Make sure that you don't get married/child birth somewhere in the pampas. Makes it incredible difficult for authorities to authenticate docs if they have any doubts (and more expensive for you). Make everything happen in PP and make sure that everything is REALLY REGISTERED with the Cambodians.

Advocatus Diaboli wrote:Also be aware that "hospital certificates of birth" are not accepted by Americans. You need an official one.

Yea, as AD stated, the hospitals certificate of birth is not an official document and won't be recognised by anyone, apart from the Commune Chief who will use it as a part of the verification process to issue the official Cambodian Birth Certificate.

Advocatus Diaboli wrote:

PBR STREETGANG wrote:You should submit an application for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad to the U.S. Embassy once the child is born.

Exactly, and to get this in Cambodia is not only a pain in the ass, it's also very expensive (you got to pay all the Cambodian authorities)



Good luck - you need it.

Wow you guys get a diploma for a birth certificate ?

There are many questions for the OP that will be asked throughout the process-assuming he needs to apply only for a CRBA-What is the status of his citizenship in the U.S.? Is he married? The marriage status is key, especially if planning a return to the States. If he can satisfy the U.S. Government that the child is his, it's just a matter of time, paperwork, and money until a passport is issued. However, if there is doubt or suspicion on behalf of the authorities...unmarried, bogus docs, will definitely be frowned upon.

Basically, if the OP is on the up and up, he'll just have to endure what any of us do.

Keep a daily log, take pictures and/or video, be present at the birth, etc.

It sounds as though he has a son on the way, so congratulations.

Thanks for all the advice so far guys. I'm on the up and up, and am fully expecting this whole process to have a few hiccups along the way. I plan to file the report of birth abroad and the application for citizenship as well. (Eventually want to make the move to the U.S., but that's another thread entirely.)

Good to know that the hospital birth cert. isn't "official". This might be a stupid question, but is there an "official" price for the commune chief to change the hospital copy into an official one? I don't imagine there are price lists anywhere, anybody at least know of a going rate as a frame of reference? We're in Shv, so we plan on everything happening here, as logistically planning a birth in Phnom Penh might be not be so feasible.

Mr. Yan wrote:This might be a stupid question, but is there an "official" price for the commune chief to change the hospital copy into an official one? I don't imagine there are price lists anywhere, anybody at least know of a going rate as a frame of reference?

There are usually official price lists posted at the Sangkat offices, but the price you actually pay will vary depending on how quickly you want the documents processed and you/your partner's negotiating skills, no matter what, you will still pay the inflated "Barang' price.

The father and mother must both be present, as well as the baby, so that the commune chief can make sure the baby looks like the parents (I kid you not!), must take both sets of parents ID (passport for foreigner), and Khmer parents Family Book...If this is her first child, then she can get a new family book started, foreign father can apparently be added to this family book, my friend managed to have this done but he said it cost him significantly extra.

Regarding birth certificate: Country side it's about $ 10 (with waiting period), Phnom Penh it's about $ 20 (also with waiting period). This would be the prices for a Cambodian. Foreigner in PP without waiting period about $ 50. You will not need a family book for US citizenship purposes, the official birth certificat will do it.

Good advice guys. Happy to have a ballpark price for the official cert. Will keep on documenting everything with pics too. Phuket, I will definitely bring a couple of signed papers from friends and family. At least I won't have to argue being here for the conception, that would probably be pretty difficult one to win. Haha.

I have done it twice. The process is fairly simple and painless. Unless they doubt you...........there is no need for a DNA test. Make sure you do it straight away and get his passport and Social Security card.