Baby’s Identification Documents
Birth Certificate
Social Security Card
Passport
How do I apply for my baby’s birth certificate?
For Homebirth families they are directed to call the Health Department of the county that they reside in. The county Health Department will mail them an application for a birth certificate or you can click this link Indiana Birth Certificate Application and print it off and it is something that together they and their midwives can fill out. Once it is filled out it is mailed back in and an appointment will be set for your family to vist the Health Department. Mom and Dad need to bring driver’s license / state ID cards, they will also need to bring in a utility bill that has been mailed to their home address with their names on it. The following link is a listing of every county in Indiana with Birth Certificate contact info and fees.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/indiana.htm
Will I have trouble getting my baby’s birth certificate because of a homebirth?
If you are told you can’t get a birth certificate with a home birth, ask kindly to speak to a supervisor. It is best to remain calm and friendly, regardless of the attitude of the person you are speaking to. They may even tell you that homebirth is illegal. Of course, they are wrong. No state can regulate whether you have your baby at home or not.
How long do I have to file a birth certificate form?
It is recommended that you call shortly after birth to receive the birth certificate application in the mail and begin filling it out. The process seems to be smoother prior to 6 weeks postpartum.
How do I apply for my baby’s Social Security Number (SSN) ?
You have two choices. You can:
- Apply for SSN in the hospital when you furnish information for your baby’s birth certificate. It is always much easy to apply at the birth time. You will be asked if you want to apply for a SSN for your baby. If “yes”, you need to provide both parents SSN. Your baby will be assigned a number which will be directly mailed to you.
- You can apply later also for a SSN, through the Social Security Administration Office. You will need to:
- Fill out an SSN application. (You need to provide both parents SSN’s.)
- Show evidence of your child’s age, identity and citizenship.
- Show evidence of your identity.
- Find your nearest Social Security Office http://www.ssa.gov/
- IF you have not received your baby’s SSN in 6 weeks after applying for the birth certificate, you will need to call your local SS office and possibly take identifying information to the SS office and fill out an application for a SSN.
What if I lose the card?
Keep your baby’s SSN card in a safe place. It’s an important document. However, if you lose the card, it can be replaced free of charge at your nearest social security office.
What documents do I need to take to the SS office with me to prove identity?
You will also need to submit at least two documents as evidence of your age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status.
Age: They prefer to see your birth certificate. If you were born in the U.S. and applying for a SSN at age one or older, theymust verify your birth certificate with the issuing agency, generally the State Birth Registrar’s office, prior to processing your application. However, they can accept other documents, such as a religious record made before you were 3 months old. If you were born outside the U.S., they can accept your passport.
Identity: They must see a document in the name you want shown on the card. The identity document must be of recent issuance so that they can determine your continued existence. They prefer to see a document with a photograph. However, they can generally accept a non-photo identity document if it has enough information to identify you (e.g., your name as well as your age, date of birth, or parents’ names). They cannot accept a birth certificate or hospital birth record as evidence of identity. Some documents that can be accepted as proof of identity are:
- Driver’s license
- Marriage or divorce record
- Military records
- Employer ID card
- Adoption record
- Life insurance policy
- Passport
- Health Insurance card (not a Medicare card)
- School ID card
- U.S. Citizenship: We can accept most documents that show you were born in the U.S. If you are a U.S. citizen born outside the U.S., show us a U.S. consular report of birth, a
- U.S. passport, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Certificate of Naturalization.
NOTE: They cannot accept photocopies of documents. You must submit original documents or copies certified by the custodian of the record. Notarized copies are not acceptable.
How Do I Apply for My Baby’s Passport?
If applying for your child under age 13:
As a parent or legal guardian you may apply for your child. Normally, your child need not appear in person. However, passport agents reserve the right to require appearance of your child. Both the parents are required to show their current valid ID. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must show an alien registration card (“green card”), valid foreign passport, or driver’s license. If you do not have acceptable ID, someone with current valid ID must vouch for you as described above.
What are the documents required:
Provide Two Passport Photos.
Your photographs must be: 2×2 inches in size, identical, taken within the past 6 months, showing full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background. Do not wear a hat or headgear.
Original copy of your child’s birth certificate. (Xerox copies are not accepted).
Copy of your child’s Social Security Number. (Xerox copies are accepted).
Both the parents ID such as Driver’s License or passport etc.
Application form.
passport fee and processing fee.
** Note: A child would be issued a Passport valid maximum for five(5) years.
Do I Need to Obtain a Separate Passport for My Baby?
Yes. All persons, including newborn infants, are required to obtain passports in their own names.
Where to apply ?
There are over 4,500 public places that accept passport applications, all over the United states.
Find out the nearest location and office where you can apply for a passport.
How much time does it take to get the passport?
Apply several months in advance of your planned departure. Allow more time for visa from the foreign embassy. Routine Service will take normally, about 6 weeks time. And it will be mailed to you. But there are different services available, you can opt any one which suits you most. Faster the service, more will be the fee. So don’t plan on traveling with a new baby for at least 6 weeks after a birth!
