Mexico to issue birth certificates to citizens at its US consulates

California Highway Patrol officers Armando Garcia, right, and Ray Patton explain to immigrants the process of getting a drivers license during an information session at the Mexican Consulate, in San Diego. (AP)

The Mexican government will issue birth certificates to its citizens at consulates in the United States to make it easier for them to apply for a U.S. work permit, driver’s license and protection from deportation.

Previously, Mexico required citizens to get birth certificates at government offices in Mexico. Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. can ask friends and relatives back home to retrieve them, but it delays their applications for immigration or other programs.

Mexico is trying to help millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S. apply for programs that would allow them to remain temporarily in the country and continue sending money to relatives across the border, despite Republicans in Congress trying to quash President Obama’s immigration reform plan.

“It is a huge help. It helps individuals really begin to formulate their formal identity in this country,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.

About half of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally are from Mexico, and immigration experts estimate that roughly 3 million Mexicans could be eligible to apply for work permits and protection from deportation under the administration’s plan.

About two weeks ago, California — which is home to more Mexicans than any other state — began issuing driver’s licenses to immigrants in the country illegally

Starting Thursday, the country’s 50 consulates in the United States will be able to access data in Mexico and print birth certificates at the consulates.

Consulates should be able to issue birth certificates for nearly all birthplaces in Mexico, aside from rural communities, Arturo Sanchez, consult for press and commerical affairs in Santa Ana, California, said.

Over the past year, the Santa Ana consulate has seen a surge in the demand for documents. Daily appointments have jumped by a third to nearly 400, with many people trying to get birth certificates, Sanchez said.

Mexican immigrants usually seek birth certificates to obtain a passport or consular identification card so they can then apply for a driver’s license or immigration relief, he said.

In California, Mexican consular officials have supported the rollout of the new driver’s license program, holding information sessions and offering test preparation classes to help immigrants pass the written test required to get a license.

Mexican migrant workers, many who live in the United States, sent home $21.6 billion to their families in 2013, according to the country’s central bank.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Mexico to issue birth certificates to citizens at its US consulates

Copies for lost GSAT birth certificates

Dear Claudienne

I am the principal of a primary school in Portland. Three years ago I took the birth certificates for six children from my school to the Region 2 office of the Ministry of Education, for verification for GSAT.The birth certificates were received by an education officer at the Region 2 office. At that time the ministry procedure was for the birth certificates to be taken to the regional office. Officers from the Ministry of Education would then visit the regional office and check them off (verify the information on them), then return the birth certificates to the school. However, shortly after leaving the birth certificates at the Region 2 office I went on four months’ leave. During the time I was on leave I kept checking with the acting principal to find out if the birth certificates had been returned to the school. However, they were never returned.When I returned from leave and asked the education officer for the birth certificates she said, “They were right here on my desk” but she could not find them.I had to pay the RGD the express fee to replace two of the missing birth certificates as the parents needed the documents urgently.I need the Region 2 office to urgently replace the other four lost birth certificates and I have provided them with all the information needed for them to do so. I have given them the names of the children, their dates of birth, their mothers’ names and the hospital where they were born. The Region 2 office should experience no difficulty in replacing them, as there is an RGD office in Port Antonio, but nothing has been done.The education officer has offered to pay $2,000 for copies of the birth certificates to be obtained, but that money is not sufficient as each would cost a minimum of $850 and the waiting period after applying is at least three months. In any event I do not want the Region 2 office to give me money. What I need are the birth certificates. The parents have asked me for the birth certificates and the situation is embarrassing.I urgently need the Region 2 office to resolve this matter.BGDear BGTell Claudienne brought this matter to the attention of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and we note that the problem has been resolved. Now that the matter is resolved, you say that you will use the money to apply to the RGD for copies of birth certificates for the four children.Good luck.Dear ClaudienneI purchased a Digicel BlackBerry 9320 from their dealer 3 A’ s Cellular and Computer Supplies in Old Harbour on January 3, 2013. I paid $26,276 for this phone. After the purchase I noted that the media card was missing. I was informed that “no media card came with the handset although it uses one,” and so I purchased one for $950.Subsequently, I noticed that the phone began “freezing” when I attempted to use it. It was returned to the dealer on February 14, 2013. The telephone was repaired and returned to me. I continued using the instrument. Sometime in April I noticed that the problem had recurred. The telephone was again returned to the dealer. I was given a replacement phone on April 29, 2013. I immediately noticed that this “new” phone contained an e-mail dated February 28, 2006, and text messages from 2010. I reported this to the dealer as evidence that the “new” phone was in fact an old one. I was told that I would be contacted by Digicel, but no-one contacted me. I continued to use the phone.On May 24, 2013 this “new replacement” phone began to malfunction — the track ball is freezing. I have returned the instrument to the dealer and am now using a loaner phone.I am frustrated. I need to have a telephone that is functioning properly. I have called and left messages for the managers at After Sales, Digicel to contact me, but no-one has done so.I would like to be reimbursed for this purchase.Thank you in advance for your help.JCDear JCDigicel has advised us that both devices used by you [your original purchase and subsequent replacement] were tested and no fault found. Digicel did not find the phones to be freezing or malfunctioning. However, Digicel said that based on the dealer’s “escalation” and request, the unit was replaced twice. Tell Claudienne notes that the second replacement phone was upgraded to the BB9360 and couriered to you on Friday, June 21.Digicel explained why the first new replacement phone contained an e-mail dated February 28, 2006. Digicel said:“The first brand new replacement showed the BlackBerry welcome e-mail dated as at the date of manufacture. JC did not complete the set-up immediately after inputting her SIM card. The text message mentioned was the BlackBerry welcome text from Digicel as at the same date as well. This was explained to the dealer when she relayed the content of both messages.Calls were made to the customer at the first return as requested by the dealer. All other subsequent correspondence/escalations were made directly by the dealer representative who was also aware of plans to have the device upgraded.“In terms of this last replacement, DC would have received the same manufacturer welcome message from BlackBerry again.”Good luck.Have a problem with a store, utility, a company: telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.

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Copies for lost GSAT birth certificates