YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and its Japan consulates will delay adjudication of births abroad from Jan. 1 to Jan. 18 while the State Department rolls out a new worldwide system designed to prevent fraud, according to a recent State Department message.

Starting Jan. 18, overseas posts will still file citizenship reports for children born overseas to U.S. citizens, but the redesigned Consular Report of Birth Abroad will now be printed at passport agencies in Portsmouth, N.H., and New Orleans.

“By centralizing production and eliminating the distribution of controlled blank stock throughout the world, we will help ensure uniform quality and lessen the possibility of fraud,” the message stated.

Birth abroad forms received during the system transition will be adjudicated after Jan. 18, the message stated.

From staff reports