I received a call from the New York State Department of Health yesterday and spoke with an official from vital records. Here’s what I learned, and I am passing it on to our supporters and followers.
First, the state department of health continues to monitor NYARC’s social media accounts to determine what people may be experiencing in applying for their OBCs. The department was concerned that people had “complaints” about the turn-around time. I assured them that people were excited and nervous and that everyone knows the state’s response time is unprecedented. Here’s what I also learned:
- The state department of health receives applications from VitalChek in batches. It is not necessarily first in first out.
- The department filters or prioritizes some of the applications. The first filter is age, determined by date of birth. For example, a person born in 1940 is given given processing priority over a person born in 1980. I believe that makes sense, as does NYARC.
- The department also checks application informaition against NYSAIR (aka the Registry). If a person has already registered with NYSAIR, needed information and verification is more quickly available.
- Applications from people who apply to the state in person or by mail must be manually entered into the electronic vital records system. This process may delay these applications.
- The department considers its current work to be in “Production Mode.” This means that, while applications are still pouring in, they have slowed from the thousands of applications they were receiving each day, especially during the first days after the law was in effect. The department is now actively prioritizing the processing and delivery of received applications.
- The department is still working with attorneys and representatives from adoption agencies and state agencies, including the Office of Children and Family Services (OFCS), to implement an appropriate procedure for those who were born outside of New York state but adopted within the state. We do not have more news on that yet.
All of us at NYARC understand that you want your OBC now. We get that. I experience that excitement and anxiety myself while waiting for my own OBC from New York City. Our advice, as always, is to PLEASE remain patient. The process with the state department of health is not only working well but it is also working at an incredible and unprecedented speed, especially when compared to any state that has endorsed any type of access to the OBC. As I told the DOH vital records official on the phone, the department is seriously kicking ass.
Thanks,
Annette
Looking for my records.
Yes, I will say that I understand how a good number of adoptees can be anxious and nervous, but I agree with this post. Please be patient everyone! This is a huge project so the work load must be tremendous on staff.
I think we’ve done a great job in working together to get this bill into law! It took years, decades, and a lot of perseverance. These people are on our side! The law was passed! We don’t have restrictions as some states do, and we don’t have to keep on pleading! We have the right now to get a copy of our OBC! No one is preventing that! So let them do their work in the time that they can.
Thank you to all who helped get this law passed.
I agree—well said!
My girlfriend is also adopted. Both of us were born In NY and adopted through different NY Counties. She is younger than I. We both submitted our applications through Vitalchek at the same time. Hers is due to arrive today. Two weeks after applying. It can happen quickly.
Best wishes to our fellow adoptees!!
Thank you for all of the work you do to help. I anxiously am waiting for news about born out/adopt in and how it will be handled. The surrogate court has not received information on how to handle this and is currently going by the law before the 15 Jan. I hope they get a directive soon.
I have a question – when it asks for your name – does it want the name you were given when you were adopted or the name given at birth on your adoption papers?
If it asks for your adopted name, type your adopted name in the space. If there is a problem, you will get an email asking for you to call them to clarify.
Adopted last name as this is how they look all your information up to your birth
Thanks for the update. Glad to hear they prioritize.
Thank you, very assuring.
Yes NY Rox and You too Annette and NYARC are seriously kicking ars! Thank you all!
Thank you to ALL who have worked so hard on our OBC!! Sounds promising to be receiving soon!!! All Adoptees have been programmed to be patient!!! 😍
I agree with the post. It is understandable for the time delays. I am anxiously waiting….
Everyone that has worked so hard to get our rights restored are awesome, some if us have waited for decades to have access to our OBC’s a few more weeks is nothing. Great job 👍 everyone!
It would have been interesting for this unofficial announcement to have included the statistics of applications received by on_line, phine, written letter, by day, the number of appkicatuons completed by week and the number of dedicated employees working on filling these applications.
I received mine today. I’m so grateful to NYARC for all of their hard work and getting this bill passed. You guys did a great job! I just wanted to tell you that you are appreciated!
