Foreign Birth Registration

[Danir12]

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to add my timeline incase it helps anyone

Application online: 13th November 2023
Documents sent: 20th November 2023
Email to confirm documents received: 7th December 2023
(Moved address in March 2024 so sent off proof of change of address)
Called them to check they received address change documents 18th September 2024 which they had.
Congratulations email: 24th September 2024

Currently waiting for my certificate to apply for passport

My grandad was born in Northern Ireland who passed away many years ago along with my nan.
The only advice I can give is make sure you are very thorough with all paperwork and make sure you cover every angle to avoid delays. I sent off extra paperwork just to be safe and made sure I checked a million times
Hope this helps x

[King2103]

Sounds like all the applications received in December 23 are now being approved.

I sent mine in November, received confirmation that they were received December 14th. Got my congratulations email today 30th September.

So 9 months still sounds about right.

As others have said, just be thorough with your paperwork and be organized.

[Mark_in_PA]

Here's my timeline:

Applied online: 10-Aug-2023
Application form & Docs posted: 17-Nov-2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 24-Nov-2023
Address Check: 19-Sep-2024
Congrats email: 28-Aug-2024
Certificate Received: 26-Sep-2024
Date on Certificate: 29-Aug-2024

[jgclancy]

Here's my timeline:

Applied online: 10-Aug-2023
Application form & Docs posted: 17-Nov-2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 24-Nov-2023
Address Check: 19-Sep-2024
Congrats email: 28-Aug-2024
Certificate Received: 26-Sep-2024
Date on Certificate: 29-Aug-2024

Congrats!

jgclancy

[Agggy]

Here’s my timeline, now waiting for my certificate and docs.


Applied online: 18 Nov 2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 20 Dec 2023
No Address Check
Congrats email: 2 October 2024
Certificate Received: TBC

[jgclancy]

Here’s my timeline, now waiting for my certificate and docs.


Applied online: 18 Nov 2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 20 Dec 2023
No Address Check
Congrats email: 2 October 2024
Certificate Received: TBC

Well Done!

jgclancy

[Surreyfolk]

Application submitted 24/12/23
Documents arrived (Royal Mail tracker) 9/1/24
Application received 18/1/24

Had a query regarding one of my proof of address not being acceptable. Hopefully a sign of progress .

[martine313]

Timeline update on my end:

2/8/2023: Application submitted
17/8/2023: Documents received
16/8/2024: Congrats email (no address check)
23/8/2024: FBR received

25/8/2024: Passport application submitted
8/10/2024: Witness contacted
8/10/2024: Passport being printed

[wiivile]

Application online: November 28, 2023
Documents sent: December 6, 2023
Documents delivered (per USPS): December 28, 2023
Email to confirm documents received: January 8, 2024
Congratulations email: October 3, 2024
Certificate received: October 7, 2024

No address check email

[jgclancy]

Application online: November 28, 2023
Documents sent: December 6, 2023
Documents delivered (per USPS): December 28, 2023
Email to confirm documents received: January 8, 2024
Congratulations email: October 3, 2024
Certificate received: October 7, 2024

No address check email

Congrats to all who have been put "in the book" lately

jgclancy

[teranos]

Hi lads,

I feel that the FBR Team is intentionally wasting time sometimes.

I had a straight forward application , it was for a baby of current Irish Citizen not born in Ireland.

I responded to the address verification 21 June and never heard back

1/I called in END august : they told me to keep waiting

2/ I called them in September to inform i will be moving back to Ireland and i am tired of waiting for my baby's FBR following 2 months of waits (after address verification)

Then suddenly ooh its actually approved and being shipped to the Embassy (was told over the phone)

I got the Cert and it turned out . Approval date was 25 June , 4 days after i confirmed my address.

Why was the cert or congrats message held for 2 extra months i will never know. (What if i did not call to inform that i change address after address verification)

But anyway that's not done now .

Good luck frens




Applied online: 26 July 2023
Application form & Docs posted : 29 July 2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 05 th of august 2023 at Irish consulate (Mexico)
Confirmation email: —— 30th of august 2023 (From DFA in Ireland)
Address Verification: 21 June.
Congrats email: —— Never received
Cert received: 2 November

Application for a baby of an Irish citizen born abroad.

Also to clear misconceptions in this all applications are shipped to Dublin no matter where you are applying from.


