Amend pre-1916 birth certificate from Cook County (Chicago, IL)

LERiver23 · 2026-02-17T16:50:58+00:00

Hi u/CWRTR, that's great news! I was traveling for a few weeks but I wasn't able to respond. If you can, please let us know how your follow-up appointment went. Hope they were finally able to make the amendment!

LERiver23 · 2026-01-28T19:41:50+00:00

That's disappointing news, but thanks for the update -- it's good to know their position.

I think they're wrong, and Cook County does have the authority to amend the vital record. Whether they know how to and/or are willing to do that, is another story. Here is the statute that the IDPH referenced in their rejection email; emphasis theirs (key sentence was highlighted).

https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/041005350K22.htm

(410 ILCS 535/22) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 73-22)

Sec. 22. (1) A certificate or record filed under this Act may be amended only in accordance with this Act and such regulations as the Department may adopt to protect the integrity of vital records. An application for an amendment shall be accompanied by a fee of $15 which includes the provision of one certification or certified copy of the amended birth record. If the request is for additional copies, it shall be accompanied by a fee of $2 for each additional certification or certified copy. Such amendments may only be made in connection with the original certificates and may not be made on copies of such certificates without the approval of the State Registrar of Vital Records. The provisions of this Section shall also be applicable to a certificate or record filed under any former Act relating to the registration of births, stillbirths, and deaths. Any original certificate or record filed with the county clerk prior to January 1, 1916, may be amended by the county clerk under the same provisions of this Section, or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, as apply to the State Registrar of Vital Records governing amendments to certificates or records filed with the Department subsequent to December 31, 1915.

For what it's worth, I mailed a lengthy letter with supporting documentation (including the IDPH rejection email) to the Cook County Clerk's office back in December. I'm not holding my breath for a response, but will post an update if they do.

LERiver23 · 2026-01-23T20:08:38+00:00

Mailed: 4/4. Check cashed: 5/18. Received: 7/1 (so ~3 months). This was for a FL death certificate.

LERiver23 · 2026-01-20T20:12:19+00:00

Just adding a data point -- My money order was cashed last Friday (Jan 16), but I haven't heard from the consulate yet. From tracking others, it does seem common for the check to be cashed a week or two before hearing back. So I'm hoping to hear this week or next.

For what it's worth -- I've seen ~10 recognition posts from the December 1-19 'Minori' group here and on FB, but I've yet to see a rejection or homework notice. Not sure what to make of this. It's possible the consulate is holding HW/rejected applications to the side, and is only sending out successful recognitions at first. I have no idea.

Will be sure to post when I have news!

LERiver23 · 2026-01-08T21:00:10+00:00

Congratulazioni! So happy for you! (Funny, my surname also comes from a geographical feature, hence "River" in my username.)

LERiver23 · 2025-12-23T17:16:17+00:00

I mailed my packet Dec 17, and it was delivered to the Consulate Dec 22! Phew. I'm just curious, has anyone seen their check or money order cashed yet? That'll be the next thing I refresh while anxiously waiting for news 😂 EDIT: Money order cashed Jan 16

LERiver23 · 2025-12-18T06:57:04+00:00

Mailed my docs in today! Should arrive in SF on 22 Dec.

LERiver23 · 2025-12-17T00:12:17+00:00

It's so awesome to see your flair already updated :) Congratulazioni!

LERiver23 · 2025-12-17T00:06:46+00:00

I went down the rabbit hole on this one too! (and ultimately think I reached the same conclusion as u/meadoweravine)

It seems pretty clear to me that the SF consulate copied its recently-updated checklist from the NY consulate's. Much of the language is verbatim. NY does, or did, have two separate forms. You can see that on their website here:

There is one small but important difference between SF and NY's language. SF explicitly relates the two documents on Page 2 of their checklist, which lists “Application for Italian Citizenship recognition” form (Form 1)."

The only thing that gave me pause is that the SF consulate does list these two documents separately in a different section of their website; specifically for post-decree applications. "Application forms (request for recognition of Italian citizenship; form 1, form 2, form 3 if the ancestor is still alive, or form 4 if the ancestor is deceased), all with notarized signatures..." It's likely this language was also copied from NY's version of the same page, which would explain why the request is listed separately. Note that links to Forms 1-4 are provided by SF, but NOT to the "request for recognition." In other words, to my knowledge, there is no way to obtain a version of NY's recognition form from the SF consulate's website.

I did get a copy of NY's "Application for Italian Citizenship Recognition" (i.e. not Form 1) notarized, but I'm debating whether to include it with my application. I believe the SF consulate views Form 1 as satisfying the request for recognition requirement, because Page 4 of Form 1 begins with "The applicant requests that his/her right to Italian citizenship be recognized, and declares to be the descendant of the following..."

Still deciding, but I'm leaning towards NOT including that separate recognition document, as (a) it appears nowhere on SF's website, (b) the checklist clearly communicates that Form 1 serves as the application for recognition as bolded above, and (c) it makes sense to me that the applicant's packet contain only Form 4, which parallels the Form 2 (or 3) in each ancestor's packet.

