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Foreign Birth Registration

Forum to discuss all things Blarney | Ireland immigration

Moderators: Casa, push, JAJ, ca.funke, Amber, zimba, vinny, Obie, EUsmileWEallsmile, batleykhan, meself2, geriatrix, John, ChetanOjha, archigabe, Administrator

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Fbrlad
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:57 pm
Aruba

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Fbrlad » Sun Jan 12, 2020 10:00 pm

Problem is the guy behind the phone is a call-center sort of employee and never passes information to the staff and never gives 100% confirmed answer but about current status of the application. I’ll call tomorrow and see what they say and update ye here.

If anybody been to the same dilemma, please share your experience.

mayorob
Newly Registered
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:52 pm

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by mayorob » Sun Jan 12, 2020 10:10 pm

brainiacghost wrote:
Sun Jan 12, 2020 1:43 am
mayorob wrote:
Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:47 pm
Happy Friday to me! Just received the email asking for my confirmation of address. For those wondering, my application was sent on 15th March straight to Dublin, and I received confirmation of receipt on 20th March. So around 10 months for me.

I assume the next stage is just to await the certificate in the post? Or is there another email before that?
Just out of interest, did you hear anything at all between confirmation of reciept and the confirmation of address email?
Nope not a thing!

PasadenaTom
Member
Posts: 181
Joined: Wed May 02, 2018 2:40 am
United States of America

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by PasadenaTom » Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:15 am

jgclancy wrote:
Sun Jan 12, 2020 6:03 pm
TrishMc wrote:
Sun Jan 12, 2020 5:26 pm
I read on another board that the same witness must be used on all the documents (passport copy, photos, application form itself) for the FBR application package - does anyone know if that is true?
YES! Same witness. -For the photographs he/she can just use a business card if he/she doesn't have a stamp.

The witness has to sign the application form, sign and date 2 of the 4 photos(and use a stamp or include a business card) & sign a copy your ID (passport /driver license).SAME WITNESS for all three.
My passport copy was notarized by one person. My application and the photos were signed by someone else - an attorney/barrister. I was entered in the FBR in July 2018 - three months and ten days after my application was received, and with no questions. So different witnesses was not an impediment for me. Perhaps if the application witness and photograph witnesses are different? Or they changed policy.

Jcampbell05
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Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 12:02 am

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Jcampbell05 » Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:16 am

There is some confusion here between witnesses and notaries:

You can use one or multiple noataries for your proof of address and birth certificate documents. All they are doing is saying the photocopy is accurate - as long as they can legally notarise the documents then it’s fine.

But you must use one witness for the application form and passport photos - as this witness may be contacted and is essentially confirming you are legit

Fbrlad
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:57 pm
Aruba

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Fbrlad » Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:15 am

mayorob wrote:
Sun Jan 12, 2020 10:10 pm
brainiacghost wrote:
Sun Jan 12, 2020 1:43 am
mayorob wrote:
Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:47 pm
Happy Friday to me! Just received the email asking for my confirmation of address. For those wondering, my application was sent on 15th March straight to Dublin, and I received confirmation of receipt on 20th March. So around 10 months for me.

I assume the next stage is just to await the certificate in the post? Or is there another email before that?
Just out of interest, did you hear anything at all between confirmation of reciept and the confirmation of address email?
Nope not a thing!
I think that was fine back in 2018 but I read on irish consulate in NZ that since March 2019 it changed and they had to be done by the same person

Fbrlad
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:57 pm
Aruba

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Fbrlad » Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:16 am

Jcampbell05 wrote:
Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:16 am
There is some confusion here between witnesses and notaries:

You can use one or multiple noataries for your proof of address and birth certificate documents. All they are doing is saying the photocopy is accurate - as long as they can legally notarise the documents then it’s fine.

