LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
In order to combat rampant identity theft, the government of Puerto Rico has enacted a law invalidating all Puerto Rican birth certificates issued prior to 1 July 2010. The law has since been amended to extend the validity of these birth certificates by three months. However, after 30 September 2010, all birth certificates issued prior to 1 July 2010 will no longer be valid.
What does this mean for servicemembers? Anyone with a Puerto Rican birth certificate wishing to enroll in DEERS will need to have a new birth certificate to do so.
Servicemembers who are already enrolled in DEERS will remain enrolled. However, it is recommended that all servicemembers and their family members born in Puerto Rico take steps to obtain the new, more secure birth certificate for identification purposes. To request a new birth certificate, visit www.pr.gov. For more information, see http://www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates/.
If you have any questions about potential implications of the new law to your specific situation, please visit the Law Center during Legal Assistance hours Mondays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., or Thursdays from noon until 2 p.m.