June 2009 Archives

DNA testing is still a relatively new technology. Individuals, organizations, agencies, and governments are finding new uses for DNA testing all the time. One of the newest uses for DNA testing revolves around Immigration - specifically family-based immigration. This article discusses the primary reasons why immigration DNA testing is needed.

U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents are permitted to petition immediate family members for entrance into the United States. There is an unlimited number of visas granted each year for family-based petitioners. There are many requirements for acquiring a family-based visa. The petitioner must fill out a form I-130 , submit an affidavit of support proving that they can support the beneficiary, and also submit proof that they are biologically related to the beneficiary. This is where Immigration DNA testing comes into play.

The petitioner submits the I-130 along with primary evidence such as a birth certificate to show a biological relationship with the beneficiary. There are a number of red flags that can come up during this process. First, the father or mother is not listed on the birth certificate. Second the birth certificate is issued more than a few months after the birth of the child. Third, no birth certificate is available. Lastly, the child could have been born out of wedlock and therefore the sponsor father in the USA needs confirmation of his paternity.  In any of these situations the U.S. Embassy or the Visa Service Center is likely to issue a Request For Evidence(RFE) . The RFE requests further proof of the relationship by means of a DNA test. 

DNA tests can confirm paternity, maternity, siblingship, grand parentage and even avuncular relationships.  If the family visa is based upon a biological relationship between the sponsor and the beneficiary then there is a DNA test to prove it.

Immigration DNA is requested as a means of fraud prevention by the U.S. Immigration Department. INS began a voluntary DNA testing program for African refugees in 2007. They found that out of all the refugees who claimed biological relationships, only 20% could prove it with DNA testing. The rest either refused testing, or the results came back negative. This has raised some eyebrows within the Immigration Department.

Families filing I-130's can expect more precautionary Immigration DNA Testing in the coming years. DNA testing is the most definitive way of proving biological relationships. The cost is not that significant and it eliminates any doubt of fraudulent paperwork as well as expedites the process of family reunification.

Today, there are so many different uses for DNA tests. 

The most common, of course, is a Paternity Test.   A by-Product of these Paternity Tests is a genetic profile of the child which  you may use to assist local authorities in an emergency.  Paternity Tests (and any other DNA collection) should be performed by a local collections expert so that you are confident in the results.  The DNA collections expert knows how to collect, secure and ship DNA samples to the lab so that there are no "mix-ups" at origin or destination. Paternity tests are performed for men who just have a nagging doubt; for children who have never been sure about their parentage and for grandparents who just don't see a resemblance or similarity in a child.

DNA tests are also used to expedite the immigration process.  As a by product of this gold standard of identification, the parents and families that have DNA tests have unwittingly taken an additional measure of safety for their children.  In the event of an emergency, if a child or loved goes missing, the family has an additional tool to provide to authorities to search or track their missing loved one.  When you receive a copy of the DNA test from the laboratory, whether for paternity, immigration, siblingship - you have a genetic profile of  your family member.  Like fingerprints and dentition, DNA is used to identify someone and possibly track their whereabouts.  Place the genetic profile along with other important family documents, ie, birth certificates, death certificates, passports, deeds, titles etc., for safekeeping.

There are DNA collection facilities that offer an individual DNA Type Certificate as a measure for Child Safety.  The individual DNA type may also be used for adults with disabilities, civilians working in foreign countries and those employed in high risk professions.  Without knowing it, those moms and dads who have undergone DNA testing to confirm the biological relationship, have safeguarded their children with just another measure of safety.  Those parents hold an additional tool to assist authorities in searching for and returning their children to safety.  As school lets out, why not host a Child Safety Identification party in your backyard - call your local DNA collections expert and have your children profiled with the gold standard of identification - a DNA genetic profile.

