General Chat

The son of a friend of mine recently turned 18 and, as they were going abroad, had to apply for his first independent passport. The application was returned with a request to supply his orginal birth certificate (he is adopted) which he did and the passport duly arrived.

I was absolutely livid to hear of this - has anyone else any experience or knowledge of a similar situation? Has there been a change in the law or was it just an over zealous clerk?

Hi David, I think thats awful!!
If Hes legally adopted there should be No need for his original birth certificate.
I think I would be asking questions.

I don't know David but it seems a bit off. What if the lad hadn't known he was adopted?

Exactly, Rox - it practically negates his adoption.

Hello Jeanette!! That's another thing. He did as it happened but that's not the point.

David,

Yes this has always been the case,,,,,you have to supply a copy of your original birth cert,,this is when some find they are adopted,,,,,,
my oh had to do the same......

Weird. I happen to have a photocopy of the form my birth mother filled in to register my birth in my adoption file, but I don't think I have my actual birth certificate. I do, however, have an amended birth certificate - it looks just like a normal one but it is issued in my new name, not my old one.

But as I understand it, there should be no use for the original because once you are adopted, you cease to exist in your old name but you officially exist in your new one.

Please,for the benefit of someone that doesnt know, What kind of certificate DOES an adopted person have?

Bob
Ah!
methinks Kate has answered my question.......

Kay, it isn't always been the case. I have had passports since I was eighteen and have never had to supply my original birth certificate. This is the first time I have heard of it.

Kate, that's exactly how it is. Your original identity is replaced so this is ridiculous.

Thats the way I always thought it worked,David.
why change it now? unless theres been a lot of fraud concerning passports:-(

Waht David forgets to mention is that it was along time ago when he was 18.....pre 1837 in fact....and that's why they didn't ask for his birth certificate! pmsl ;-)))))

I never knew what to put on my university application form when I had to fill the box in which said "Has your name ever changed?" - I think I ticked No.

I was adopted at ten months and lived with my adoptive parents from the age of five months so it's not as though I would have had a bank account or credit history or criminal record or anything official in my previous name. And I would guess that someone keeps a note somewhere to change your name for your NHS number and NI number etc.

Thats a point Kate,It could depend on what age the child was,I surpose.

My oh had to send his original back in 1990,,,

,so I just assumed it was normal procedure......

I do think its a invasion of privacy.........and shouldnt be allowed,,,,,,,,,

why as been said that person in said name no longer exsists,,,

maybe its all this fraud stuff,,,?

Rox, it looks like it must be hit and miss as opposed to a recent thing if Kay's husband had to supply his.

Jeanette, there is a word on the tip of my fingers and it ain't 'mwah':))))

I do that sort of thing, Kate. It's no-one else's business which is why I am so angry that this lad was forced to get his cert which he had never seen and that other people were privy to his birth identity.

It seems to be indiscriminate then, Kay - I think I had my first passport around 1989/90.

I think If it was me,David,I would certainly me making a stink about it, it doesn't seem right.

I don't think my friend will, Rox but I think I will contact the passport offices.

My friends "daughter" applied for a passport a few years ago, and got the shock of her life as she had to provide her birth cert which was reluctantly given to her when she turned 18 after many excuses.

Her "Mum" was her older sister, and all of her 7 of her uncles and aunts were also her brothers and sisters, her "Grandad" was her real birth father as his name was on her birth cert.

Her mum died at birth and her sister had been only married only a few weeks so bought her up as her own.
All the brothers and sisters knew the secret and had been swarn to secrecy...

It caused a huge rift in the family, her brother and sister (her mums other children) was really her niece & nephew.....

I have here a form for passport application..
Dated 2001
.apart from the usual preamble........paragraph 3 "check that you have ALL the documents needed for your application".
ALL first time applications require an ORIGINAL( not photocopy)of your birth certificate.

page 3 says
1. born OR adopted before 1 jan 1983.
birth OR adoption certificate.

if you were adopted in the uk between 1 jan 1950 and 31 december 1982...
your FULL adoption cert. showing names of adoptive parents, and evidence that the adoptive male parent was a british national..


bob

I know my oh did include his but also wrote asked why ,its none of your B buisness,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,never got reply though,,,,:}}}