How To Get Birth Certificate Over Seas?

Can't get my birth certificate?

• I am an orphan - so no parents to ask. I was born in NY (Manhattan) 47 yrs ago. 2yrs after I was born there was a fire in manhattan and it damaged many birth records, one of which was mine. when they corrected it they made a mistake and misspelled my last name by one letter. I was not aware of this until years ago I went to vital records NYC and got a copy when I still lived on the east coast, but the last name was not right. They told me I would have to put in correction (for their mistake). Well life goes on, mean time inbetween time the certificate I got from NYC years ago was lost in baggage when I moved - I had never used it because I planned on having it corrected, instead of adopting a different last name due to the incorrect spelling. So I have an old ID card with my original name on it, but it is not honored in other states pertaining to getting a driver license. DMV - calif. tells me I need a birth certificate to get an CA ID or driver license. NYC vital records, tells me I need an ID card with the same name as the birth certificated to get a copy - Now I am collecting unemployement from my last job in Utah - I ordered my birth certificate, filled in the explaination part - attached my ID, plus letters received at the address I am currently living at and nothing, they say they can't help me. I can't get a job out here in CA, I can't drive. I came out her to help my sister. Right now I am depending on my older and in poor health sister to drive me around and somewhat support me ARGH!!!!. I do as much work as I can at her home and give her what I can from my unemployment but I could do so much more for her if I could just get my birth certificate! How can I get this without have to travel all the way back to the east coast - New York?

• Answer:

  Call the Manager of the NYC Vitals Records and ask them how you should proceed to get this mess cleared up. They should be able to access your records and your sisters records and realize that a mistake was made as both sets of records will have the same parents listed.(unless you do not have the same father).