I'm having the most difficult time in obtaining my father's birth certificate from Manitoba. Here's the situation: I'm a Canadian citizen by descent, 1st generation born abroad to a Canadian/US citizen in the US. I'm applying for my certificate of citizenship soon and need a copy of my father's birth certificate from Manitoba.
I have all of the details for my father, even including a photocopy of his Manitoba birth certificate without his parent's names and birthplaces. I cannot obtain his parent's birthplaces although I do know they were born in Canada probably around 1910 as he and his family are all deceased and no other records with this information exist. I've checked all available Canadian province genealogical indexes and US records to no avail.
I've only told Manitoba that I need his birth certificate for personal records, nothing else. But their position seems to firmly be that if I don't have my grandparent's birthplaces, that I should simply go away. Each time I send in an application, they either reject it or ask for correct information to be resubmitted. I've called them on the phone, and they repeat that I must have my grandparent's birthplaces to process my application.
Is there any advice you could give about how I can deal with this and what language I should use with the vital statistics agency about my rights as a Canadian citizen? I believe I am entitled to my own father's birth certificate as he is no longer alive, but I don't wish to say something stupid and then have to go to court to get this birth certificate. Here in the US, getting vital records is extremely easy so I am shocked by this situation to say the least.
Thanks for your help.
I have all of the details for my father, even including a photocopy of his Manitoba birth certificate without his parent's names and birthplaces. I cannot obtain his parent's birthplaces although I do know they were born in Canada probably around 1910 as he and his family are all deceased and no other records with this information exist. I've checked all available Canadian province genealogical indexes and US records to no avail.
I've only told Manitoba that I need his birth certificate for personal records, nothing else. But their position seems to firmly be that if I don't have my grandparent's birthplaces, that I should simply go away. Each time I send in an application, they either reject it or ask for correct information to be resubmitted. I've called them on the phone, and they repeat that I must have my grandparent's birthplaces to process my application.
Is there any advice you could give about how I can deal with this and what language I should use with the vital statistics agency about my rights as a Canadian citizen? I believe I am entitled to my own father's birth certificate as he is no longer alive, but I don't wish to say something stupid and then have to go to court to get this birth certificate. Here in the US, getting vital records is extremely easy so I am shocked by this situation to say the least.
Thanks for your help.