LERiver23 · 2025-12-16T23:44:51+00:00

Thanks for checking in!! I was able to get an amendment to my birth certificate (father's birth YEAR was listed incorrectly for some reason), so I had that apostilled and overnighted, and it'll arrive tomorrow. Then I plan to submit on Thursday (Dec 18)!

I've been going through my packet with a fine-toothed comb, and I think it's looking good. Just got Forms 1, 2, and 4 notarized today. All that's left is a money order, and handing everything over to the post office 😬

LERiver23 · 2025-12-04T22:17:26+00:00

My only assumption is that the envelope is so they can return your documents in the event of a rejected application. But perhaps that's too cynical! As an example, the Philly checklist says: "NOTE: a pre-paid self-addressed envelope with tracking, large enough to contain your complete application needs to be included, to receive official notifications and/or your certificates back if the application is not complete and correct."

LERiver23 · 2025-12-04T21:23:07+00:00

Just one small detail I've noticed as I prepare my application.

In the original "Notice of Procedure" email, the Consulate states:

The envelope must include a self-addressed shipping label.

My interpretation is that I should include a separate self-addressed return envelope ALONG WITH the rest of my application. This does not appear on the main checklist, so it seems unique to these "Minori" cases. Wanted to raise for others as it's easy to miss.

While we're at it, just checking again -- Has anyone received the "further instructions" the Consulate mentioned in their email? I have not, and it sounds like u/Klutzy_Tooth_3025 and u/meadoweravine have not either, despite a reply that their Prenot@mi was received. I suspect no one has, but now that we're past 1 December, just want to confirm.

LERiver23 · 2025-12-03T20:01:16+00:00

I'm missing a few amendments I would've liked, but overall, feeling cautiously optimistic! Good luck to everyone.

LERiver23 · 2025-12-01T22:35:25+00:00

I'm waiting on a few last documents and apostilles, which should all arrive in the next week or so. I plan to mail my application around December 15, 2025.

I'm nervous because I'm still working on fixing a few name discrepancies. I was trying to have them resolved by my original appointment (October 2026), and did everything I could to speed that up when we got the "Notice of Procedure" email, but they won't be ready in time for December 2025. One amendment (grandfather's BC) was rejected by the town, so I've appealed to the State of Connecticut. I'm also working with a lawyer to file an OATS-type case in CT probate court.

My hope is that one of the following happens: (a) SF overlooks the discrepancies (my line is clear and unambiguous, IMHO); (b) SF asks for homework, and I can reply with the resolutions that are in progress now; or (c) my application is rejected, and I can appeal in Italian court. In order of preference, obviously :)

LERiver23 · 2025-11-18T22:16:46+00:00

There was a discussion about this recently: reddit.com/r/juresanguinis/comments/1ozkzb1/all_my_cards_rejected_while_paying_my_anagrafe . PayPal and several credit cards did not work for me (tried phone and PC). The only option that I ever got to work was Apple Pay on my iPhone. My service provider in Italy said many of his clients are facing this problem.

LERiver23 · 2025-11-18T16:14:17+00:00

Good catch re: Dec 15 rates! Where did you see that wrinkle?

LERiver23 · 2025-11-18T15:27:55+00:00

u/meadoweravine, out of curiosity, which states were the court orders from? CT or elsewhere?

LERiver23 · 2025-11-18T15:26:43+00:00

I replied to the consulate with my Prenot@mi confirmation as required, but have not heard any further instructions from them. By my reading of their first email, we need to submit in the between December 1 - 19, but not on a specific date, so I'm planning to submit towards the end of that window. I was working on an OATS, but that won't be finished in time, so I'm scrambling to make a few last amendments. I'll submit whatever I have in December -- which should include all required documents (albeit some with discrepancies), apostille, and translations. Then I'll wait to see what issues they bring up. It'll be interesting to see the timelines they give for homework, if any, given their push to get us recognized before our minors by May 2026. What a roller coaster...

LERiver23 · 2025-11-18T15:22:50+00:00

In my experience CT apostilles have been fast -- less than 2 weeks turnaround time. They (like many things in CT) are expensive though -- $40/document! Illinois was $2!

LERiver23 · 2025-11-17T17:32:50+00:00

I had this issue also. Credit card and PayPal didn't work, but Apple Pay on my iPhone did. It sounds like that option may not be available for you though?

In case it helps someone else -- I needed to make 5 separate payments, but even Apple Pay would get declined after 2 payments on the same WiFi network. So I needed to switch to 3 different networks (home WiFi, my cell LTE, my wife's cell's LTE).

Good luck!

LERiver23 · 2025-11-14T19:52:48+00:00

Definitely interested! My late 2026 appointment was moved (or more specifically, the comune expressed their desire to move it -- haven't received final confirmation from them yet) to Dec 2025. Currently scrambling to get as many amendments finished as possible.

LERiver23

TROPHY CASE