International Clients
Birth Certificates
Your child’s birth certificate is a critically important document that will be used throughout your child’s life as the basis for issuing other legal documents. The birth certificate verifies the recording of a child’s birth in the civil register, the first legal recognition of the child. Here are the steps for obtaining a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate:
International Clients
Newborn Passport
Passport Application (6-8 weeks)
Parents from other countries whose babies are born via surrogacy in the United States must obtain a newborn passport in order to return to their country of residence with their children.
DOWNLOAD AND COMPLETE THE PASSPORT APPLICATION: You must complete an application (Form DS-11) to obtain a passport for your child. This application can be completed online or downloaded and printed from the United States Department of State’s website HERE.
Although the wait time for a routine passport application is six to eight weeks, it is possible to obtain your baby’s passport much faster—sometimes within a day.
SEE BELOW FOR PASSPORT EXPEDITING OPTIONS.
Passport Expediting
In-Person (1-2 Days - from appointment date)
If you have international travel in less than 2 weeks, you are eligible to schedule an appointment and/or apply in person at one of the regional U.S. State Department Passport Office locations throughout the United States. Applying in person, with your baby present, at a regional passport agency is one of the quickest way to obtain your baby’s expedited passport.
Proof of international travel (within 2 weeks from the appointment date, and the child[ren] must be listed on the flight itinerary) is required.
LOCATIONS: Click HERE to find the regional passport office nearest you.
If two parents are listed on your baby’s birth certificate, both parents must appear in person with their baby. If one parent is not able to appear in person, he or she must complete and sign a Statement of Consent (“DS-3053″). The form can be downloaded HERE
APPOINTMENTS: to schedule your appointment, you will need to call for an appointment at 877-487-2778. You will receive a confirmation number for your appointment. The appointment dates and times are subject to availability depending on, among other things, how busy the regional passport office is at the time you call. Appointment times can be anywhere from two to seven business days from the time you call in to set an appointment.
In many cases, using this method, you may be able to obtain your passport in 1-2 days from appointment date.
Passport Application (6-8 weeks)
If you are unable to apply in person at a regional passport office, you may work with an expediter to facilitate your application.
IFLG works with Passport & Visa Advisors, LLC, an advisory service that assists international travelers in getting required documents in order prior to their passport application.
Anticipate 3 to 5 business days to obtain your expedited passport.
What To Take To Your Appointment
- Appointment confirmation number
- Proof of international travel (must show travel within 2 weeks from the appointment date, and the child[ren] must be listed on the flight itinerary)
- Completed passport application form (form DS-11) for the child. The form can be completed online, downloaded and printed HERE
- All required supporting documentation, including: Child’s birth certificate Child’s passport photo, Photocopies of parents’ identification documents/passports
- If two parents are listed on the birth certificate, both parents must appear in person.
- If one parent is not available to attend the appointment, a Statement of Consent (“DS-3053) must be signed. The form can be downloaded HERE
- Payment: Credit cards accepted; bank debit cards are not.
- Passports are generally available through the U.S. State Department within 1-2 days of the appointment at the regional passport office.
International Clients
Apostilles
Some countries require that birth certificates and other documentation be accompanied by an apostille, an additional stamp from the local Secretary of State’s office that certifies the authenticity of required documents. An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature of the official who signed the document, the capacity in which that official acted, and when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp the document bears.
While the process of obtaining apostilles is not difficult, it can be time-consuming. The quickest way to obtain the apostille is to appear in person at the Secretary of State’s office in the state where your child was born. You may also apply for the apostille by mail, typically a two- to three-week response time, depending on the state where your child was born. Our IFLG team is experienced in assisting intended parents in determining what documentation is needed and helping you navigate the application process.
International Clients
Social Security
Should We Get One Now?
Please check with our office to discuss your specific situation, as the process and necessity for a SS# can differ based on how the birth certificate is prepared.
The U.S. Social Security Administration encourages parents to obtain Social Security number (SS#) for their newborns, although it is entirely voluntary. While it may be a good idea for you to get a number for your baby if you are a Domestic client, for International clients, it is not necessary and does not necessarily result in any particular benefits. Keep in mind as well, a SS# can be obtained at any time in the future, so it is not necessary to obtain it immediately after birth.
For Domestic clients it may be beneficial to obtain a SS# for your baby; you may need a SS# to claim your child as a dependent on your income tax return or if you plan to open a bank account or apply for government services for the child.
How to?
Once you have received your baby’s birth certificate, you will need to complete an application for a newborn social security number and submit it in person at a regional Social Security office. The application is available for download at the U.S. Social Security Administration’s website, HERE. For additional information about newborn social security numbers, please visit this LINK.
Caution!
Some hospitals offer the option for parents to apply for their newborn’s Social Security number at the hospital by simply checking a box, via Newborn Automatic Number Assignment (NANA). However, in surrogacy cases, your child’s Social Security number may be associated with the surrogate. The Social Security card could be mailed to the surrogate’s home, and it is extremely difficult to disassociate the baby’s record from the surrogate’s name. Therefore, although there are exceptions, we generally advise that intended parents via surrogacy NOT use the hospital’s NANA system. Additionally, in the event the surrogate’s name is listed on your child’s initial birth certificate, we recommend you do not apply for your baby’s Social Security number and card until after you have received an amended birth certificate with the surrogate’s name removed.