Congrats!! Long awaited I’m sure!! I’m patiently awaiting mine!!6
This is heartening, encouraging and thrilling. As someone who has been waiting half a century, I can wait a few weeks or months longer for my OBC. I am incredibly grateful for everyone who is doing this work on our behalf.
I applied for mine at around 8am the 15th!! I haven’t heard anything yet!! While I’ve heard other people have gotten there’s days ago!! I just wish it would hurry up and get here!! I was born in the early 60’s!!!
How long does it take to cash the check? Husband was born in Staten Island and mailed the form from Nebraska on Jan 16, 2020. We had to do the paper form. I keep watching for the check to be cashed so I know they got it.
Is there anywhere we can look to see if they received the application?
I agree…is there a way to see if my form has been RECEIVED??? Thanks !!
I am so grateful for everything that the state is doing . Once a very devoted Catholic then I actually went to Catholic Charities in Albany and was treated very poorly . The woman ( Janice Brown and Sister Nola told me I would have my Birth Certificate over their dead bodies . I found birthmother through DNA – Mary Labrecque Ulmer – Her father was pretty well respected with in the Albany Diocese .I am 54 and I just want that piece of paper! Thank – you for all your doing – Angels will help you with your work .
I called, ordered my “pre-adoption certificate”. Got an email today my order was cancelled with no explanation. Called them back and they told me it’s because I have an extra letter in my name…then I checked my voicemail and there was a message to call them. Unfortunately I have laryngitis, but hoping to call tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes. It’s been difficult for me so far. 🙁
Be patient when you do call. You will be on hold for perhaps an hour or longer. This happened to me, too. Though I ordered my OBC online at midnight on January 15, I changed my name back to my name of birth so the system couldn’t handle that option. My application was flagged. I had to call them back. The operator took all of my information over the phone. I offered to upload court documents of name change, she said it wasn’t necessary. So I received an email saying that the order is being processed!
Great update; thanks! Do you have any info on how New York City is doing with their applications?
Is there any word on when we should receive OBCs from the NYC Dept. of Health (I was born in Brooklyn)? I sent in my application on Jan. 15th.
I agree to be patient-I’ve waited 63 years-I can wait a few more! This has to be a daunting task for them.
On a side note-I was adopted out of Our Lady of Victory Infant Home. They have been very helpful with non-identifying information years ago. Will this new law give them the ability to tell me more? Given the fact that everything will be out in the open now I would love to know all the details of my birth/adoption. My case is a bit different than some in that my parents never told me I was adopted and died not knowing I found out. I didn’t find out until I was 30! I guess we all have crazy stories…
I agree…is there a way to see if my form has been RECEIVED??? Thanks !!
Do they contact you in any way to say you certificate is on the way?
I am born out(Florida)/adopted in, and send my application along with my amended birth certificate, order of adoption and the letter you sent to the Westchester County Court, where the order was filed, asking for identifying information (as I understand that Florida law prevails and I cannot get my OBC). I hope to have some information in the near future and will pass on what, if anything I was able to obtain.
Thank you for your hard work and advocacy, and the born out/adopted in updates.
I am 59 years old and am waiting for my OBC. I requested it via Vital Records on January 23. I received confirmation that they received my order- and the order shows it will be received in 35-40 days (although they told me 10-12 weeks on the phone.) Every day I look for the records but not received yet.
It is very hard to wait patiently (although I am.) I received non-identifying information from the adoption agency years ago, and registered with the NYS Adoption Registry years ago. The adoption agency was helpful providing non-identifying information. Is anyone getting additional information from the adoption agencies since the change in the law?
For those who have received their records- how long did you wait?
Its not knowing if they (NYC DOH) have even received my application (USPS Certified mail reports delivery at NIGHT 8:08 PM to Front desk/reception area/mail room Jan. 21) let alone opened my envelope (no information known on status of money order included). Born NYC 1935, registered with NYAIR.
Annette can you speak with the authorities at NYC DOH to ask what date of application receipt they are presently working on?
Thank you for all you have done in the past to help us to get to this point and are still doing to help now.