As of April 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of State has increased it’s restrictions on valid birth certificates.
They now require all applicants provide certified birth certificates that list the full names of the applicant’s parent(s), regardless of the applicant's age. Birth certificates that do not contain this information cannot be used as primary evidence of citizenship, making the application invalid.
In addition to this requirement, certified copies of birth certificates must also include the following information to be considered acceptable primary evidence of U.S. citizenship:
* Full name of the applicant
* Date of birth
* Place of birth
* Raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal of issuing authority
* Registrar’s signature
* The date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office (must be within one year of birth)
These are considered "long form" birth certificates. Most registrars do issue this type of passport standard.
On occasion, if the Passport Agency determines your birth certificate IS certified, but does not contain all of the information it should (a short form certificate), you may be issued a "limited validity" passport that is good for one year. If you are issued a limited validity passport, it can be reissued with a full ten years of validity for free, so long as you provide the proper birth certificate.
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