Applied online: 26 July 2023
Application form & Docs posted : 29 July 2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 05 th of august 2023 at Irish consulate (Mexico)
Confirmation email: —— 30th of august 2023 (From DFA in Ireland)
Address Verification: ——
Congrats email: ——
Cert received: ——

[corky100]

There was a 2 month delay between approval and printing - everybody got hit by hit that.

[jgclancy]

Hi lads,

I feel that the FBR Team is intentionally wasting time sometimes.

I had a straight forward application , it was for a baby of current Irish Citizen not born in Ireland.

I responded to the address verification 21 June and never heard back

1/I called in END august : they told me to keep waiting

2/ I called them in September to inform i will be moving back to Ireland and i am tired of waiting for my baby's FBR following 2 months of waits (after address verification)

Then suddenly ooh its actually approved and being shipped to the Embassy (was told over the phone)

I got the Cert and it turned out . Approval date was 25 June , 4 days after i confirmed my address.

Why was the cert or congrats message held for 2 extra months i will never know. (What if i did not call to inform that i change address after address verification)

But anyway that's not done now .

Good luck frens




Applied online: 26 July 2023
Application form & Docs posted : 29 July 2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 05 th of august 2023 at Irish consulate (Mexico)
Confirmation email: —— 30th of august 2023 (From DFA in Ireland)
Address Verification: 21 June.
Congrats email: —— Never received
Cert received: 2 November

Application for a baby of an Irish citizen born abroad.

Also to clear misconceptions in this all applications are shipped to Dublin no matter where you are applying from.


Applied online: 26 July 2023
Application form & Docs posted : 29 July 2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 05 th of august 2023 at Irish consulate (Mexico)
Confirmation email: —— 30th of august 2023 (From DFA in Ireland)
Address Verification: ——
Congrats email: ——
Cert received: ——

They had a printing backlog so they weren't telling people approved until they could print. Seems like they've caught up and things are zipping along again

jgclancy

[tulipgarden]

Hi everyone am so pleased and relieved - got my FBR approval email today!

Timeline below for an expectant parent case in case it helps anyone;

-Applied mid march, docs were sent end of march and received on 3rd May 2024.
-Found out I was expecting with my due date mid feb 2025 and informed them via email I was expecting a baby and sent a letter to confirm pregnancy and due date from my GP on the 27th June, they responded same day confirming case would be forwarded to the expectant parent team.
-Chased in aug via email with a copy of my 20 week scan appointment letter and also at the end of September with mat b1 (no response...!) Also spoke to them on the phone yesterday and they confirmed they had my application and they said to just hold tight!
-Got email confirmation today from team 2 to say I'm on the FBR (15 October) and mentioned it was a 4 week wait for the printing of the certificate.

[jgclancy]

Hi lads,

I feel that the FBR Team is intentionally wasting time sometimes.

I had a straight forward application , it was for a baby of current Irish Citizen not born in Ireland.

I responded to the address verification 21 June and never heard back

1/I called in END august : they told me to keep waiting

2/ I called them in September to inform i will be moving back to Ireland and i am tired of waiting for my baby's FBR following 2 months of waits (after address verification)

Then suddenly ooh its actually approved and being shipped to the Embassy (was told over the phone)

I got the Cert and it turned out . Approval date was 25 June , 4 days after i confirmed my address.

Why was the cert or congrats message held for 2 extra months i will never know. (What if i did not call to inform that i change address after address verification)

But anyway that's not done now .

Good luck frens

As I stated in a previous post they were backlogged on printing. Many were okayed in June but they delayed anything further due to the printing issues. Not the greatest but for people who have needs for work & moving it isn't great. My guess is that they thought not telling people they were approved but won't get the certificate for a while would just create an onslaught of daily requests of " is it ready? is it ready now....is it ready now?... all day every day. Again- not great but at least now they're catching up.




Applied online: 26 July 2023
Application form & Docs posted : 29 July 2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 05 th of august 2023 at Irish consulate (Mexico)
Confirmation email: —— 30th of august 2023 (From DFA in Ireland)
Address Verification: 21 June.
Congrats email: —— Never received
Cert received: 2 November

Application for a baby of an Irish citizen born abroad.

Also to clear misconceptions in this all applications are shipped to Dublin no matter where you are applying from.


Applied online: 26 July 2023
Application form & Docs posted : 29 July 2023
Application form & Docs Delivered: 05 th of august 2023 at Irish consulate (Mexico)
Confirmation email: —— 30th of august 2023 (From DFA in Ireland)
Address Verification: ——
Congrats email: ——
Cert received: ——

[duffy1867]

Hi lads,

I feel that the FBR Team is intentionally wasting time sometimes.