But you must use one witness for the application form and passport photos - as this witness may be contacted and is essentially confirming you are legit
Thats a relief! I really hope that what you say it fine with FBR section

Fbrlad
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:57 pm
Aruba

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Fbrlad » Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:18 am

From irish consulate website in NZ:


Since 28 March 2019 there are some additional requirements for citizenship applications. Please note the following

4 photos of the person to be registered are required. 2 of these are to be signed appropriately, 2 photos are not signed
All certified copies of documents e.g. passport, driver licence must be certified by the same witness who signs your declaration on the application form i.e. you cannot have your GP witness your declaration on the application form and then have your passport certified by a Justice of the Peace. It must be the same witness, with the same signature on all parts of the application

seanhodges
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Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2019 3:40 pm
Mood:

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by seanhodges » Mon Jan 13, 2020 9:03 am

Woo-hoo! I think I'm Irish!
Just received a reply to my request to confirm they had received my two follow-up documents. The lady confirmed that they had been received and that my application has been approved.
The FBR certificate will take 6-10 weeks to come though, due 'volume of applications', so it's touch and go for St Patrick's Day ;-)

Payment taken for application; 12th March 2019
Application received at DFA; 19th March 2019
First email response confirming application being processed, requesting extra documents; 23rd Dec 2019
Confirmation of document arrival and application approval; 13th Jan 2020

Fbrlad
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:57 pm
Aruba

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Fbrlad » Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:31 pm

Update regarding same witness:

Contacted FBR via phone and they confirmed that the witness has to be the same person, and even with notary public certifying the passport, its still not accepted as the notary is not that same witness on the application documents. I told her about the difficulty getting official ID being certified by non notars, but she still said I have to come back to original witness or ask the government to send a confirmation that this is true when it comes to official IDs certifications (Which is much more difficult to convince them to send a formal letter!).

I think I'll come back to the original witness and beg them to certify the passport again. fingers crossed he accepts to certify/witness the passport.

jgclancy
Member of Standing
Posts: 326
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 12:52 am
United States of America

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by jgclancy » Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:42 pm

seanhodges wrote:
Mon Jan 13, 2020 9:03 am
Woo-hoo! I think I'm Irish!
Just received a reply to my request to confirm they had received my two follow-up documents. The lady confirmed that they had been received and that my application has been approved.
The FBR certificate will take 6-10 weeks to come though, due 'volume of applications', so it's touch and go for St Patrick's Day ;-)

Payment taken for application; 12th March 2019
Application received at DFA; 19th March 2019
First email response confirming application being processed, requesting extra documents; 23rd Dec 2019
Confirmation of document arrival and application approval; 13th Jan 2020
CONGRATS Seanhodges!!!! Hopefully,they get that passport to you before St Patrick's Day!
jgclancy

Jcampbell05
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Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 12:02 am

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Jcampbell05 » Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:23 pm

Fbrlad wrote:
Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:31 pm
Update regarding same witness:

Contacted FBR via phone and they confirmed that the witness has to be the same person, and even with notary public certifying the passport, its still not accepted as the notary is not that same witness on the application documents. I told her about the difficulty getting official ID being certified by non notars, but she still said I have to come back to original witness or ask the government to send a confirmation that this is true when it comes to official IDs certifications (Which is much more difficult to convince them to send a formal letter!).

I think I'll come back to the original witness and beg them to certify the passport again. fingers crossed he accepts to certify/witness the passport.
I don't understand why they changed this policy - it was already hard enough to get the witness.
Seems very unnecessary.

TrishMc
Junior Member
Posts: 81
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2020 1:43 am
United States of America

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by TrishMc » Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:27 pm

Jcampbell05 wrote:
Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:23 pm
Fbrlad wrote:
Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:31 pm
Update regarding same witness:

Contacted FBR via phone and they confirmed that the witness has to be the same person, and even with notary public certifying the passport, its still not accepted as the notary is not that same witness on the application documents. I told her about the difficulty getting official ID being certified by non notars, but she still said I have to come back to original witness or ask the government to send a confirmation that this is true when it comes to official IDs certifications (Which is much more difficult to convince them to send a formal letter!).

I think I'll come back to the original witness and beg them to certify the passport again. fingers crossed he accepts to certify/witness the passport.
I don't understand why they changed this policy - it was already hard enough to get the witness.
Seems very unnecessary.
For those of us who have not submitted applications yet, would the simplest path be to use a notary to witness all of the documents (passport, photos and application form)? (USA)

PasadenaTom
Member
Posts: 181
Joined: Wed May 02, 2018 2:40 am
United States of America

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by PasadenaTom » Wed Jan 15, 2020 4:34 am

Fbrlad wrote:
Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:31 pm
Update regarding same witness:

Contacted FBR via phone and they confirmed that the witness has to be the same person, and even with notary public certifying the passport, its still not accepted as the notary is not that same witness on the application documents.
This is also now stated on the DFA website:

Under "Adult Applicant" Section:
"Photocopy of current state-issued ID document (i.e. passport, drivers licence, national identity card) certified as a true copy of the original by application form witness"

Under "Witnesses" Section:
"The same witness should witness the form and two of the photographs and use their official stamp on the form. They should also certify a photocopy of the applicant's state-issued identity document as a true copy of the original".

This was not the case when I applied in April 2018 (I checked my application form, and a copy of the web page from the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.)

PasadenaTom
Member
Posts: 181
Joined: Wed May 02, 2018 2:40 am
United States of America

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by PasadenaTom » Wed Jan 15, 2020 4:54 am

TrishMc wrote:
Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:27 pm
For those of us who have not submitted applications yet, would the simplest path be to use a notary to witness all of the documents (passport, photos and application form)? (USA)
Yes. But it may depend on how well you know the notary and the state where you live. According to the DFA requirements, the notary/witness must be "personally known" to you. According to this FAQ from the American Association of Notaries,
  • "Personal knowledge means that the notary has known the signer for an extended period of time, and the notary is absolutely certain that the signer has the identity claimed. A mere acquaintance can offer no such assurance".
So I guess you have to have known the notary for a while. And you have to live in a state where "personally known" is allowed for identity verification:
  • "The notary statutes in some states do not authorize their notaries public to use “personally known” to verify the identity of a signer".
According to the National Notary Association, California apparently prohibits it entirely. And a handful of others have guidelines as to what is required for personal knowledge. Check this link for more information.

Fbrlad
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:57 pm
Aruba

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Fbrlad » Wed Jan 15, 2020 7:57 am

I contacted FBR again to submit the passport copy with same witness signature and the guy told me thats fine now, however l, because the non-match in witness is only on the passport, its logical that a notary public’s stamp is acceptable because he's certifying and official document and not a photo that its subject to how likely you look alike. Also he mentioned that those incidents are looked into by a human eye and also on country by country basis (they have enough experience to understand every country rules), so its unlikely that they would refuse the application in such case. He gave me hope, albeit slightly late.. he ended up with: your application is not opened at all yet, and not before june or so, so I should wait until then if the case office decides otherwise.

CaitieElise
Newly Registered
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 3:33 am
Australia

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by CaitieElise » Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:35 pm

Hello everyone!

I've been following this forum since mid last year, and it has kept me ever so hopeful! I received some wonderful news last night - my certificate will be approved shortly and will be on its way, so I guess I'm an Irish citizen now!

My timeline is as follows..

Application and payment submitted: 9th March, 2019
Confirmation of documents received at DFA: 21st March, 2019
Confirmation of document arrival and application approval: 14th January, 2020

Has anyone got a rough time frame of how long their certificate took to arrive?

jgclancy
Member of Standing
Posts: 326
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2019 12:52 am
United States of America

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by jgclancy » Wed Jan 15, 2020 1:24 pm

I checked the DFA website and sure enough the wording indicates they want only one witness (singular)

Here is the cut and paste directly from the site:

"Before you send your application form to the relevant office, you must have it witnessed by an appropriate person who is personally know to you but is not a relation.

The same witness should witness the form and two of the photographs and use their official stamp on the form. They should also certify a photocopy of the applicant's state-issued identity document as a true copy of the original.

If the witness does not have an official stamp you should supply a business card for them."

Of course, people will point out that it states the "same witness SHOULD" but not MUST. From all I've read
from various sites I think you SHOULD use just one witness for everything.


jgclancy

Con_Phillips
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Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:00 pm

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Con_Phillips » Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:25 pm

Good evening,

I have just signed up to the website but I have been following this thread for a while.

I was hoping that someone would be able to shed some light and hopefully some reassurance in relation to some queries that I have.

I have recently submitted by FBR application; I posted the documents on the 11th of January this year.

