Birth Card

[w0209666]

My mom and I have both misplaced our birth certificates. We went today to go and get them. I was able to get mine, but we live in southern Louisiana and many of our records were affected by the hurricane. We were told that because of her age, she could not get one. It has something to do with all the records that were lost and the slow process of updating them. They had only updated from like 2005-1983. I just barely made it. My mom was able to get a birth card which is a very small birth certificate, but it does not contain all the info that a full birth certificare does. Has anyone ever had this problem? Has anyone ever gotten on a cruise with a birth card. I am sure that my mom is not the only person to sail on a Carnival cruise from southern louisiana since the hurricane, so they must be able to do something for us...right?

 

Jamie

[WorldCruzer]

I'd suggest calling CCL or the US Customs / Homeland....

[Capsu78]

Go to your post office and find out if you have enough verifiable ID to get a Passport. If you don't they should be able to steer you in the right direction for your special case.

[Lurkyloo]

I work at a school, and after hurricanes Katrina and Rita we were instructed that any children coming from the areas affected by the hurricanes did not have to provide birth certificate, immunizations or any other required documentation. I would definitely get an official letter or statement from the agency that gave her the "birth card" stating that they are in the process of updating records lost in the hurricanes and haven't gotten back that far.

 

Then (depending on when you cruise) see if you can get a passport - I would think that since that area was declared a disaster area, the government would cut you some kind of slack!

[caribbean dreams]

You need to call Carnival and tell them your situation, they may be able to let her on the ship with some other form of ID, but it is really up to homeland security, remember to get the persons name that you talk to incase a problem arises.

when is your cruise?

[Ilovepj]

My mother in law had a birth card, just like what your talking about, My ta, checked with carnival and they said they had seen many of these, and it would be fine, But I went ahead and sent for a regular one, but I think that will be fine.

[finoky]

A friend of ours has cruised twice with a birth card with no problems. As long as it is state issued she will be fine.

[Nliedel]

It's not Carnivals call. I would be concerned if I were the OP.

[finoky]

It's not Carnivals call. I would be concerned if I were the OP.

 

I would not be concerned if I were the OP. When checking the Louisiana.gov website it clearly says that birth cards may be issued and are acceptable state issued form of birth record. Here is what is says about birth cards, "The new certificates will be issued in a short-form card size and in the traditional long-form size. The short-form certificate includes a $5 surcharge and costs $14. It is valid for all purposes where a certificate is required by the state. You may read more on the Louisiana website at the link below.

http://www.louisiana.gov/wps/portal/.cmd/cs/.ce/155/.s/3978/.r/

 

[L2J]

It is valid for all purposes where a certificate is required by the state.

 

And this just might be the operative phrase.

 

I have one issued by AK and is valid there but was not accpetable for a DL in VA nor was it accpetable for acquiring a passport.

 

It might work but then again it might not.

 

OP have you tried VitalCheck? Good luck.

[finoky]

Good point Liv. Always some gray area in the fine print huh.

[Cotton]

I'm surprised that the vital statistics dept. in Baton Rouge doesn't have these. The state bldgs. and records weren't affected like other parts of the state were. Doesn't make sense to me that you couldn't get hers from the main source....? I'd call Vital Records in B.R.

[Ms_Pammy]

Does the card have a raised seal or watermark? Our friend cruised with us last year and he had a birth card and it worked for him as it is a state certified card.

[Guest YesitDonna]

I have had a card for years. It has a raised seal on it and my name, date of birth and place of birth. I never gave the long version of my birth certificate except for applying for a passport.

[w0209666]

Thanks guys, we are contacting Carnival but we are still very nervous that when we get down there that someone will not take it. It is really reassuring to know that a birth card has worked for some ppl. I wonder if it would be better to call the actual cruise terminal or CCL...We are sailing in about two weeks on the Holiday. We thought about getting her a passport but it would be over 100 dollars to get one that soon and we are trying to aviod that cost. I really appreciate all of your help.

 

Jamie

[UFMBA03]

My wife and I sailed on Carnival last May and she has the Birth Card. Before we left, we went by AAA and asked if this was acceptable and they said it was...sure enough, we had no problems upon check-in...FYI, my wife eas also able to use this card when we applied for our Passports.

[Sandy225]

Jamie, We will be with you on the Holiday cruise. We went to B.R. last week and obtained one long form B.C. and two short form B.C's. There was a notice posted when we obtained the certificates stating that Carnival Cruise Line would accept the short forms. Get Ready....Only a few more days left. :)

[sharonella]

You don't say when you're cruising, but I'm assuming before December?

 

As someone else suggested, maybe you should just go ahead & get a passport (it will be required for everyone after Dec 31, '06 anyway). Then there will be no question about an acceptable ID outside your home state - a passport is a FEDERAL not a STATE document.

 

FYI - when I got my passport last year in Massachusetts, I was required to get the "long form" birth certificate. So every state is different about their BC requirements, but once you have the passport, you're all set!

 

Sha

[zqvol]

The question here is one that only US Immigration can answer, do not rely on anyone else's comments.

[suncoastgirl]

I will just throw in my 2 cents. I too was born in Louisiana and had to get a birth certificate after Katrina. I was issued the birth card. I was able to use this card to obtain my passport without a problem. I was also able to use it for our cruise this past April. If you are really concerned the best thing to do would to be to check with the Department of State or Homeland Security. You should be fine with just the birth card.

[w0209666]

Jamie, We will be with you on the Holiday cruise. We went to B.R. last week and obtained one long form B.C. and two short form B.C's. There was a notice posted when we obtained the certificates stating that Carnival Cruise Line would accept the short forms. Get Ready....Only a few more days left. :)

 

I can't wait!!!!!! My mom is waiting to hear back from Carnival, but we will try to get her a rush passport if there is any problems.....The person at the place where we went to get ours (Hammond) said that she had heard that Carnival was taking the short forms.....

 

Again, Thanks everyone!

 

Jamie

[RyanMFitz1]

There is a website that you can order birth certificates from your state capital i do beleive. www.vitalchek.com . I am not sure about louisiana and such but you're got some great advise. Whenever i am faced with a dilema like that, after all calling, asking the right people, i always make sure i get something in writing stating what was talked about. Im sure with the birth card you wont' have any problems, but its always better to have pleanty of information ( letters, birth certificates, passports) and not to need them, than to need them and not have them.

 

Hope i helped some..

 

have a great cruise

[seamama1]

Thanks guys, we are contacting Carnival but we are still very nervous that when we get down there that someone will not take it. It is really reassuring to know that a birth card has worked for some ppl. I wonder if it would be better to call the actual cruise terminal or CCL...We are sailing in about two weeks on the Holiday. We thought about getting her a passport but it would be over 100 dollars to get one that soon and we are trying to aviod that cost. I really appreciate all of your help.

 

Jamie

 

Calling Carnival is a good idea only because I am sure they have run into this situation many times for Louisianna residents. However, U.S. Immigration/Homeland Security have the final call on what is acceptable. It is not a Carnival policy but the law. You might want to contact the Immigration department. Also, the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Baton Rouge should be able to provide a copy. All records of birth are forwarded to the capital of the state in which one lives. Good Luck. I'm sure you will make out fine. Just do a little "leg" work on this one so you won't be denied boarding.