Originally Posted by Nona
you have to send an original certified birth certifcate, not one that came from the hospital. It will be returned to you with your passport. Now is a good time to apply because the closer it gets to summer time (a large travel period) the longer it takes. It will be good for 10 years. Unless you are planning to loose huge amounts of weight I don't think it will matter.
I need to apply for it now, I need to make a copy of it for my application for the program I am applying to which the application is due September 1st.