I'm An American/Born Here

What an experience it was trying to get a certified copy of my birth certificate! I need the copy in order to get a NYS Non-Driver's ID. Apparently that is the only ID short of a passport/passport card that can be used as an acceptable form of ID. It is certainly required to cross the border. I need it now in order to be put on a list for an apartment in the suburbs.


They require copies of my Social Security card, birth certificate, and one of three forms of photo ID. I don't have military ID since I have never served and I don't have a passport/passport card or ID from the DMV.

Getting the Social Security card isn't a problem since I have already proved my citizenship with the Social Security Administration and have a Social Security number.

 Obtaining the birth certificate was a little difficult. I provided all of the information and proofs the city required (documents other than passport/NY Non-Driver's ID).

There was a little snag: the Bureau of Vital Statistics could find my vital statistics. I have them my first last and middle names. My father's full name, my mother's maiden name, my date of birth, the name of the hospital I was born in. After several minutes and clerks consulting with their supervisors they found me. My last name was misspelled on my original birth certificate.

Everything else was correct, including the name of my mother's OB/GYN.

What a relief, I had the proof I needed to prove I was born in the US. I opted to get a wallet-sized, laminated photo birth certificate that has my vital statistics (not as detailed as the written copy), a bar code with security information and my photo and finger print.

I also got a print out copy of the original.


Great! I can get the Non-Driver's ID.

Or can I? I went to the NYS DMV website.

Oh brother. A Social Security card is required (no real problem since I only need a replacement card).

A little problem with the birth certificate:( It must be an original with a raised seal (mine has a raised seal), but it must not contain any erasures or alternations. Birth certificates with erasures or alternations will apparently be confiscated and given to the DMV criminal division for criminal investigation.

Good grief! The city of Buffalo crossed out my misspelled last name and printed the correction, noting that it was amended.

So I'm not sure what to do with this. I'm still trying to get in touch with either the county or state DMV. Lots of luck getting a prompt to speak with a living person or a prompt on the automated system that applies to my situation. I plan on just going in and applying for the Non-Driver's ID. I had one a few years ago. I had a Non-Driver's ID but it expired in 2008 and I never renewed it.


The proofs they require are tougher now. Social Security card is mandatory as well as a birth certificate. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they accept the amended birth certificate and it's not confiscated or the subject of an investigation since I am not the one that amended it in the first place.

The original birth certificate was interesting though sad to read. I was born when my mother was 35 (dad 43) at 39 weeks gestation. What's sad is the part about other children.

A. How many other children are now living? (2--my brother and sister).

B.How many other children were born alive but are now dead (1)

C. How many children were still born (born dead after 20 weeks of pregnancy)? (1).

How sad for my mother!! I knew she had a miscarriage and always wondered the gender but I had no idea at all that I had a sibling that was born dead and a sibling that was born alive.