I've read that it's illegal to do this.  However, I've seen applications from government agencies, including police departments, that accept photo copies of birth certificates.  Does anyone know if it's really illegal to copy them?
211627
no not illegal to do it you just can't use a photocopy as a valid form of ID.  usually places need copies along with other forms of ID for there records or when you get a job.  Although i never had a job ask for a Birth Certificate
398944
Not even all people residing within the United States have a regular "brith certificate"--as was mentioned above, they are not issued by the federal government. \n\nTo get a little more in depth into the issue: \n\nIf someone was born a citizen and born within the US, they will likely have a birth certificate issued by their city, county, or state. However, if a person was born to American citizens who were living outside of the US at the time, that person would instead have a Consular Report of Birth Aboard. Likewise, If a person now living in the United States was not a citizen at birth but became one later in life, they would instead have a Naturalization Certificate/Certificate of Citizenship.
205563
It's only illegal if they are using those identities for some sort of personal gain, like getting credit cards and whatnot. However, impersonation does violate the community guidelines for Yahoo! Answers and you should report them to the moderators. However, the Yahoo! moderators are extremely lax when it comes to actually enforcing the guidelines they have set out.
633797
Hello of course hospitals don't keep birth certificates ( at least in the US)  you merely contact the state where you were born, they have birth certificate departments that will issure you a new one.\n\nNext you merley get a form ( from post offfice or social security office)  for a lost social security card.  You may the form in with small fee and they send you a new one ( same number just new one)\n\nSo yes all your ID exists you are just not asking for new copies.
76130
it should be a criminal offense to hire anyone, without legal papers. we americans. when we apply for a job. we have to present 2 forms of identification. drivers license, social security card. sometimes birth certificates. we cannot even get a job without doing this. have to take drug test. have to have physicals. i agree there should be extreme consequences for these people who hire them.
499191
If you are in a public place, then it's fair game.\nEspecially if the club has posted anywhere a disclaimer ... but even if not ... I don't think it is illegal.\nConsult an attorney if you want to know absolutely for sure.  (Many will give you this info for free, or a minimum amount, or consult the city attorney).\n\nAs a photographer myself, I often take photo's of people in public places, and while I usually try to take non-identifying angles, sometimes the people in them can be identified.  I don't use such photo's for commercial purposes (i.e. sell the photo), but I do use them in my portfolio, my website, and have entered them in contests.  When I can, I get a waiver signed by the person, but most of the time in the situations, that is not possible.  Most magazines and other places won't publish or purchase a photo without a waiver ... but beyond that ... they are often not used.  This is a bit of a gray area.
311779
shouldn't be fraud, as long as you can prove it's your child, i.e. birth certificate.
150860
Your local council of government agency or even your local court house has public information on criminals in the area.\nIn most cases it is free to view but you are not allowed to make photo copies. In most cases when a court case has finished all transcripts become public information, in the event children are involve the children's names are not used, through out the papers.
400223
If it's from a copy righted picture, then absolutely NO, not without permission. If you're just painting them as you see them it's OK, because they've put themselves into the public domain. It's legal, b/c almost none have their image copy-righted.
181593
They have picture IDs, some of them and they can get SS cards no problem even if they are from another country. The government does not care when issuing a SS card what country the person is from.\nGo in with your foreign birth certificate and a drivers license and you get a SS card.\nThen you can open a bank account, get a car loan, get a job and live like a US citizen.\nIf they didn't give them SS cards, the problem would be solved!
465854
Not at all, no.\n\nMost people born in the U.S. and Canada do, issued by various government agencies. But some people do not. It is getting rare as despotism gains a stronger hold in the two countries mentioned and a birth certificate is needed for many things.\n\nSome people like my father never had their births registered until they were adults, my mother's was not registered until she was 60 years old.\n\nMost people have certificates issued by counties or cities in the U.S. I have one but it was issued by the Federal Government.\n\nWhat is it that you are after in particular?
83810
It depends where you live.  In the US, in the state of NJ, all licenses are required to be photo licenses now, so you would not be able to do that.  Have someone contact the motor vehicle department (or wherever you go where you live to do that) and ask for you.
366292
No it's illegal!  I worked @ a doctor's office and we used to copy the cash payments as sort of a receipt.  We had a patient who was a police officer and he said that it was illegal.  It's not something that you call and tell the police about though.  I mean lots of places of business do it.  If someone wanted to be picky they could call, but that would be pretty mean, unless you hate them- go ahead.
515010
It depends entirely upon what the charges were, and your behavior since they were recorded. In the long run, you are better off putting it on there, because anyone with a valid court order (such as the military conducting a background check) will pull your criminal record, and if they find it and you didn't own it on your background check application, that actually looks worse than the fact that you have had charges filed against you as a juvenile (or adult for that matter).
615542
Yes, it would be illegal without their permission.\n\nYou need to contact their corporate offices and tell them what you want. They will either tell you no, or they will charge  you a licensing fee that authorizes you to use the images.
342019
It states that; You may send photocopies of requested documents unless the INS specifically asks for an original. In the event that an original document is sent when it is not required it will be kept in the records of the INS. That means if you send an original technically they won't throw it away, but you'll never see it again so definately don't send things like your ID or passport of course. I personnally sent my original birth certificate since I can easily get another, but really that wasn't even necessary. Basically just send copies of everything unless you see it stated somewhere that they require the original. Pictures, the petition itself, and anything that has to be notarized or stamped by an official should be the original. And a strong word of advice from personal experience: make sure you send EVERYTHING they need the 1st time, if even 1 detail is missing they won't hesitate to delay things for many months, like they did with me, 3 times! My supposed 6-12 month process has been going on for more than 2 years. Good luck to you!!
251373
not without your permission. you can request the photos be removed and if they wont do this, make a formal complaint to the police. In some countries its illegal for PARENTS to photograph their own children in public let alone anyone else (because of child pornography fears....go figure!)