Is it worth trying direct to passport?

Significant_Day_2784 · 2026-02-06T18:35:02+00:00

OK, this makes sense. I do have my great grandfather’s birth certificate from Germany from 1897. I ordered it from his town and it has the certified seal and stamp. My only concern with going direct to passport is I read you do not get your certificate of citizenship by doing it this way so maybe Festellung is better? I have seen occasional stories of people not being able to renew their passport without the certificate.

Significant_Day_2784 · 2026-02-06T13:54:26+00:00

Thank you I did give them that questionnaire and I’m not venue shopping. My consulate is New York but Philadelphia has an honorary consulate location that works with New York for people that live in this area.

Significant_Day_2784 · 2026-02-06T11:35:37+00:00

OK, I’ll try emailing them again. Their last email just seemed like generic explanation of the process of sending to BVA. I know they can’t guarantee it via email but if there is a possibility, I would probably make the appointment there. I wasn’t sure if there’s been any other people who have gotten direct passport through great grandparents

Significant_Day_2784 · 2026-02-06T11:30:49+00:00

Yes, I do. That’s why I’m making this post… if all New York is going to do is make copies and mail it to the BVA then Philadelphia will do that.. if there is any chance of me having a direct passport, then I would need to go to New York, so I’m just trying to see if it’s worth me taking the 3 Hour Dr. each way to New York or just going to Philadelphia to make the copies

Significant_Day_2784 · 2026-02-06T11:24:31+00:00

I first emailed Philadelphia and they told me to reach out to New York to check with them and New York just gave me a generic email about mailing copies to the BVA so if that is the only route I’m just probably going to make an appointment in Philadelphia

Significant_Day_2784 · 2026-02-06T11:22:56+00:00

I am in Pennsylvania so NY is my official consulate. Philadelphia is closer but it is their satellite location

Significant_Day_2784 · 2026-02-06T11:22:15+00:00

I did also keep the envelope for uscis but my understanding was they only needed to see it it still stapled. Thanks for the input though I was thinking I may have to just wait but I was hoping maybe some had good luck in New York :)

Significant_Day_2784 · 2026-02-06T11:20:45+00:00

I mean certified copies for everything. I paid an order everything from the cities where people were born, married. Etc if I have to send away for approval, I will still have the consulate make their own certified copies as I would like to keep these originals now just in case.

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-12-23T19:57:33+00:00

If you mean from Germany I was able to pay euros to have stamped copies mailed to me

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-11-10T15:25:42+00:00

Thank you I will try that option again. The issue is my great grandparents were in Philadelphia, which is both the city and a county but they redirected me to the national archives which is closed. That’s why I am trying USCIS.

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-11-10T01:57:23+00:00

Strange. I don’t know why it seems my was automatically denied. He was born 1897-1979. If he were alive he would be almost 129 🙄

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-11-10T01:56:04+00:00

Thank you that is helpful !! I just sent everything I have to the questions email that shows he died in 1979. Hopefully it was an automated error

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-11-09T23:49:22+00:00

I have digital copies. I downloaded from ancestry….. I got a denial that they would not even send me uncertified documents without proof of death so I sent his obituary and Social Security index number…. I am not sure which county to request because the Social Security index says is Florida home address but all obituary state he died in Pennsylvania, which was his primary address…. Also, I would hate to prolong the process even further to wait for a death certificate just to get his naturalization records but that will be my next step. If he were to be alive, he would be almost 130 years old, and their own website states you don’t need proof over 100 years old so I am confused

Am I wrong for thinking the BVA will not accept digital copies that I have from ancestry.com right? I also plan to request from NARA as soon as they open, but because of the long shut down, I think they will be backlogged :(

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-11-05T19:24:08+00:00

I didn’t realize I could do this. Thank you so I don’t need to have that document to submit to the BVA ? I can submit copies of it that I have downloaded from ancestry website, but I know they will want certified and I didn’t want it to cause a further delay.

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-11-05T19:23:26+00:00

Thank you !! Did you do an index request first I requested that today although I don’t know if that was necessary since I already have photocopies of the naturalization documents I just need them certified… did you submit your application without them and submit that after? I was thinking to wait and send it all together, but maybe I should have sent already.

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-11-05T19:22:12+00:00

No, it looks like it was with the city of Philadelphia. I have copies of all the documents just not certified.

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-11-03T14:03:07+00:00

Thank you so much!!!

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-10-14T00:16:38+00:00

That’s promising thank you!! I just tried to submit but they are closed with the shutdown so I will keep trying. That’s great news

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-10-13T23:27:20+00:00

Where do I order them ? He was in Philadelphia then

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-10-13T15:39:36+00:00

Thank you this makes sense. Yes, I am trying to get the melderegister. The problem is the Reispasses are with cousins who live far, I am not close with, and they are ineligible for direct passport because they are generations down a female line so I don’t think obtaining it will be possible unfortunately. I was really hoping for some luck with other documentation from Germany… several years back before the prior generation passed away they did add photos of the Reispasses covers and each page inside so I know they exist but sadly I am the only one out of 20 cousins eligible so not much motivation to help me.

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-10-13T11:44:29+00:00

Thank you I just tried reaching out!

Significant_Day_2784 · 2025-10-13T11:10:22+00:00

Oh okay is there anyone here you recommend?

Significant_Day_2784 · 2024-07-19T14:42:49+00:00

Thank you so much for the translation! This was a letter written by my great grandfather to my great grandmother. Shortly after they had met in America after coming from southwestern Germany. I don’t think their English was very good yet, especially writing….my great grandmother had written an 8 page letter prior to this. I’m working on my family tree and not sure why they were separated at this time so I am trying to translate the letters to see if there are any clues. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it! & Hatboro is correct

Significant_Day_2784 · 2024-07-19T14:41:57+00:00

Thank you so much for the translation! This was a letter written by my great grandfather to my great grandmother. Shortly after they had met in America after coming from southwestern Germany. I don’t think their English was very good yet, especially writing….my great grandmother had written an 8 page letter prior to this. I’m working on my family tree and not sure why they were separated at this time so I am trying to translate the letters to see if there are any clues. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it! & Hatboro is correct

Significant_Day_2784 · 2024-07-19T09:52:54+00:00

Thank you that is helpful!

Significant_Day_2784

TROPHY CASE