 

Medical	Est. Time	Action
Condition	for Clearance	Required
Suspected Mental Illness	5 - 30 Days	The applicant must provide to a civil surgeon a psychological or psychiatric
Mental Retardation; Insanity		evaluation from a specialist or medical facility for final classification &
Previous attack of Insanity;		clearance.
Psychopathic personality
Sexual deviation or Mental
Defect; Narcotic Drug
Addiction & Chronic Alcoholism
Tuberculin & Skin Test Reaction	Immediate	The applicant is encouraged to seek further medical evaluation for
w/Normal or Abnormal		possible preventive treatment.
Chest X ray
Tuberculin & Skin Test Reaction	10 - 30 Days	The applicant should be referred to a physician or local health dept.
w/Abnormal Chest X ray		for further evaluation.  Medical clearance may not be granted until
Inactive Class B		the applicant returns to the civil surgeon with documentation of
		medical evaluation for tuberculosis.
Tuberculin & Skin Test Reaction	10 - 300 Days	The applicant should obtain an appointment with a physical or local
& Abnormal Chest X ray		health department.  If treatment for active disease is started, it must
Suspected Active Class A		be completed (usually nine (9) months) before a medical clearance may
		be granted.  At the completion of treatment, the applicant must present
		to the civil surgeon documentation of completion.  If treatment is not
		started, the applicant must present to the civil surgeon documentation of
		medical evaluation for tuberculosis.
Hansen's Disease	30 - 210 Days	Obtain an evaluation from a specialist or Hansen's disease clinic.  For in-
		determinate or Tuberculoid, applicant must present to the civil surgeon
		documentation of medical evaluation.  If lepromotous of borderline and treament
		is started, the applicant must complete at lieast six months and present docu-
		mentation to the civil surgeon showing dequate supervision, treatment and
		clinical response before a medical clearance is granted.
Venereal Diseases	1 - 30 Days	Obtain an appointment with a physician or local health department.  An
Chancroid, Gonorrhea, granuloma		applicant with a reactive serologic test for syphilis must provide to the
inguinal;lymphogranuloma venereum;		civil surgeon document of evaluation for treatment.  If an of the venereal
syphilis		diseases are infectious, the applicant must present to the civil surgeon
		documentation of completion of treatment.
Immunizations Incomplete	Immediate	Immunizations are not required, but the applicant should be encouraged
		to go to a physician or local health department for appropriate immunizations.
HIV Infection	Immediate	Post-test counseling is not required, but the applicant should be encouraged
		to seek appropriate post-test counseling.

Puerto Rican Birth Certificates

Here is a quick guide on how to obtain your official records from Puerto Rico:

You may need your official Puerto Rican documents to apply for U.S. Social Security, U.S. Military Survivor benefits, Health Insurance, or maybe even Inheritance Benefits.  If you were married, born and had a family member pass away in Puerto Rico on or after July 1931, then you can obtain an official document by sending a money order to the below address.  Please phone for current fees and other paperwork you may need to supply: 

Address:
Department of Health
Demographic Registry
P.O. Box 11854
Fernandez Juncos Station
San Juan, PR 00910
Phone: (787) 728-7980

Remarks: Money order should be made payable to Secretary of the Treasury. Personal checks are not accepted. Call to verify current fees. All applications must be accompanied by a photocopy of an identification card with picture.  Example: Driver's license or Passport (not expired).

DNA Tests are a Useful Tool in Society You might not have cause to think about it, but there are several useful things that paternity testing does for society.

Beyond the obvious implications of clearly marking the biological relationship between a child and a man, between grandparents and grandchild there are other applications for this derivative of DNA testing that serves society well. It is Immigration DNA Testing that proves beyond a doubt that a U.S. resident is truly sponsoring a family member not just someone with similar birth certificates and family names. Now the science has become so widespread and accurate, there are embassies all over the world that are putting the procedures to the test when it comes to deciding who they will allow into their respective countries. (Call 732-632-8820 for a list of Embassies) Immigration DNA testing is especially helpful when there is one family member that has gone on before others that want to follow. With the right remote sample collection facilities, samples can be gathered and determinations made as to who has relatives that are living in which country when applications are being made.

The U.S. laboratory typically sends the results directly to the U.S. Embassy in that particular country to expedite the reunification process. And although we all look at this as a thoroughly modern science, the truth is the study of DNA and how we inherit specific traits from those that are related to us dates back to the 1800s. The genetic profiles of plant hybrids that were done were seen at the time as revolutionary. Indeed, they even revolutionized the popular thinking about genetics at the time and the book called Experiments With Plants Hybrids is still considered one of the most influential works on the subject today. Modern Science Advancements were made to the point where the science of DNA testing has several different derivatives today.