I have a few concerns with my application, the first being my proof of address documents. As I receive all my bills in electronic format and have done for some time, I was limited as to the documents that I could provide (I am not purchasing a home for another year or so and still live with my father, which again, limited the options I had in regards to proof of address documents). With this in mind, I have opted to send a recent letter from the DVLA (dated December 2019, regarding the registration of my new vehicle) and a student loan statement. In addition, as I feared these may be insufficient, I have sent paper statements from the bank, although for some reason, the bank can only send paper statements up to the 31st of July 2019 (thankfully, the letter that came alongside the documents was dated January 2020, so I'm hoping this will suffice), I also downloaded my bank statements from the online banking portal and printed statements from August 2019 to January 2020, to cover the gap. I also sent a certified copy of my driver's licence in addition to a certified copy of my passport, so hopefully this alongside the other documents will be enough to satisfy!

So I guess my first question is, do you think these documents will suffice as proof of address? I was hoping to also send my 18/19 Tax Summary from HMRC but I do not appear to have received one...

My second is in regards to my Grandmother's identification. My Grandma is 96 and not totally compos mentis and doesn't have a valid form of ID. With this in mind, I asked my Mother (who is my Grandma's legal guardian) to have my Grandmother's GP write a letter confirming my Grandma's address, name and date of birth and have it signed and stamped by the GP. I have sent this in place of my Grandma's ID.

Therefore, I was wondering whether anyone had a similar experience of sending such a letter in place of ID and if so, did you run into any additional complications as a result? Does anyone think this could be an issue?

Thanks for your time :D

Sulla
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Posts: 412
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2018 12:29 am
Portugal

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Sulla » Wed Jan 15, 2020 11:17 pm

Con_Phillips wrote:
Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:25 pm
Good evening,

I have just signed up to the website but I have been following this thread for a while.

I was hoping that someone would be able to shed some light and hopefully some reassurance in relation to some queries that I have.

I have recently submitted by FBR application; I posted the documents on the 11th of January this year.

I have a few concerns with my application, the first being my proof of address documents. As I receive all my bills in electronic format and have done for some time, I was limited as to the documents that I could provide (I am not purchasing a home for another year or so and still live with my father, which again, limited the options I had in regards to proof of address documents). With this in mind, I have opted to send a recent letter from the DVLA (dated December 2019, regarding the registration of my new vehicle) and a student loan statement. In addition, as I feared these may be insufficient, I have sent paper statements from the bank, although for some reason, the bank can only send paper statements up to the 31st of July 2019 (thankfully, the letter that came alongside the documents was dated January 2020, so I'm hoping this will suffice), I also downloaded my bank statements from the online banking portal and printed statements from August 2019 to January 2020, to cover the gap. I also sent a certified copy of my driver's licence in addition to a certified copy of my passport, so hopefully this alongside the other documents will be enough to satisfy!

So I guess my first question is, do you think these documents will suffice as proof of address? I was hoping to also send my 18/19 Tax Summary from HMRC but I do not appear to have received one...

My second is in regards to my Grandmother's identification. My Grandma is 96 and not totally compos mentis and doesn't have a valid form of ID. With this in mind, I asked my Mother (who is my Grandma's legal guardian) to have my Grandmother's GP write a letter confirming my Grandma's address, name and date of birth and have it signed and stamped by the GP. I have sent this in place of my Grandma's ID.

Therefore, I was wondering whether anyone had a similar experience of sending such a letter in place of ID and if so, did you run into any additional complications as a result? Does anyone think this could be an issue?

Thanks for your time :D
I am very confident that your proof of address documents will be satisfactory.

As for your issue with the ID, there is a case of this a few pages back in which instructions to source a letter from a GP and proof of address were given. I would just stress that cases of missing or unobtainable ID are rare. As such, I would always recommend calling the FBR section directly and confirming with them that this will be acceptable in your case before proceeding. Also putting an explanatory letter saying that you called an were instructed thus regarding the missing ID would be prudent.

mayorob
Newly Registered
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:52 pm

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by mayorob » Thu Jan 16, 2020 9:30 am

If it helps, I don't have any bills to pay (with the way I pay my rent), so my proof of address was just a bank statement, mobile phone statement and a student loan statement. That was fine :).

Con_Phillips
Newly Registered
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:00 pm

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Con_Phillips » Thu Jan 16, 2020 10:23 am

Sulla wrote:
Wed Jan 15, 2020 11:17 pm
Con_Phillips wrote:
Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:25 pm
Good evening,

I have just signed up to the website but I have been following this thread for a while.

