I'm glad to see that she got her passport with Rep. Gohmert's help. I've actually known a few US-born adoptees who had to get their Reps or Senators involved. It shouldn't be "who you know" that makes a difference in whether your paperwork is accepted - but that's reality. Congratulations and enjoy that trip!

This happened to my mother - a long-time Kilgore resident born at home in Wichita Falls. She had to find two people who would give written testimony that they knew about her birth and that her parents recognized her and treated her as their child. It worked and she traveled to see me overseas at least 20 times ... good luck!

Get Your 1950 Census Record Transcript One thing it appears she hasn't tried is to get her census record transcript from the 1950 census. This will be early enough in her life. They will expedite it for passport purposes for an extra $20. These are confidential records for 72 years, but can be obtained by the person named in the record. http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/data/agesearch/index.html Many US born adoptees have similar problems. Their births were recorded on a timely basis. When the adoption is final, the original birth record is sealed and a new amended birth certificate is issued in the adoptee's new name and showing the adoptive parents as having given birth. For some inexplicable reason, the Federal government considers these AMENDED birth certificates to be DELAYED birth certificates. They have even told adoptees to get the originals - which usually requires a nearly impossible to get court order. I have advised adoptees to provide their Order of Adoption or Certificate of Adoption (both official stamped, signed court records) as proof of who they are and when and where they were born. Best of Luck - I'll be looking for updates on this story.

Having been thru this with my grandmother there is not a lot that can be done. My grandmother was born in Texas but there is not proof anywhere that she existed. Even though she had a drivers license and social security card and has some school records, even though all her brothers and sisters have verified her information, she couldn't get a passport at all. She was able to draw social security under my grandfather's info. It's truly sad that better records were not kept in Texas. When my son was born his name was misspelled. I sent his birth certificate back and all they did was white out his name and type over it and send it back. It looks like a fake. And probably will give him trouble if he ever tries to get a passport.

So once you become a gov't employee you leave your common sense at home. This is beyond ridiculous, I wish she would push for it because it's only going to get worse for her. What happens if they decide you have prove citizenship to get social security? She will really have problems. For the benefit of all Mrs. Cloud, please keep pressing it, no US citizen should be treated like this! Call everyone who might have clout, keep writing letters,make noise, keep the pressure on them, don't let some government hack keep you from your trip! If they get away with this now, imagine the future!