The issue of the US Consular Report of Birth Abroad arises on this forum a couple of times a year, either for the DR1 member or for his child(ren).
For future searchers, here is the definitive US State Dept site:
Documentation of U.S. Citizens Born Abroad
If you were born abroad to US parents, as I was, you will only be issued one Consular Report of Birth (FS-240) in your lifetime. It is a really nice document with a red ribbon. Obviously, DO NOT EVER GIVE THIS AWAY for visa purposes, thinking that you can get another.
Instead, request the Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1350) for these other purposes. Cost $30 for first, $20 for additional.
If you were born abroad, your original birth information will have to be retrieved from one of the several massive US Govt Archive document centers throughout the country. The process reportedly takes 4 - 8 weeks, so not a bad idea to order an extra for your files. This is a more involved and time consuming process than getting a birth certificate from a state govt, many of whose records are now digitally recorded (e.g. Florida).
My, the things you can learn on this site ...
richard
(10)
Consular report of birth abroad