We've all had feelings like this at some point, best thing we can put it down to - they are a Government Department

[Tell32]

Got my Approved email today.

Application submitted online: 23rd December 2023

Mailed application through USPS on January 5th 2024

According to USPS tracking it was delivered on January 10th 2024

Application received email: 23rd January 2024

Application approved email: 27th October 2024

[jgclancy]

Got my Approved email today.

Application submitted online: 23rd December 2023

Mailed application through USPS on January 5th 2024

According to USPS tracking it was delivered on January 10th 2024

Application received email: 23rd January 2024

Application approved email: 27th October 2024

Congrats! Now the wait for the certificate itself. Use USPS Informed Delivery to see when it shows up in USA.
If getting passport you'll need a digital photo to upload & numbers on the FBR certificate to apply online. Then save PDF & printout 3 pages for the things mailed to Dublin.

jgclancy

[pcbbc]

I submitted my FBR application at the end of September 2024.
My UK passport (the one that I sent a certified copy of) expires end of May 2025.

Question: What are the implications of renewing my UK passport now, i.e. before my FBR gets looked at?
Will the FBR care?
Indeed, do they have any way to check? (I suspect probably not).

I've no plans to travel until Summer next year, so happy to leave my renewal until May. But work like me to have a up-to-date passport that is ready to go if needed.

Thoughts anyone?

[Hachimaru]

I submitted my FBR application at the end of September 2024.
My UK passport (the one that I sent a certified copy of) expires end of May 2025.

Question: What are the implications of renewing my UK passport now, i.e. before my FBR gets looked at?
Will the FBR care?
Indeed, do they have any way to check? (I suspect probably not).

I've no plans to travel until Summer next year, so happy to leave my renewal until May. But work like me to have a up-to-date passport that is ready to go if needed.

Thoughts anyone?

My own speculative thoughts would be if your applicaton drags on past the expiry date they may ask you to send in another notified Passport ID
Other than that, your passport seems to expire just before the turnarond time. So it maybe advantageous to get a new one somewhere around March 2025 ? To head off that scenario .

[pcbbc]

My own speculative thoughts would be if your application drags on past the expiry date they may ask you to send in another notified Passport ID

Yes potentially there's that issue as well...

But given a 10 year passport and the 9 month application time (and much longer a few years ago) that would potentially impact over 7% of all applications. Yet we don't see people reporting they had to re-submit their passports.

My questions was more along the lines of the implications of invalidating my current passport by renewing it. But I don't think there's any way for FBR to validate if foreign passports have been renewed, and so it won't actually matter in that regard.

[CA2IE]

I had the same issue. I had an international trip planned in April 2024 and my passport was set to expire in July 2024. Most countries require that your passport be valid for 6 months after entry into their country, which meant that I had no choice but to renew my passport. I got a copy of my new passport notarized and submitted that as an update, a supplement to my already submitted Irish citizenship application. I am a 2022 applicant who is still awaiting a decision from the Justice department, so I don't know if my new passport extended the processing time or not - it's already been 2 1/2 years since I applied and they now have copies of 2 passports from me! But I had no choice - I needed to get a new passport, so it is what it is!

[Hachimaru]

I had the same issue. I had an international trip planned in April 2024 and my passport was set to expire in July 2024. Most countries require that your passport be valid for 6 months after entry into their country, which meant that I had no choice but to renew my passport. I got a copy of my new passport notarized and submitted that as an update, a supplement to my already submitted Irish citizenship application. I am a 2022 applicant who is still awaiting a decision from the Justice department, so I don't know if my new passport extended the processing time or not - it's already been 2 1/2 years since I applied and they now have copies of 2 passports from me! But I had no choice - I needed to get a new passport, so it is what it is!

I would be tempted to get on the blower for a update if it was me as people are coming and going whilst you are in limbo

[GoingBackBackToEire]

Hi jg. This is great stuff. I'd like to add it to our FAQ at /r/IrishCitizenship subreddit if you don't mind.
I have a few questions.

I have directly helped about 50 people with their paperwork for applying to get on the Irish Foreign Birth Registration through descent from grandparents. Many others with advice online.

First of all, that's amazing.
How do you find people that need help? Or how do they find you?

