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Hi everyone,

Hopefully someone can assist/direct me here. I am applying for British citizenship through my mother, born to her before 1983. I have literally everything needed except my long from birth certificate from South Africa. I have one issued in 1987 but its a "standard" or short form? one I guess and I am not sure if I can use this. I live in the US as a permanent resident and my entire family (mom, dad, sister etc.) now live in the UK and I want to be able to move there/travel freely.
I have applied through the South African Embassy in Washington for my birth certificate and I have been waiting now for 3 years...yes 3 YEARS!! I have called, emailed, harassed, sent 12 requests and I am no where. At this point South Africa has become so undeniably corrupt that unless I am willing to pay a 3rd party service nearly $1000 for my certificate I have literally no hope. FYI this was told to me by a representative at the Embassy; absolutely unreal!
I have not been able to get an answer from the UK government, not even sure whom to ask as to even talk to someone you have to pay an outrageous fee. Any assistance or direction would be greatly appreciated.

sacredzero wrote:Hi everyone,

Hopefully someone can assist/direct me here. I am applying for British citizenship through my mother, born to her before 1983. I have literally everything needed except my long from birth certificate from South Africa. I have one issued in 1987 but its a "standard" or short form? one I guess and I am not sure if I can use this. I live in the US as a permanent resident and my entire family (mom, dad, sister etc.) now live in the UK and I want to be able to move there/travel freely.
I have applied through the South African Embassy in Washington for my birth certificate and I have been waiting now for 3 years...yes 3 YEARS!! I have called, emailed, harassed, sent 12 requests and I am no where. At this point South Africa has become so undeniably corrupt that unless I am willing to pay a 3rd party service nearly $1000 for my certificate I have literally no hope. FYI this was told to me by a representative at the Embassy; absolutely unreal!
I have not been able to get an answer from the UK government, not even sure whom to ask as to even talk to someone you have to pay an outrageous fee. Any assistance or direction would be greatly appreciated.

If you don't have / can't get all the documents you need then this route may help:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... us-form-ns

And have you tried getting the type of bc copy that you need from here?

Ref: https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-dea ... ertificate

Wonderful thank you! I will read up on this

It shouldn't take 3 years to get your unabridged birth certificate or vault copy from South Africa. It takes 2 months in SA and roughly 6 months if applied from abroad. Home Affairs is more jacked up now that they used to be so the delay is possibly due to something else, possibly missing info like an ID number.

Does your mother not have the birth certificate issued when you were born? This is called the vault copy and is a copy of the extract of the birth register.

You could of course if you have a UK born grandparent apply for a UK Ancestry visa, valid for 5 years, and then do the birth certificate and UKM process from the UK. I know it is extra money, but might be easier for you.

@noajthan, the link you have provided won't help the OP with obtaining his long form birth certificate. He can only apply for this through Home Affairs in South Africa.

I agree that it should only take up to 6 months. I have filed several complaints to no avail. I have all the data required and included copies of my South African Passport with ID, my birth certificate I have right now etc. According to Department of Homeland Affairs they do have my application but are unable to update me on why its taking so long. I have spoken with multiple people at the Embassy here and they said I am just one of many dealing with this right now. Once they send the diplomatic parcel with any applications, they have no power after that.

Unfortunately my parents do not have my original vault copy, it was lost many years ago and all they ever got was my current one I have which is just a short form showing my name, ID etc...essentialy a proof of registration of birth.

All my grandparents are deceased at this time so that option is out. I am tempted to pay a service to obtain my birth certificate...any recommendations from any South Africans that they have used? I found this one:

http://www.passportassist.co.za

Your grandparents don't have to be alive to qualify for a UK Ancestry visa if they or one of them was born in the UK. It is very easy to get a UK birth certificate for them and takes about 7 days to receive in the post. Just an option should you wish to pursue it to be with your family and then do the UKM from the UK.

There is a FB page for SA expats where lots of us have posted questions about services and documents in the past. I will have a look and see if I can find any info on this for you.

Thank you Char, I appreciate your help. I have copies of my grandparents birth certificates from my father and mother, both UK citizens as well as their birth certificates. I literally just need mine.

Actually, before I go any further I am reading that the Unabridged may be cause for concern due to fraud so I should actually obtain the Vault Copy? Can you confirm that this would be the preferred option; I would assume yes as its a copy of the physical hand written record at time of my birth that both parents filled in and signed?

Vault copy is much better yes, it is a certified copy of the birth register. I got my vault copy about 4 weeks before I got the unabridged printed birth certificate. Also should mention, you would need the vault copy or unabridged birth certificate for Ancestry visa anyway.

Do you have a baptism certificate at all? This should also list your parents names as far as I am aware.

No I don't have a baptism record, actually not sure if I was to be honest...

Anyone have a reputable service they know of to pay to get my vault copy? I found several but don't know if they are fly by night sketchy services that will just take my money and Ill never hear from them.

Do you have any family in South Africa who could make the application for you? Can your mom not do it for you from the UK?

I do not which is why I am asking about a service that can assist. I don't mind paying I just need a reputable service. My parents can apply from the UK but at this point it will most likely fall into the same black hole.

The consular service in London is on the ball, which is why I suggested it. As I said above, I will have a look at the SA expats FB page and see some of the recommendations on there for document service. I used a company in Cape Town when I did my Ancestral visa, but not sure if they help with obtaining documents.