refeikamme wrote: ↑Sun Jun 26, 2022 12:52 am
Okay so I'm trying to deep dive and figure out exactly what I need to submit myself for the FBR. Considering how long the wait is I figure the sooner the better. I have a (somewhat) complex situation that I can't seem to find anyone else has discussed on here, so hoping someone may have insight?
My father was adopted in NYC in the 60's. At the time it was a closed adoption, so he knew his mother was an Irish immigrant, but no identifying info. His birth certificate only listed his adoptive parents. A couple of years ago NYC opened up all previously closed adoptions and he was able to get a copy of his original birth cert with his bio mother's name (only hers, there is no father listed and she was unmarried at the time).
As far as documents needed to submit - I am hoping that his original BC with his surname listed as his Irish bio mother's, along with his adopted BC with his surname listed as his adopted mother's will be enough (this my legal surname as well)? There's no adoption cert or name change document that has both his original surname name and adopted surname name on it as far as I know? So I'm hoping they will accept that he is the same person on both BCs...
For my grandmother, I was able to trace enough information to request a birth certificate from Ireland. From what I could find she married a few years after my father was born, and I found an obituary with her married name so I was able to request a death cert as well. The only document for her I am missing is that marriage certificate. I know her and her husband's names but I can't find anything that is public to indicate where they were married. I think it was in NYC, but don't just want to mail in money half-blind only to receive a notice that they don't have it in their records. And if it wasn't in NYC I have no other lead so it will be a dead end. I believe the death certificate will list her parents, which will hopefully match the parents on her birth certificate, and since her maiden name is the one my father shares with her I am hoping they can overlook the missing marriage cert? Has anyone had a successful application without it?
Also if anyone has an email address to the FBR office so I can also inquire directly with them that would be appreciated! All I could find is a phone number and I feel like this might be a lot to explain or ask over the phone lol.
Thanks all!
I don't want to be a wet blanket for you and certainly wish you luck, but I don't think it works that direction. For me I was adopted by an Irish family in NYC, and I have the rights granted by the adopted family and was able to get the Irish Citizenship through them. I don't believe it works the other way around, because essentially his birth family gave up all legal rights to him with the adoption. So for example, I'm half Italian by birth and based on my ancestry research, I would qualify for Italian citizenship if I was never put up for adoption. But because my birth father's name never appears on any birth documents (even on the originals) there is no way to prove the line. They don't take a DNA test as proof unfortunately.
That said, if he is still alive, he can order his original birth certifcate with the adoption papers from NY State and you can send that in and see if that works, but if he isn't I don't believe you can get the records of an adoptee from NY for a deceased person.
I wish you luck though and curious if do qualify that way. If you can't get through to the FBR, I would suggest either calling the Irish Consulate in NY or a place that deals with Irish Emmigration over here. Maybe they can answer your question.
The NYC Irish embassy is a good idea because if anyone has dealt with them yet it would likely be them. Thanks!
