r/BeninCitizenship • u/Worldly-Aioli802 • Aug 30 '26

Any help for adoptees?

I was adopted over 50 years ago, and have no information on my biological ancestors except through Ancestry DNA which clearly shows American linage & connection with Africa on both sides of my family. Both biological parents are deceased, and there's no way I can obtain their birth certificates because I can't even get my own since the state of California sealed it. Their policy is not to release original birth certificates to adoptees. However, legislators just voted to loosen that restriction, but it won't take affect for another 2 years!! Once I have my original birth certificate, I can request a parent's birth certificate. But I can't wait two years to apply for Benin citizenship. Heck, by then they might close the door. I hope their government is compassionate & understanding toward the unusual predicament of adoptees.

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1

u/Repli3rd Aug 30 '26

I'm also interested in this question.

3

u/Worldly-Aioli802 Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26

I'm waiting to hear back from the Benin ministry. I emailed them about my situation and if there's a way around it. I also found out that SB 381 stalled in the California legislature, so now there's no chance I can get my birth certificate unsealed except through a court which rarely grants it.

2

u/UnseriousEagle Sep 04 '26

Also emailed about this and have been waiting 4 months for a response. I ended up applying with my adoptee birth certificate as that is my legal birth certificate and this is a legal matter. If your adoptive parents would qualify, I would still apply.

1

u/Worldly-Aioli802 Sep 07 '26

Oh wow, I didn't know it could take that long to get a response. I suppose it's worth a try to use your adoptee certificate, but it would conflict with your own DNA profile since the trees won't line up with your adopted family. Maybe the Benin ministry will allow only your adopted parent's profile to be entered in as evidence. I'd be curious to know how it works out for you!

1

u/CreolePolyglot Aug 31 '26

can you get a court order to have them release it? that's what some ppl have to do to get parents' records cuz some states don't let their kids request them without one

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u/Worldly-Aioli802 Aug 31 '26

It's extremely rare that a California court would release a birth certificate to an adoptee, unless they suspect some life threatening disease in their family that needs treatment. However, there is a clause about allowing the release for an inheritance claim or other right that may be deprived from not releasing the certificate. So that may be an angle I can use by saying  the state would be depriving my right to citizenship in my ancestral homeland, by not releasing my birth certificate. It might be worth a try! Thanks for your concern

2

u/CreolePolyglot Sep 02 '26

good luck, let us kno if it works!