How do I get a copy of a brith certificate from a US embassy in another country?

Question

I was born to American parents in Australia. I have a birth certificate from the US embassy in Sydney. Since I only have one copy I'd like to get a second copy to lock up in a safe-deposit box.

I'm looking for who to contact inorder to begin the process of getting it.

Mailing address or even a telephone number. Business hours for the US embassy in Sydney. What forms do I need to fill out.

Answer 1

The US emassy does not issue birth certificates.

When you were born your parents should have registered your birth at the US Embassy, or a US Consulate. The Department of State then issued your parents a certificate of birth abroad (depending on the year it's either a FS-240 or a DS-1350) and a US passport for you.

If you need a copy of your certificate fo birth abroad (FS-240/DS1350) you can get it from the Department of State in Washington, DC.

This website has all the information you need.....

http://www.travel.state.gov/family/family_issues/birth/birth_593.html

OBTAINING COPIES OF THE FS-240, DS-1350, AND PANAMA CANAL ZONE BIRTH CERTIFICATES
The DS-1350 or a replacement FS-240 can be obtained by writing to:

Vital Records Section
Passport Services
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 510
Washington, D.C. 20522-1705

A written request must be notarized and must include a copy of valid photo identification of the requester. The written request must include:
(1) full name of child at birth (plus any adoptive names)
(2) date and place of birth
(3) names of parents
(4) serial number, if known, of the FS-240 (on those issued after November 1, 1990) if known
(5) any available passport information
(6) signature of requester and
(7) notarized affidavit for a replacement FS-240 (if applicable).
Note: For Panama Canal Zone (PCZ) birth certificates, just include items (1) through (3).

The fee for an FS-240 is $30. The fees for DS-1350 and PCZ certificates are $30 for the first copy, $20 each additional copy . Make check or bank draft drawn on a bank in the United States, or money order, payable to the "Department of State." The Department will assume no responsibility for cash lost in the mail. Documents will be provided to the person who is the subject of the Report of Birth, the subject’s parents, the subject’s legal guardian, authorized government agency, or a person who submits written authorization from the subject of the Report of Birth.

Answer 2

Yes. They can apply at the nearest consulate (or consular section of the embassy) of the country they are in. They should already have passports if they were born in the US as all US citizens are required to enter and leave the US with a US passport. If they left the US using another passport in order to retain citizenship of that country they would lose that citizenship. The parents could be charged with immigration fraud by the other country depending on the way the laws are written. They could also be charged in the US with removing US citizens from the country without a US passport. The children shouldn't have a problem though. For example in order for US born children to have Indian citizenship, after they leave the country, they must be removed from the country illegally (without a US passport). If the parents then apply for a US passport the children will lose their Indian citizenship. Good Luck!

Answer 3

As Yak already wrote, you can't get a copy of your report of birth from the Embassy: they sent the file to the State Department shortly after it was issued. Here is how to get a copy now:
http://www.travel.state.gov/family/family_issues/birth/birth_593.html
about 2/3 of the way down the page where it says, "Obtaining Copies of the FS-240..."

Answer 4

here's the website for the US Consulate in Sydney -

http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/sydney/

and here's their "contacts" page -

http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/sydney/contact.html

Answer 5

A Private Courier would be the safest bet.

Answer 6

Yak Rider BRAVO!!! You are a professional!