Chinese name on birth certificate and English name on Canadian passportÉ

[toby]

Here's a new twist.  The consulate in Guangzhou told me in writing that:

“ The name on the Canadian Citizenship Certificate should be the same as the one on the Birth Certificate. If you use Chinese characters on the Birth Certificate, the citizenship certificate will be same as the BC (I assume that BC means birth certificate) translation. For example, if you put "Xiàng Li Ān” in Chinese on the child's Chinese Birth Certificate, you will have "Xiang" as surname and " Li An" as the given name on the Canadian Citizenship Certificate. If you want to have the English name on the Canadian Certificate, you should request " Ann Lee Xiang" in English on the Birth Certificate.”

I had assumed differently, that the parent could put the child's name in Chinese in the Chinese birth certificate, and in the translation of the certificate put the English name (not the pinyin version).

Does anyone have experience with this?  Is Guangzhou correct?  (I ask this because there are inconsistencies.  For example, the prerecorded message when I phone the consulate says to provide 4 photos with a citizenship application, but the photo specs on the website say to provide only 2 photos.)

[steaky]

Here's a new twist.  The consulate in Guangzhou told me in writing that:

“ The name on the Canadian Citizenship Certificate should be the same as the one on the Birth Certificate. If you use Chinese characters on the Birth Certificate, the citizenship certificate will be same as the BC (I assume that BC means birth certificate) translation. For example, if you put "Xiàng Li Ān” in Chinese on the child's Chinese Birth Certificate, you will have "Xiang" as surname and " Li An" as the given name on the Canadian Citizenship Certificate. If you want to have the English name on the Canadian Certificate, you should request " Ann Lee Xiang" in English on the Birth Certificate.”

I had assumed differently, that the parent could put the child's name in Chinese in the Chinese birth certificate, and in the translation of the certificate put the English name (not the pinyin version).

Does anyone have experience with this?  Is Guangzhou correct?  (I ask this because there are inconsistencies.  For example, the prerecorded message when I phone the consulate says to provide 4 photos with a citizenship application, but the photo specs on the website say to provide only 2 photos.)

You can always request a different name to shown in Citizenship card, instead of the Chinese name in birth certificate.  I'm not sure if you can add an English name in the Chinese birth certificate.

[salivatingwolf]

This site from Japan has template for changing name for citizenship card. The consulate should give you such form upon request, else they will just put your name in your child's birth cert.   canadainternational.gc.ca/japan-japon/consular_services_consulaires/citizenship-citoyennete.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

[salivatingwolf]

Quoted from the website: "If the names you wish to appear on the Canadian citizenship certificate differ from the names shown on the official birth registration AND IF this variation is due to the reasons outlined in the sample declaration (below), you must prepare a declaration along the lines of the sample and make this declaration in front of a Consul at a Canadian Embassy or Canadian Consulate. There must of course be a direct linkage between the name requested on the application and the parental names."

[toby]

This site from Japan has template for changing name for citizenship card. The consulate should give you such form upon request, else they will just put your name in your child's birth cert.   canadainternational.gc.ca/japan-japon/consular_services_consulaires/citizenship-citoyennete.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

Thanks, I'll look at this site tomorrow morning.  But is what is said on the Japan website applicable to practices in China?

[salivatingwolf]

should be the same procedure. just the japanese site can provide more detail because i also have to apply for my kid born out of wedlock. 

[Fencesitter]

Does anyone have experience with this?  Is Guangzhou correct?  (I ask this because there are inconsistencies.  For example, the prerecorded message when I phone the consulate says to provide 4 photos with a citizenship application, but the photo specs on the website say to provide only 2 photos.)

From my experience dealing with the Canadian Consulate in Guangzhou, I can definitely say that the service quality is not very good.  You are right about the photo specifications.  The official website says '2 photos' while the recording says '4 photos'.  Which to believe?  I think it's better to bring 4 photos, just in case!

I called this morning to get clarification on a few questions and the person who answered the phone did not have a clue.  She was giving me her 'opinions'!!  When I asked her the requirements by Canadian law she put me on hold to find out.  When she came back, the answers she gave were the same.  As a Canadian citizen, I would expect my consulate to provide better information.  If the consulate does not know the answers, who else am I meant to call? 

The one thing I am very annoyed about is the requirement to show an airline ticket if I want to get my newborn son a passport.  Why should he need to do this?  He is a Canadian citizen because I am a Canadian citizen.  I don't understand!?  In China he will need to register at the local PSB, correct?  If so, he'll need a passport.  He would also need a passport when purchasing a plan ticket, no? 

If you get any additional information please share it here!

Thanks!
Fencesitter

[toby]

Fencesitter:

You asked: "The one thing I am very annoyed about is the requirement to show an airline ticket if I want to get my newborn son a passport. "

I believe that you need to show an air ticket only if you are asking for an expedited service for your son's passport. If you are prepared to wait the normal period, no need to show the airline ticket.

[toby]

To digress, since this topic seems to be finished for a while, please note the E (with accent) in the title.  I wanted a question mark.  Every once i a while this happens:  I hit some unknown combination of keys, and from then on I get the E (with accent) whenever I press the ? key. 

To return to normal, I must exit and re-enter the program (WORD, email, etc).

Has anyone encountered this problem, and is there a way to return to normal without having to exit the program?

[angelbrat]

To digress, since this topic seems to be finished for a while, please note the E (with accent) in the title.  I wanted a question mark.  Every once i a while this happens:  I hit some unknown combination of keys, and from then on I get the E (with accent) whenever I press the ? key. 

To return to normal, I must exit and re-enter the program (WORD, email, etc).

Has anyone encountered this problem, and is there a way to return to normal without having to exit the program?

OOOOOO me toooooo.....awaiting the answer.

Someone did say it was something to do with buying a lap top in Canada. It inadvertently reverts to French somehow. Even so, it is bloody annoying and I have yet to work out how to stop it.

[toby]

OOOOOO me toooooo.....awaiting the answer.

Someone did say it was something to do with buying a lap top in Canada. It inadvertently reverts to French somehow. Even so, it is bloody annoying and I have yet to work out how to stop it.

Angelbrat, the answer is to make sure your language setting is US English, not Canadian or any other English.  Then the problem disappears. This forces on us the need to use American spelling in the spell check -- another form of American cultural imperialism.  (A JOKE folks!!  Sheesh!!)