Birth Certificates and Vital Records

General information

Birth certificates are an extremely important part of almost any residency or non-tourist visa application. They are, for countries, undeniable proof of your identity, your heritage, and other information used to verify your identity. They can also be, in many cases, challenging to acquire or amend due to constantly shifting political situations in the US. The process also varies heavily state-by-state. For this reason it is recommended to verify any info here against what is shown on the website of the State Department of Health from which your records originate. The CDC has a list of links and instructions for obtaining vital records, including birth and marriage records, in each state. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm

An important part of using any vital record abroad that many people are not aware of is the apostille. This is a requirement that was established in 1961, as an attempt to create a simplified system for notarizing documents for use abroad. Any country which has entered into the Hague Convention will request any document issued by a foreign government - if the document is used within that country - to have an apostille included with it. While visa applications made within the US do not always require an apostilled document, many others do. And applications made within Hague Convention countries, such as for residency, will often require an apostille. An apostille is only valid for a singular country specified by the requester.

State by state information (WIP)

Washington

Up to date information may always be found here: https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/apostilles

Washington state offers online ordering of birth certificates and marriage contracts through various methods. However, to request a new birth certificate with apostille, an order must be placed by phone. If you already have a certified certificate, you may send it directly to the secretary of state

Ordering a certificate

An order may be made online through VitalChek.
An order may also be placed by phone. This is the only way to order a certificate with an apostille.
Orders by mail are available with a significant delay.
Orders may be made in-person at some local county health departments.

Ordering an apostille & certificate

Call VitalChek's phone number. As they only have a US phone number, you may incur fees or need to use a service like Skype while abroad.
Tell the clerk that you would like to order a record (birth certificate, marriage, etc) with an apostille for the country it will be used in.
Inform them of all requested info. This will usually include your name, parents name, DOB, and country of use.
After your phone call, you should receive a verification email that the order was complete.
Within 1 to 3 weeks, the document should arrive at your address. A foreign address can be used.