Getting birth certificate in DC

[peterst]

Hi all,

My wife is due on March 5 and we are planning to return home to Europe in May.

We need a passport first for the newborn, and for that we need a birth certificate.

Does anyone know please how long it takes to get a birth certificate in DC?

Many thanks

Peter

[Anonymous]

About a week, maybe? I picked my daughter's up at the office soon after I got home from the hospital.

[Anonymous]

You might only need a birth certificate, not a passport. Check and see.

[Anonymous]

an hour or so if you go to the Vital records office.

[Anonymous]

I ordered by mail and it was maybe 10 days until they arrived (but not this was the slowest/cheapest option). It took a couple weeks to get a passport appointment at the post office, FYI. We did passport pics at CVS but had to bring a white sheet or blanket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might only need a birth certificate, not a passport. Check and see.

How would you only need a birth certificate to go to Europe?

[Anonymous]

Add on question.... How long did it take others to get a social security card? Did it automatically come (after completing hospital paperwork) or did you take another step?

[Anonymous]

SS card comes automatically as long as you complete the application for one at the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Add on question.... How long did it take others to get a social security card? Did it automatically come (after completing hospital paperwork) or did you take another step?

It comes automatically if you request it at the hospital. How long depends on state. You can check on the SSA site how long it has been taking in your state. My kids usually took about a month to arrive (not DC)

[Anonymous]

At the hospital they told us it takes 7-10 days from the birth for it to be registered with the office of vital records. After that, you can pick up your birth certificate any time at the office. It's a very quick and easy process.
The passport application requires both parents to be present (or provide a notarized affidavit if only one can make it). You need to make an appointment in advance. The passport itself took 4 weeks to arrive after that.

[Anonymous]

That's very helpful and a big relief -- thanks!

[Anonymous]

We thought our hospital (Sibley, three years ago) completed the request for birth certificate for us, but it turned out they just filled out all the paperwork and we had to send it in. We didn't figure that out until after a few weeks when we thought it should have arrived, so make sure you know who is taking care of what!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the hospital they told us it takes 7-10 days from the birth for it to be registered with the office of vital records. After that, you can pick up your birth certificate any time at the office. It's a very quick and easy process.
The passport application requires both parents to be present (or provide a notarized affidavit if only one can make it). You need to make an appointment in advance. The passport itself took 4 weeks to arrive after that.

If you have plans of travel, you can get passport same day downtown for the same expedited fee as mail expedited.

[Anonymous]

Just chiming in here...we delivered at Washington Hospital Center. Is it correct to assume we will not automatically be mailed a birth certificate? We received the SS card in the mail about a week after the birth but going on week 3 without the birth certificate.

[Anonymous]

Yes. You have to request it.