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OBTAINING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OR DIVORCE DECREE
The State Department, in its Foreign Affairs Manual, provides detailed
information regarding the availability of birth certificates, marriage
certificates and divorce decrees for each country. INS examiners and
consular officers rely on the information contained in the Foreign Affairs
Manual. Below is a listing of a few of the most commonly addressed issues
from the Foreign Affairs Manual.
INDIA
a) Birth certificates:
Available. Prior to 1970, reporting of births was voluntary. Birth
certificates of Europeans, Anglo-Indians, Armenian Christians, Jews and
Parsis born prior to 1970 may be obtained from the State Registrar General
of Births, Deaths and Marriages. No standard or uniform certificate is
issued by the authorities. In addition, acceptable certificates may be
obtained from the municipal and rural registration records which are
maintained under the state laws.
In cases where birth certificates are unavailable or contain insufficient
information regarding the birth or the parents, a sworn affidavit executed
by either of the parents, if living, or other close relatives older than the
applicant, may be submitted. Such affidavit, when a birth certificate is
unavailable, should be accompanied by a document from a competent
governmental authority confirming that the certificate does not exist.
b) Marriage Certificate:
Available. The Hindu and Muslim Communities do not usually register
marriages; however, marriages by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs may be
voluntarily registered under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955.
A document termed as 'Marriage Agreement" or "Deed of Marriage" is not
considered confirmation of a marriage and does not confer upon the parties
legal marital status.
c) Divorce Decree:
Available.
SOUTH AFRICA
a) Birth Certificate:
Available. Applicants should submit their requests directly to the
Department of Home Affairs, Private Bag X114, Pretoria 0001, and should
request a "long-form" birth Certificate, which lists the details on the
parents. The request should also specify that an English copy is desired.
b) Marriage Certificate:
Available. All applicants should apply to the Department of Home Affairs,
Private Bag X114, Pretoria 0001 and should furnish the names of both parties
and the date and place of marriage.
d) Divorce Decree:
Available. Application should be made to the Registrar of the Supreme Court
located in the magisterial district where the divorce was obtained.
PHILIPPINES
a) Birth Certificate:
Available. A certified copy of birth registration can be obtained from the
local civil registrar at the place of birth. Local Civil Registrar records
are often incomplete and it is therefore necessary to accept baptismal
certificates or affidavits from two persons who have personal knowledge of
the birth.
b) Marriage Certificate:
Available. Certified copies can be obtained from the local civil registrar
of the place where the marriage occurred.
c) Divorce Decree:
Available. Certified copies can be obtained from the appropriate court.
Divorce was recognized in the Philippines between March 11, 1917 and August
29, 1950; since the latter date, courts have been empowered to grant legal
separation but not divorce.
UNITED KINGDOM
a) Birth Certificate:
Available. Application should be made in the district in which the birth was
originally registered. The long-form certificate should be requested as the
short-form certificates do not contain the parent's name.
b) Marriage Certificate:
Available. Application should be made to the district in which the marriage
occurred.
c) Divorce Decree:
Available.
CANADA
a) Birth Certificate:
Available. Application should be made in the district in which the birth was
originally registered. The long-form certificate should be requested as the
short-form certificates do not contain the parent's name.
b) Marriage Certificate:
Available. Application should be made to the district in which the marriage
occurred.
c) Divorce Decree:
Available.
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