Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dodge7]

My wife informed me that we have to register our daughter's birth at the US Embassy (and the gu office) within a month of her being born.
Is this true?
If so, do I just need to bring the birth certificate to the Embassy? Does it have to be translated first?

[cazzy3]

I finally got this done after waiting too long for my daughter. You are definitely going to save any hassle by doing it sooner than later.

That said, you'll need the original birth certificate translated and notarized. This can be done around the embassy and costs around 50,000 won. You'll also need your marriage certificate (the one the embassy should have notarized), proof of US citizenship (passport), identification of wife (Korean passport).

They also may ask for more information/documentation if you happen to get a Foreign Service Officer that wants to be really thorough. I had to submit proof of living in the US for five years (college transcripts, W-2s from the past) and plenty of other documents, i.e. ultra-sound pictures, pre-natal records, etc.

If you go to the US Embassy/Seoul website and check out "Report of Birth Abroad", it will give all the necessary documents.

Again, it shouldn't be a problem since you are doing it early. Good luck.

[Dodge7]

[CentralCali]

If the clerk at the embassy or consulate isn't thorough or doesn't ask the right questions or doesn't ensure the form is completed correctly (i.e., the right questions are answered thoroughly), the application will be rejected by the State Department in DC.

[Dodge7]

[laynamarya]

We just did this, a couple weeks ago, and it definitely seems like the officers are being thorough these days. I ended up having to submit college and high school transcripts. They would not accept just ultrasound pictures; I needed to show hospital receipts, too. And since my husband is Korean, we were also interviewed about the validity of our relationship prior to the conception of our child.

The price has also gone up. It's $100 for the CRBA. If you get a passport for the kiddo, add another $105. The Social Security card is free.

[cazzy3]

Previous post is absolutely correct.

After I went in July to register my child's birth and was subsequently not accepted because I didn't have the extra documents they requested, they changed their requirements on the website and are much more stringent.

I had to come back a month later with everything I could think of that would prove the legitimacy of me being the father and that my wife and I have been together. If you get a Foreign Service Officer that doubts the credibility of the child being yours, they can request a DNA test.

Just cover all your bases and you should be ok.

[Dodge7]

Thanks for the replies. Did you guys have to bring your baby there to the embassy?

[CentralCali]

[thrylos]

Our baby was there, but not sure if it was necessary or not-- probably, especially if you're applying for a passport-- they did glance at her and while looking at the passport photo.

An English translated copy of the baby's birth certificate from the Korean hospital, stamped and signed, was all that was needed (in addition to the US marriage certificate and a translated copy of my wife's family register).

As others have said, proof of living 5 years in the US is necessary, BUT OVER THE AGE OF 16. Important point. Ended up bringing my uni transcripts and work recommendation letters on company letterhead and they accepted it, as I had nothing else here in Korea with me.

It would have been a HUGE pain to get my folks rummaging through the boxes to show W-2's or old passports from back home and then having wait for them to send all that crap here.

[laynamarya]

Yes, the baby needs to be there, along with both of his/her parents. (Though I think one parent can send a signed, notarized affidavit stating that they can't be there, but they know the child's birth is being reported. There is a form on the website that you can download.)

For passport photos, make sure the background is white, the baby's clothes are NOT white, no hands are showing, baby's eyes are open, and the picture is sized for an American passport, not a Korean one. Our photographer called it "visa size."

And don't forget to make an appointment!