I put everything in different manila envelopes.
One with grandparents BMD documents - outside has grandparents name / the application number & lists all documents
One with parents BMD documents. -outside has parent name / the application number and lists al documents
One with applicants BMD documents/ photographs in small envelope /each proof of address / application -list all on outside

What's BMD? "Birth/Marriage/Death" certificates, I assume, but the part referring to the applicant's death certificate threw me.

Technically, nothing needs to be notarized. They ask for a witness to just certify things. I can't tell you how many people get witnesses & documents rejected but it is not uncommon.
I get things notarized whenever I can which seems to be better in my never so humble opinion. If you don't that's okay too. In USA getting things notarized is rather easy.

Also, the term "personally known" for the witness does not mean they have to be your friend or any time period. They just have to believe you are who you say you are.

Sometimes a notary says they won't notarize an ID. Explain to them they are not notarizing the ID but that they are notarizing the statement the witness adds. Not the ID itself. Again, notarizing is not necessary. Just the Valid witness certifying is what they ask you to provide.

Good Luck---jgclancy

We've had a big YMMV with notaries as witness in the US. Some act as a witness just fine. Others say they cannot, it would be illegal for them to do it, or put their license at risk. Some take "personally known" to mean much more than that. It seems to vary by state but IDK.

[jgclancy]

Hi jg. This is great stuff. I'd like to add it to our FAQ at /r/IrishCitizenship subreddit if you don't mind.
I have a few questions.

I have directly helped about 50 people with their paperwork for applying to get on the Irish Foreign Birth Registration through descent from grandparents. Many others with advice online.

First of all, that's amazing.
How do you find people that need help? Or how do they find you?

Friends & relatives plus I am on a few Facebook groups where people have an interest in Ireland & FBR- if I lived in the UK I think I'd be swamped with interest in helping people. I am very good at finding Irish civil records & NYC Municipal records in particular. Happy to help anyone.

I put everything in different manila envelopes.
One with grandparents BMD documents - outside has grandparents name / the application number & lists all documents
One with parents BMD documents. -outside has parent name / the application number and lists al documents
One with applicants BMD documents/ photographs in small envelope /each proof of address / application -list all on outside

What's BMD? "Birth/Marriage/Death" certificates, I assume, but the part referring to the applicant's death certificate threw me.

Yes BMD is a common term for Birth, Marriage , Death in Genealogy. Usually for just FBR I add "or ID* but I missed that this time. Oops

Technically, nothing needs to be notarized. They ask for a witness to just certify things. I can't tell you how many people get witnesses & documents rejected but it is not uncommon.
I get things notarized whenever I can which seems to be better in my never so humble opinion. If you don't that's okay too. In USA getting things notarized is rather easy.

Also, the term "personally known" for the witness does not mean they have to be your friend or any time period. They just have to believe you are who you say you are.

Sometimes a notary says they won't notarize an ID. Explain to them they are not notarizing the ID but that they are notarizing the statement the witness adds. Not the ID itself. Again, notarizing is not necessary. Just the Valid witness certifying is what they ask you to provide.

Good Luck---jgclancy

We've had a big YMMV with notaries as witness in the US. Some act as a witness just fine. Others say they cannot, it would be illegal for them to do it, or put their license at risk. Some take "personally known" to mean much more than that. It seems to vary by state but IDK.

Yes. Notaries tend to be cautious but the law is the law. States rules are vary. Notarizing an ID isn't allowed in many states BUT notarizing an ID copy with a a declarative statement ie: I, John Doe, attest that this is a true copy of the applicants ( Mary Contrary) passport - is able to be notarized. They are just notarizing the declarative statement made by the signee and not that the image is a true copy.
In one case, I saw that someone had a separate page with the declarative statement-signed & dated with a notary stamp. Details of the ID included on separate page too. The notary was okay with that but not stamping it on the photocopy. Odd but it worked. It varies from notaries who will do what BUT--yes they can notarize it this way legally.

"personally known" is an actual legal term :

What is PERSONALLY KNOWN
a legal statement that acknowledges a person’s identity and can be recognized.

That's it. They don't have to be your friend or have previous knowledge of the person .There is no set amount of time involved. If I give a notary my ID(s) and they are satisfied that I am that person in the ID(s) then I am now personally known to him. All there is to it.
Now in some places (I believe the UK passport application for one) they add wording that includes a time amount. Then it must followed.
It just means the person has been identified and you think they are who they say they are.


Hope that helps
jgclancy