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In a previous webchat I told them my mother & I are estranged & would not be able to get a copy of her driving licence or passport. The person said it was fine so long as it was explained in a cover letter & all other documentation was correct.MarkRace wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 3:16 pmI'm not sure I am posting this in the right place, so my apologies in advance.
This is a relatively simple question but a big problem.
I am in the process of starting the FBR process for my two sons. I have an Irish passport based on my birth mother whom I have never met. The FBR process seems to require that I produce photo id for her etc. I am sure she is a lovely person and meeting her may be very fulfilling but I am not keen to make contact.
Any insights/successful approaches would be appreciated.
Background
I have an Irish passport based on her (my birth mother) even though I was adopted by an Irish national. As a result I was an Irish citizen at the time of their births and they qualify. I have had an Irish passport since 1990 but it was hard work getting it renewed because I had let it lapse by over 5 years. I had to go through the entire process of proving my birth heritage again, birth certificates, adoption certificates, court orders etc. As a result I am aware that any misstep may be costly.
Cheers
Mark

It’s looking like an 18 month wait at the moment anyway but, if you have moved then you can just wait for them to email you with the “confirmation of address” email. You can then notify them then. It’s right at the end of the process so best not to worry about it too much for the time being as you’re in for a fairly long wait right now.amiclvrt wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 3:17 amI have submitted FBR application with email receipt of documentation DEC 10, 2020. I understand my cert and paperwork will be mailed to back to my application address. However, we are planning to sell our house this summer in preparation for our move to Ireland. Will FBR send to my documents to another address if I call and give them, say, my daughters address. We were planning to vacation around Europe until citizenship comes through.

The current timeline for registration on the foreign birth registry is likely 18 months start to finish. This does not include the time it will take to apply for and receive an Irish passport. If you are planning to sell your house and vacation around Europe I would suggest you have at least two and a half years of funds for vacationing and have the legal right to remain in Europe for that time. Best of luck.amiclvrt wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 3:17 amI have submitted FBR application with email receipt of documentation DEC 10, 2020. I understand my cert and paperwork will be mailed to back to my application address. However, we are planning to sell our house this summer in preparation for our move to Ireland. Will FBR send to my documents to another address if I call and give them, say, my daughters address. We were planning to vacation around Europe until citizenship comes through.

Hello Everyone!!!!IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:38 pmHello ALL!!!IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:56 pmThose darn flag emojis on a cell phone are tiny, I thought something was odd since the flag is green white and gold. I don't think I can edit previous posts. Thx for letting me know.LA8887 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 30, 2020 7:32 pmYou know you've repeatedly used the flag of Ivory Coast and not Ireland in your posts, right?IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:30 pm
Hooray I am Officially an Irish Citizen and have my FBR Certificate in my hands, it was received minutes ago! Hmm maybe a Guinness to celebrate tonight and then tomorrow start the Paper Application First Time Irish Passport Application Process.![]()
Listed below is my full timeline
Timeline
FBR Application submitted on- line - May 19, 2019
FBR Application and Documents mailed from USA/NJ to Balbriggan, Ireland via USPS International Express May 20, 2019
Application received in Balbriggan email received - May 27,2019
Confirmation of Mailing address email received from FBR - September 21, 2020 at 3:10 am
Responded back to FBR Mailing Address email - September 21, 2020 at 3:43 am
Date added onto Foreign Birth Register - September 21, 2020
Congratulations FBR Approval email received - Sept 21,2020 at 7:36 am
FBR Certificate Printed/ Mailed email received - September 24, 2020
FBR Certificate and all original documents received in USA/NJ - September 30, 2020
I’ll provide update on Irish Passport once it is submitted to the Embassy in NYC.![]()
![]()
![]()
Well I received the FBR certificate and have officially moved onto the Irish Passport Process!!!!
Applied for Irish Passport via Paper (Initial) Application mailed application, money order pmt, and all documents/witnessed photos to the Consulate General of Ireland in NYC/Park Ave - (mailed USPS 1 day Priority from NNJ to NYC)- October 9,2020
Irish Passport application/docs received at Consulate if Ireland in NYC, mail cofirm received- October 10, 2020
Passport form and docs sent from Consulate to Ireland - Pending
Passport Approved- Pending
Passport and documents received in USA/NJ -Pending
At least this process will be quicker!
Cheers!![]()

IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:58 pmUPDATE from FBR on September 24,2020IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:59 pm
Hi Everyone,
I have been following and participating with this thread/group for some time and I finally have some good news, so I thought I would share my current status/timeline.
After 484 days, Or 1 year, 3 months, 26 days, Or after 15 months, 26 days I am excited to provide an update!!!
Timeline
FBR Application submitted on- line - May 19, 2019
FBR Application and Documents mailed from USA/NJ to Balbriggan, Ireland via USPS International Express May 20, 2019
Application received in Balbriggan email received - May 27,2019
Confirmation of Mailing address email received from FBR - September 21, 2020 at 3:10 am
Responded back to FBR Mailing Address email - September 21, 2020 at 3:43 am
Date added onto Foreign Birth Register - September 21, 2020
Congratulations FBR Approval email received - Sept 21,2020 at 7:36 am
FBR Certificate Printed/ Mailed email received - Pending
FBR Certificate received in USA/NJ - Pending
NEXT PHASE-INITIAL PAPER APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT
Applied for Passport via Paper (Initial) Application mailed all documents to Consulate General of Ireland in NYC/Park Ave - Pending
Passport form and docs sent from Consulate to Ireland - Pending
Passport and documents received in USA/NJ -Pending
Yes, Brexit and COVID-19 greatly affected the original 6 month processing time we were notified of during the application process and further a record of over 29,000 FBR applications were received in 2019. All of these challenges allowed FBR to streamline Operations, implement new systems and hire/train additional staff to support this process.
I am thankful for this group/thread as it allowed each and everyone one of us to communicate, question, learn and assist each other about the process as well as the availability to monitor the progress of FBR processing by sharing each of our experiences/application milestones and dates. I feel blessed and very thankful to all, We are the World and soon we will all be Irish Citizens too! I can't believe that I am now an Irish citizen, it will be realistic when that FBR certificate is in my hands.
Thank you all!
IrishNJUSAMan
BTW, I had a web chat with the FBR at 6:00 am this morning after I received/responded to the mailing address verification email, the representative mentioned to me that there is a 2 week backlog in the printing/mailing of the FBR Certificates and associated Original documents. Further, I was advised that the FBR Certificate and all Original documents will be returned in one package.
FBR Certificate Printed/ Mailed email received - September 24, 2020
Now I just await receipt of my FBR Certificate and documents!!

IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 2:26 amIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:58 pmIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:59 pm
Hi Everyone,
I have been following and participating with this thread/group for some time and I finally have some good news, so I thought I would share my current status/timeline.
After 484 days, Or 1 year, 3 months, 26 days, Or after 15 months, 26 days I am excited to provide an update!!!
Timeline
FBR Application submitted on- line - May 19, 2019
FBR Application and Documents mailed from USA/NJ to Balbriggan, Ireland via USPS International Express May 20, 2019
Application received in Balbriggan email received - May 27,2019
Confirmation of Mailing address email received from FBR - September 21, 2020 at 3:10 am
Responded back to FBR Mailing Address email - September 21, 2020 at 3:43 am
Date added onto Foreign Birth Register - September 21, 2020
Congratulations FBR Approval email received - Sept 21,2020 at 7:36 am
FBR Certificate Printed/ Mailed email received - Pending
FBR Certificate received in USA/NJ - Pending
NEXT PHASE-INITIAL PAPER APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT
Applied for Passport via Paper (Initial) Application mailed all documents to Consulate General of Ireland in NYC/Park Ave - Pending
Passport form and docs sent from Consulate to Ireland - Pending
Passport and documents received in USA/NJ -Pending
Yes, Brexit and COVID-19 greatly affected the original 6 month processing time we were notified of during the application process and further a record of over 29,000 FBR applications were received in 2019. All of these challenges allowed FBR to streamline Operations, implement new systems and hire/train additional staff to support this process.
I am thankful for this group/thread as it allowed each and everyone one of us to communicate, question, learn and assist each other about the process as well as the availability to monitor the progress of FBR processing by sharing each of our experiences/application milestones and dates. I feel blessed and very thankful to all, We are the World and soon we will all be Irish Citizens too! I can't believe that I am now an Irish citizen, it will be realistic when that FBR certificate is in my hands.
Thank you all!
IrishNJUSAMan

IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 2:28 amIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 2:26 amIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:58 pmIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:59 pm
Hi Everyone,
I have been following and participating with this thread/group for some time and I finally have some good news, so I thought I would share my current status/timeline.
After 484 days, Or 1 year, 3 months, 26 days, Or after 15 months, 26 days I am excited to provide an update!!!
Timeline
FBR Application submitted on- line - May 19, 2019
FBR Application and Documents mailed from USA/NJ to Balbriggan, Ireland via USPS International Express May 20, 2019
Application received in Balbriggan email received - May 27,2019
Confirmation of Mailing address email received from FBR - September 21, 2020 at 3:10 am
Responded back to FBR Mailing Address email - September 21, 2020 at 3:43 am
Date added onto Foreign Birth Register - September 21, 2020
Congratulations FBR Approval email received - Sept 21,2020 at 7:36 am
FBR Certificate Printed/ Mailed email received - Pending
FBR Certificate received in USA/NJ - Pending
NEXT PHASE-INITIAL PAPER APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT
Applied for Passport via Paper (Initial) Application mailed all documents to Consulate General of Ireland in NYC/Park Ave - Pending
Passport form and docs sent from Consulate to Ireland - Pending
Passport and documents received in USA/NJ -Pending
Yes, Brexit and COVID-19 greatly affected the original 6 month processing time we were notified of during the application process and further a record of over 29,000 FBR applications were received in 2019. All of these challenges allowed FBR to streamline Operations, implement new systems and hire/train additional staff to support this process.
I am thankful for this group/thread as it allowed each and everyone one of us to communicate, question, learn and assist each other about the process as well as the availability to monitor the progress of FBR processing by sharing each of our experiences/application milestones and dates. I feel blessed and very thankful to all, We are the World and soon we will all be Irish Citizens too! I can't believe that I am now an Irish citizen, it will be realistic when that FBR certificate is in my hands.
Thank you all!
IrishNJUSAMan![]()

IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 2:26 amIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:58 pmIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:59 pm
Hi Everyone,
I have been following and participating with this thread/group for some time and I finally have some good news, so I thought I would share my current status/timeline.
After 484 days, Or 1 year, 3 months, 26 days, Or after 15 months, 26 days I am excited to provide an update!!!
Timeline
FBR Application submitted on- line - May 19, 2019
FBR Application and Documents mailed from USA/NJ to Balbriggan, Ireland via USPS International Express May 20, 2019
Application received in Balbriggan email received - May 27,2019
Confirmation of Mailing address email received from FBR - September 21, 2020 at 3:10 am
Responded back to FBR Mailing Address email - September 21, 2020 at 3:43 am
Date added onto Foreign Birth Register - September 21, 2020
Congratulations FBR Approval email received - Sept 21,2020 at 7:36 am
FBR Certificate Printed/ Mailed email received - Pending
FBR Certificate received in USA/NJ - Pending
NEXT PHASE-INITIAL PAPER APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT
Applied for Passport via Paper (Initial) Application mailed all documents to Consulate General of Ireland in NYC/Park Ave - Pending
Passport form and docs sent from Consulate to Ireland - Pending
Passport and documents received in USA/NJ -Pending
Yes, Brexit and COVID-19 greatly affected the original 6 month processing time we were notified of during the application process and further a record of over 29,000 FBR applications were received in 2019. All of these challenges allowed FBR to streamline Operations, implement new systems and hire/train additional staff to support this process.
I am thankful for this group/thread as it allowed each and everyone one of us to communicate, question, learn and assist each other about the process as well as the availability to monitor the progress of FBR processing by sharing each of our experiences/application milestones and dates. I feel blessed and very thankful to all, We are the World and soon we will all be Irish Citizens too! I can't believe that I am now an Irish citizen, it will be realistic when that FBR certificate is in my hands.
Thank you all!
IrishNJUSAMan

IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 2:28 amIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 2:26 amIrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:58 pmHello Everyone!!!!IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:59 pm
Hi Everyone,
I have been following and participating with this thread/group for some time and I finally have some good news, so I thought I would share my current status/timeline.
After 484 days, Or 1 year, 3 months, 26 days, Or after 15 months, 26 days I am excited to provide an update!!!
Timeline
FBR Application submitted on- line - May 19, 2019
FBR Application and Documents mailed from USA/NJ to Balbriggan, Ireland via USPS International Express May 20, 2019
Application received in Balbriggan email received - May 27,2019
Confirmation of Mailing address email received from FBR - September 21, 2020 at 3:10 am
Responded back to FBR Mailing Address email - September 21, 2020 at 3:43 am
Date added onto Foreign Birth Register - September 21, 2020
Congratulations FBR Approval email received - Sept 21,2020 at 7:36 am
FBR Certificate Printed/ Mailed email received - Pending
FBR Certificate received in USA/NJ - Pending
NEXT PHASE-INITIAL PAPER APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT
Applied for Passport via Paper (Initial) Application mailed all documents to Consulate General of Ireland in NYC/Park Ave - Pending
Passport form and docs sent from Consulate to Ireland - Pending
Passport and documents received in USA/NJ -Pending
Yes, Brexit and COVID-19 greatly affected the original 6 month processing time we were notified of during the application process and further a record of over 29,000 FBR applications were received in 2019. All of these challenges allowed FBR to streamline Operations, implement new systems and hire/train additional staff to support this process.
I am thankful for this group/thread as it allowed each and everyone one of us to communicate, question, learn and assist each other about the process as well as the availability to monitor the progress of FBR processing by sharing each of our experiences/application milestones and dates. I feel blessed and very thankful to all, We are the World and soon we will all be Irish Citizens too! I can't believe that I am now an Irish citizen, it will be realistic when that FBR certificate is in my hands.
Thank you all!
IrishNJUSAMan![]()
After I received my FBR Certificate, I immediately pursued the next phase to obtain an Irish Passport, this was my first one so I needed to apply manually with the Passport Application provided with my FBR Certificate.
Listed below is the timeline for this phase:
Applied for Irish Passport via Paper (Initial) Application mailed application, money order pmt, and all documents/witnessed photos to the Consulate General of Ireland in NYC/Park Ave - (mailed USPS 1 day Priority from NNJ to NYC)- October 9,2020
Irish Passport application/docs received at Consulate if Ireland in NYC, mail confirm received- October 10, 2020
Consulate NYC Mailroom recd package - October 13,2020
Consulate NYC performs various checks and also contacts the witness on application/2 signed photos to verify that they witnessed the documents on the specific date and that they recall me - October, 14- October 23,2020
Passport Processing in Ireland is paused due to Ireland being in Phased 5 of the COVID 19 Framework and they must get down to Level 3, pause is 6 weeks - October 21,2020 - 12/1/2020
Irish Consulate/NYC office scans application, original documents, other documents and photos which are then sitting in queue for processing by Ireland when they resume processing - November 19, 2020
Application appears on Irish Passport processing tracker reflecting In-Process Status - December 4, 2020
Tracker Status changes to Passport Being Printed Status - December 23, 2020
Tracker Status changes to Passport being Dispatched - January 7, 2021
Passport Arrives in Consulate of NYC office via Diplomatic Bag - January 13, 2021
Irish Consulate prepares Fedex Overnight delivery envelope and stuffs with Passport and all documents included with the application - January 13, 2021
Fedex Overnight delivery envelope with Passport and all documents included with the application received at home in USA/NJ, required signature - January 14, 2021
Process Completed!!!!
Now I am super super super IRISH!! I wait for the pandemic to improve and wait some time then finally travel to Ireland for the first time ever!!!

IrishNJUSAMan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 2:38 am
Hello Everyone!!!!
After I received my FBR Certificate, I immediately pursued the next phase to obtain an Irish Passport, this was my first one so I needed to apply manually with the Passport Application provided with my FBR Certificate.
Listed below is the timeline for this phase:
Applied for Irish Passport via Paper (Initial) Application mailed application, money order pmt, and all documents/witnessed photos to the Consulate General of Ireland in NYC/Park Ave - (mailed USPS 1 day Priority from NNJ to NYC)- October 9,2020
Irish Passport application/docs received at Consulate if Ireland in NYC, mail confirm received- October 10, 2020
Consulate NYC Mailroom recd package - October 13,2020
Consulate NYC performs various checks and also contacts the witness on application/2 signed photos to verify that they witnessed the documents on the specific date and that they recall me - October, 14- October 23,2020
Passport Processing in Ireland is paused due to Ireland being in Phased 5 of the COVID 19 Framework and they must get down to Level 3, pause is 6 weeks - October 21,2020 - 12/1/2020
Irish Consulate/NYC office scans application, original documents, other documents and photos which are then sitting in queue for processing by Ireland when they resume processing - November 19, 2020
Application appears on Irish Passport processing tracker reflecting In-Process Status - December 4, 2020
Tracker Status changes to Passport Being Printed Status - December 23, 2020
Tracker Status changes to Passport being Dispatched - January 7, 2021
Passport Arrives in Consulate of NYC office via Diplomatic Bag - January 13, 2021
Irish Consulate prepares Fedex Overnight delivery envelope and stuffs with Passport and all documents included with the application - January 13, 2021
Fedex Overnight delivery envelope with Passport and all documents included with the application received at home in USA/NJ, required signature - January 14, 2021
Process Completed!!!!
Now I am super super super IRISH!! I wait for the pandemic to improve and wait some time then finally travel to Ireland for the first time ever!!!
![]()

