Birth Certificate and Tourist Visa

[ariyamannil]

There is so much confusion after VFS guidelines included Original Birth Certificate of the sponsor as required document for obtaining visitor visas at all the consulates. People get confused since many do not have original birth certificates and sometimes it is a pain obtaining that in short notice. Also things gets complicated if the birth certificate and passport do not match exactly. I sent an email to chennai consulate recently and got two responses saying birth certificate is not needed.

So I am starting this thread to share experiences. Please let me know if the VO really asked for the birth certificate and the decision was made based on that.

Please see the attached email from chennai consulate. (The color and size of the email data changed in the post)


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From : Chennai, NIV <[email protected]>
Sent : Thursday, July 20, 2006 3:32 AM
To : "Jobi Ariyamannil" <*edited*>
Subject : RE: Birth certificates for Tourist visa

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For tourist visas, birth certificates are not needed.

Visa Information Unit
American Consulate General
Chennai 600006, India
Telephone: 91 44 2857 4242
Fax: 91 44 2811 2027
Website: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov

Another email
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From : Chennai, NIV <[email protected]>
Sent : Thursday, July 20, 2006 3:31 AM
To : "Jobi Ariyamannil" <*edited*>
Subject : RE: Birth certificates for Tourist visa

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We dont require the birth certificate. Any documents to show the proof of relationship is accepted/.

Visa Information Unit
American Consulate General
220, Anna Salai
Chennai 600 006
India
Phone - 91-44-28574000/28574242
Fax - 91-44- 28112020
Website - http://chennai.usconsulate.gov





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From: Jobi Ariyamannil [mailto:<*edited*>]
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 4:21 AM
To: Chennai, NIV
Subject: Birth certificates for Tourist visa


Hi,

I have scheduled tourist visa appointments for my parents-in-law at the Chennai consulate. On this regard I would like to know whether it is manadatory to present the original birth certificate of my spouse to obtain the tourist visas for them ?
Are there any other accepted documents on this regrad (baptismal certificate, matriculation certificate, sworn in affidavits) ?

Regards,
Jobi Ariyamannil

[immihelp]

The decision of consular officer is final and you have to believe whatever they say.

VFS guidelines say that birth certificate is required. If you have any problems with birth certificate, read https://www.immihelp.com/birth-certi...ion-and-visas/

[parentsvisa_m]

Birth certificate and tourist visa

If the only document I have to prove relationship is birth certificate, do I need to copy of it. I understand that we dont need original, but copy is atleast required, right?

[immihelp]

Original is required.