I was hoping that someone would be able to shed some light and hopefully some reassurance in relation to some queries that I have.

I have recently submitted by FBR application; I posted the documents on the 11th of January this year.

I have a few concerns with my application, the first being my proof of address documents. As I receive all my bills in electronic format and have done for some time, I was limited as to the documents that I could provide (I am not purchasing a home for another year or so and still live with my father, which again, limited the options I had in regards to proof of address documents). With this in mind, I have opted to send a recent letter from the DVLA (dated December 2019, regarding the registration of my new vehicle) and a student loan statement. In addition, as I feared these may be insufficient, I have sent paper statements from the bank, although for some reason, the bank can only send paper statements up to the 31st of July 2019 (thankfully, the letter that came alongside the documents was dated January 2020, so I'm hoping this will suffice), I also downloaded my bank statements from the online banking portal and printed statements from August 2019 to January 2020, to cover the gap. I also sent a certified copy of my driver's licence in addition to a certified copy of my passport, so hopefully this alongside the other documents will be enough to satisfy!

So I guess my first question is, do you think these documents will suffice as proof of address? I was hoping to also send my 18/19 Tax Summary from HMRC but I do not appear to have received one...

My second is in regards to my Grandmother's identification. My Grandma is 96 and not totally compos mentis and doesn't have a valid form of ID. With this in mind, I asked my Mother (who is my Grandma's legal guardian) to have my Grandmother's GP write a letter confirming my Grandma's address, name and date of birth and have it signed and stamped by the GP. I have sent this in place of my Grandma's ID.

Therefore, I was wondering whether anyone had a similar experience of sending such a letter in place of ID and if so, did you run into any additional complications as a result? Does anyone think this could be an issue?

Thanks for your time :D
I am very confident that your proof of address documents will be satisfactory.

As for your issue with the ID, there is a case of this a few pages back in which instructions to source a letter from a GP and proof of address were given. I would just stress that cases of missing or unobtainable ID are rare. As such, I would always recommend calling the FBR section directly and confirming with them that this will be acceptable in your case before proceeding. Also putting an explanatory letter saying that you called an were instructed thus regarding the missing ID would be prudent.
Thanks for this!

As it happens I did include a letter explaining the situation regarding my grandmother’s ID but I’ll try to make a call later.

Con_Phillips
Newly Registered
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:00 pm

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Con_Phillips » Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:12 am

mayorob wrote:
Thu Jan 16, 2020 9:30 am
If it helps, I don't have any bills to pay (with the way I pay my rent), so my proof of address was just a bank statement, mobile phone statement and a student loan statement. That was fine :).
Well this is good to know! Just to wait between 9-12 months now! Does anyone know the current processing time by any chance?

pissedoffbyinis
Newbie
Posts: 32
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2019 11:07 am
Pakistan

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by pissedoffbyinis » Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:29 am

Is anyone here with the first hand experience with Child's FBR application processing based on Naturalised Irish parent... how much time the child's application takes to get processed.

I understand that processing times can vary depending where you apply from but any feedback would be helpful if someone has applied from any of the European country.

Fbrlad
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:57 pm
Aruba

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by Fbrlad » Thu Jan 16, 2020 9:30 pm

Here! And it makes no difference in comparison to adult application process-wise, but with cost (cheaper).
Anything happened in your case?

tom_bcfc
Newly Registered
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2019 12:26 pm

Re: Foreign Birth Registration

Post by tom_bcfc » Thu Jan 16, 2020 9:48 pm

CaitieElise wrote:
Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:35 pm
Hello everyone!

I've been following this forum since mid last year, and it has kept me ever so hopeful! I received some wonderful news last night - my certificate will be approved shortly and will be on its way, so I guess I'm an Irish citizen now!

My timeline is as follows..

Application and payment submitted: 9th March, 2019
Confirmation of documents received at DFA: 21st March, 2019
Confirmation of document arrival and application approval: 14th January, 2020

Has anyone got a rough time frame of how long their certificate took to arrive?
I'm 2 weeks ahead of you. I was told aprox 3 weeks for printing, and then a week for delivery. Hope they come asap so I can get the passport asap!!!

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