Thank you. It seems so strange they wouldn't have just got married. I would have thought a marriage certificate might have been requested from them at some stage of their lives, eg coming to the UK, getting rooms in London and then from the council, and so on. Maybe the disruption occurring around the end of the 1910s caused issues before they came to the UK. Thanks again.DanaMarie wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 11:22 amI had the same situation and in the end had to concede that it was very likely my grandparents never "legally" married though my grandmother was a devout Catholic to her dying day, was very active in the church community, and baptized my father and uncles. So I hired an immigration attorney who drafted an affidavit wherein we stated that even though they presented themselves as a married couple in all documents and in life, they had never entered a legal or civil marriage and then we presented all the evidence of my exhaustive search for a marriage record. I was entered into the FBR a year ago without issue or question.Berthalily18 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:13 pmHi again. So....I have now managed to obtain all relevant documents from various kinds of research etc, except my grandparents' marriage certificate. There is simply no record of their marriage. I have searched beyond the obvious Irish country (Waterford); I have searched a ridiculously wide period of time for the marriage record. I have even searched the UK records extensively, just in case. Nothing. I engaged the assistance of a chap in the Waterford Heritage Centre, who also drew a blank. He even went to the church he thought might have some records that aren't online, but still nothing. He says that the church's records for that particular period are simply not there. I surmise that something must have happened to them. I am pretty certain my grandparents DID marry. The Irish authorities must surely have witnessed my kind of problem before? Does anyone have any idea what I should do, or what the FBR people might think of this situation? Many thanks.

Hey there--I heard back on 8/20/19 that they received my application and supporting documents. Waiting patiently with the rest of our mid-2019 and later group! Good luck to all.Fish Fry wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:30 pmThanks for the reply Pb300. It's good to know I'm not alone. If anyone else filed around mid-2019 and haven't heard anything yet, please post so we know there are others in our position. I don't really have the time to try to call the FBR office, so I guess I'll just continue to wait.
I am right there with you both. I received my "Documents Received" email 26 August, 2019, then not a word since. I am planning to try to check up on via the chat function I have heard mentioned on here once its open again.mcmccarthy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 4:29 pmHey there--I heard back on 8/20/19 that they received my application and supporting documents. Waiting patiently with the rest of our mid-2019 and later group! Good luck to all.Fish Fry wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:30 pmThanks for the reply Pb300. It's good to know I'm not alone. If anyone else filed around mid-2019 and haven't heard anything yet, please post so we know there are others in our position. I don't really have the time to try to call the FBR office, so I guess I'll just continue to wait.



I took a little break before gathering the necessary supporting docs, then I sent my passport application to the Consulate (San Francisco). Things are paused for now, but it still felt good to get that part done.BigDaddy100 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:25 amMy long wait is over! My FBR certificate and supporting docs were delivered yesterday.
USPS Informed Delivery sent a text saying my package was "delivered to an individual".
A few minutes later, it was in my mailbox. No-contact delivery, I guess.![]()
My timeline:
Application submitted online: 16 June 2019
Email acknowledging receipt of documents (Balbriggan): 01 July 2019
Confirmation of address email: 24 September 2020
Date added to FBR: 25 September 2020
Congrats email / Certificate Printed/Mailed: 01 October 2020
FBR certificate received: 20 October 2020
I will get started on the passport application, even though processing is paused for now.
The photo and notary steps will require a little more coordination than they did last time.
Best of luck to all. Hopefully, the Level 5 stage will pass quickly.

I'm a few weeks behind you, online application completed 27/02/19 and got the documents received email on 07/03/19. I was born an Irish citizen then adopted in the UK, it was straightforward to get my Irish passport and only took about 4 weeks, this application is for my 2 children. I've spoken to FBR staff twice over the last 2 years, both times I was told everything was in order, they were being processed, but adoption cases are handled separately by a very small team and take longer than average to complete.Billy Bowker wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:37 amHi
Fee taken on 23/01/2019 still waiting second application so over 3 years In total as I needed adoption certificate for second application got my notification that the fee was received but nothing else posted a letter asking for an update but with covid I understand the closures have caused big delays can only patiently wait for the outcome. Anyone else in the same boat?
I’m concerned as well- I received my actual congratulations email letting me know that my certificate had been sent nearly 2 months ago now- I’ve never received anything! I’m hoping there are severe delays shipping to Canada and that it isn’t lost.Luna2019 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:49 amI received this email to confirm my physical address on December 21, 2020: "I am pleased to inform you that your applications for entry into the Foreign Births Register will be approved shortly. A Foreign Birth Registration Certificate and your original documents will be returned to you by registered post, which will require a signature on delivery."
I immediately replied with my address confirmation and have heard nothing since.
Is this normal? Should I be concerned?
Many thanks.