How to Obtain a Notarized Birth Certificate While in the U.S.

With the new fiscal year beginning in October and the Visa Bulletin making significant advancements, many people are preparing to file their I-485 applications in October. Among the required documents, the medical examination and notarized birth certificate can take some time to prepare, so you can start getting them ready now.

The notarization process generally takes 1–2 weeks. In particular, since China’s National Day holiday is coming up, you may have to wait until the notary offices reopen before the process can be completed. So it’s best to start preparing your documents in advance.

It is generally recommended to prepare two original copies of the notarized birth certificate, just in case one is lost later.

One more important point:For an I-485 application filed within the United States, you generally do not need to provide a police clearance certificate.

When filing the I-485, you only need to submit a copy of the notarized birth certificate, not the original. The original is generally only needed if you are asked to present it at an interview.

Therefore, once the notarized birth certificate is completed, have your family member scan it first so that you can submit your I-485 application. Then have your family member mail the original document to you afterward.

Many people living in the United States need to obtain their notarized birth certificate through a notary office in China. If you need to do this, you do not have to return to China in person. There are two ways to obtain the notarization:

1. Have a family member in China handle it in person

You can authorize a family member in China to go to the local notary office and handle the notarization on your behalf.

Generally, you can apply through a Chinese notary office that has jurisdiction over your place of birth, former household registration location, or another location authorized to accept the application.

Please see Figures 1–4 for the specific document requirements.

These documents may include:

• Your identification documents/passport

• Household registration documents (Hukou)

• Identification documents of your parents

• Documents proving your birth and parent-child relationship, such as:

  • Birth Medical Certificate

  • One-Child Certificate

  • Household registration records

  • Birth certificates issued by personnel or archival departments

• If someone else is handling the notarization on your behalf, you will also need to provide a power of attorney and the authorized person’s identification document.

The specific document requirements may vary slightly from one notary office to another.

2. Complete the notarization remotely through an online notary office

You can also find a notary office that offers online or remote notarization services.

You can submit the required documents online according to the notary office’s instructions, and the notarized birth certificate can then be processed remotely.

If you are currently in the United States, the most convenient approach is usually to contact the notary office in your place of birth or former household registration location first and ask whether they accept applications handled by family members or whether they offer online/remote notarization.

If they accept applications through a family member, you can send your family member scanned copies of your passport, old ID card, household registration documents, birth certificate, and other required materials. Then prepare the power of attorney according to the requirements of that specific notary office.

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