NYC Department of Health, Office of Vital Records

I just went to make a correction on a birth certificate, planning is essential especially researching the information for these things so when it comes time to show in person you have the right stuff. before you go there make sure that you don’t carry as much stuff as you will go through a metal detector. After your done with that see reception, one may want to ask security but they will tell to stand in line there are many lines there. So you must go to reception and have the clerk see your items to direct you correctly. Carry a pen you will need one! Have ID and Credit/​debit on the ready, you will have to pay for any service provided. In all I spent 35 to 40 minutes on 2 lines. They will not print out a certificate at that point they will mail it to you, if they say 5 to 7 business days it really means up to 24 days, don’t expect it overnight.

No stars. I was forced to give a star. Because this place is a piece of crap.
Three things to know to bypass the nightmare that’s the office of vital records
— They are open till 3:30pm. So try to go there close to 2:30 — 3:00pm. They are not really working before that time. But they want to get off work by 4pm, so that’s the only time they will start speed things up, I mean actually working. Just remember, they do not give a damn about your time.
— if you are getting a correction done on birth or death certificate. Cry, I mean actually cry. That will get your issue addressed immediately and ask to see a supervisor, that’s how you can bypass the crazy lines. I waited for over 2 hours to inquire the status of a birth certificate. Following the rules get you nowhere in this place.
— Do freaking complain. It works. They don’t want you to mess with their happy jolly day of doing nothing. Even though they say there is nothing they can do, they will at least not mess around too much. I mean for me it went from 2 Windows serving people to 3 Windows. And it imrpoved from serving 3 people in an hour to 6 people in 30 mins.

I needed my my mothers name corrected on my birth certificate. The form you fill out does not give you all the information you need, you waste a lot of time on multiple trips, needing translations and documents not listed on the form.
1. If your documents are from another country other than USA you MUST provide a translation. they don’t tell you that. There is a place on Bway up the street 315 suit 301 for $ 50 dollars. They also notorize and take passport pics.
2. If you are married you must bring your marriage certificate. Again they don’t tell you that.
The office hours are 9 – 3 so make sure to give yourself time to go thru security and wait your turn and run home or up the street because they are asking for something not listed on form.
It takes 4 – 6 weeks to get document in the mail. So make sure you provide them what they need the first time if not, when you get it back you will have to resubmit it all over again. KNUCKELHEADS!!!

I tried to call them directly and by being transferred through 311, and it seems there is no way to reach a human over the phone. The end result of all of these efforts is an automated system black hole. That’s just unacceptable.

Although at times this place may be packed, their overall customer service is good and efficient. Sometimes it’s good to go online and see what you need before you get here because correcting a birth certificate can be a hassle if you don’t have the proper documentation. Overall, you have to have patience when visiting government agencies. That’s the key… And they DON’T ACCEPT CASH OR PERSONAL CHECKS… MONEY ORDER, DEBIT OR CREDIT ONLY

Don’t bother trying to get information from them on the phone. I was trying to get a death certificate for a family member who died long ago (genealogy project) and didn’t have enough info to fill out the application. When I tried calling, all I got was an automated loop which offere no help option for my case. (Talking to a human on the phone obviously isn’t important to them.) perhaps I’ll have better luck in person, vut ai doubt it.

I was calling from a state other than New York trying to get information about getting a VAULT birth certificate. (A complicated international situation.) All I could get was recorded options, which might have been fine in other cases but not mine. Nowhere could I find a phone number where I could reach and ask questions of a HUMAN being. This was so frustrating. I cannot travel to New York, Why is it impossible to talk to a person???

1. Don’t bother with PDF form, when you get here, there are kiosks you have to go to.
2. They do NOT accept cash. Check, card, or money order: $ 17.75
3. Once you enter your info at the kiosk, you get a number. The first time they call you, which is pretty quick, they verify the info and your ID. Then, you wait for them to call you again for the actual certificate.
Waiting for a kiosk takes the longest. Once you’ve signed up, it goes quickly.

I was in and out in 20 mins. I went on a Wednesday at 2:30pm. I got my Birth Certificate the same day. I paid with a money order make sure you have any payment but cash for $ 17.75. No cash is accepted. There are machines you enter all your info in a kiosk. It prints a number and you wait of then to call it like the DMV. I pay with MO not sure if that the reason why

It’s actually better if you order online. However, if you really need a copy of your birth certificate asap, go down to Worth Street.
It’s a pain to enter the building. Thank you ⁹⁄₁₁. After that date, everyone is guilty until proven innocent, and paranoid bureaucracy rules.
Usually you have to wait a while to have your number be called up. Meanwhile, the seats inside the waiting room have a lot to be desired. Basically they’re padded benches with no back support, designed in an abstract zig-​zag pattern. So this is what my taxes pay for… badly designed furniture.
Luckily the last time I went, the clerk was nice. Usually they’re more curt in their demeanor. If you have id that is up to date, you’ll get a copy of your birth cerf in a matter of seconds.
My last visit was actually painless, other than being disgusted with the seating décor. I was entertained by a loud-​mouthed man who seemed to be straight out of those Medina films. He was giving Samuel Jackson a verbal run for his money, with his constant use of the MF word. Loudly he called all of the female window clerks «fat.» Which was not the case. If he has a wife, then she has my deepest sympathies.

When you enter you will discover that you have journeyed into the bowels of post-​9/​11 bureaucracy. A place where family kinship is questioned, where even a letter from a rehab facility where a relative is staying is suspect. The staff will shepherd applicants to where to stand on line, again and again. Finally, you will be led into the inner sanctum, where at least you can sit down and wait for your number to be called. Bilingual instructions are repeated time and again, though, oddly, no Chinese or Russian. (Don’t get me wrong, this is not a complaint, just an observation.)
Expect to wait at least an hour, possibly 90 minutes or longer.
I had to wait for a relative’s certificate to arrive by mail. I specifically requested the long form, but they sent the short form instead. Quite frustrating.

When in need for a birth certificate, NYC offers getting it online or getting via the Department of Health office on 125 Worth St in downtown Manhattan. I at first tried online. NYC utilizes this service called VitalCheck, which estimated the order would be processed in 5 – 10 days. Bad choice. Two weeks after my online order, no email or anything about my order. I call VitalCheck up and they tell me the order was voided! Of course, they said there was nothing they could do about it, blah blah blah. So VitalCheck get no stars.
Next, I went to 125 Worth St, expecting the worst (think DMV). After going through the standard city building metal detector, you go to rm 133. They had applications to fill out, and also had pens that actually worked (like at the bank). Waited on line for maybe 10 minutes, gave in my application, driver’s license and $ 15 (cash or check), and a few moments later, I’ve got the birth certificate! I was expecting that it would take them at least 2 weeks to process and mail the thing, so I was pleasantly surprised!
So if you need a birth certificate, I definitely recommend going to the actual office than doing it online — it’s the fastest way to get the document, and you’ll save on shipping, and in my case, aggravation.
Review this webpage before you go: