them and they said they could get it in 6-8 months which is way too late. I am banking on the fact that I won't need it if I get my license in the 5 boroughs.

NikkiR515 Posted: Apr 30, 2009 05:42 PM

Re: Missing Birth Certificate Question

When I went to get my marriage license (I went in Manhattan) they didn't even ASK for my birth certificate at all.. They just took my passport and FHs license and that was it.. I read in one place that a birth certificate was required and in another that it was not so you might not even need it! HTH!