Of course that the top of that list is paternity testing, and there are enough facilities where the test can conducted today that there's a need to know what to look for in the right paternity testing facility. So there is a quick checklist that you can refer to when you're looking for a place that will give you the best results and at the top of the list of the things that you need to look for is accreditation. This means that you'll need to be sure that the DNA Collection Facility that you entrust with the samples to be processed has all the right credentials according to the specific health departments. The minimum amount of accreditation should include American Association of Blood Banks, College of American Pathology, American Society of Crime Laboratories, NY State Department of Health, Clinical Improvement Amendments as distributed by the US Department of Health. These accrediting institutions measure the quality standards used in DNA testing lab providing family relationship testing. Paternity testing has become one of the ways that families can sponsor and get reunited with children and/or their parents. This derivative of DNA testing has become part of our social network.

REASONS TO USE A PRIVATE PATERNITY TESTING FACILITY A very old saying.... You Get What You Pay For

State contracted DNA paternity tests are not a priority for the contracted laboratories and so problems and errors occur more frequently.  Many States contract with private laboratories at much discounted prices to obtain paternity tests.  The result is a much extended turnaround time for the results and as the below excerpt will attest to (and a previous article submitted on www.dnalady.com blog) - too often errors happen.

As a parent, do you want someone else receiving your child's DNA test results?  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website indicates that every parent should have a copy of their child's DNA for emergency purposes but the site clearly states that only parents should maintain a copy of their child's DNA.  We do not know what the future use of DNA will be; much the same way; our grandparents didn't know how Social Security Numbers were going to be a means to identification, credit and finance processing, healthcare and medicare benefits etc..  You can't get a Chain of Custody DNA test taken today without your Social Security Number. 

When Social Security Numbers were created the sole purpose was a means to identify an individuals' contribution to the Social Security System while in the workforce.  From that figure, the government would determine your retirement benefit which would begin at age 65.  Well the baby boomers know that age 65 for retirement is no longer a fact.  We're told that to receive our total benefit we have to work until age 66 and 9 months or so....and that's the figure today in 2009.

However, today, every child is issued a Social Security number as a means of their first form of identification.  On the day you are born, you are entered into a nationwide system of identification.  Who is to say that these state held DNA records won't be used as a means for healthcare benefits eligibility, credit scores to obtain financing for homes, businesses or education or to identify an individual's job qualifications in the future.  Are we putting our children at risk for having the State's perform DNA collections?  DNA records are very personal and should never be held by anyone other than a parent, legal guardian or family member. 

We do not know what the future holds for DNA and for those with the means, a private DNA testing facility should always be used for Paternity and other family relationships tests where DNA is collected and analyzed.  A privately held DNA testing facility also needs to maintain a standard qualifications including but not limited to AABB, CAP, CLIA, ASCLD and other nationally known accrediting institutions.  Today, DNA paternity tests are not that expensive (considering the alternative) and facilities are popping up all over the United States that offering properly accredited, community based, and confidential testing. 

EXCERPT FROM A NEWS CHANNEL 7 ONYOURSIDE

 "I have my cover letter that they sent me with my information on it," said Left Blank for Confidentiality.

At first everything looked just fine when Let Blank for Confidentiality opened her paternity tests results from the South Carolina Department of Social Services. But as she turned the pages she realized the information she received wasn't hers. It was for another man, another woman, and a child she didn't know.

"It's just infuriating," said Left Blank for Confidentiality. "I was just so angry. I was like 'This isn't mine!' "

Left Blank for Confidentiality said she had access to personal information no one would want in a stranger's hands.

"I've got social (security numbers), I've got driver's license numbers, I've got addresses, I've even got pictures of what they look like," said Left Blank for Confidentiality. "This is their information. They don't know me they don't know who I am and here I am I've got everything."

Left Blank for Confidentiality said she went to a local DSS office for help.

"She was like, 'I apologize we just had a mistake. Your cover letter got on theirs and their cover letter got on yours and that was the mixup and this never happens'," said Left Blank for Confidentiality. "Apparently it does."

DSS spokesperson admitted it was a mistake. But she insisted private information did not go out to the other family. DSS also said they would be appointing someone to double check each mailing before it went out. But Left Blank for Confidentiality said the problems are continuing.

"Yes, it's still happening," said Left Blank for Confidentiality. "She called me yesterday and told me it looked like some more information got sent out to me that wasn't mine."

So we wrote to DSS again and the Director of the DSS Child Support Enforcement Division  issued this statement:

"In following up on the original incident we discovered that a notice of a court hearing from another case had been sent to Ms. Left Blank for Confidentiality by mistake. A member of our staff visited Ms. Left Blank for Confidentiality to tell her of the error.  This mistake was a result of human error and we are addressing that internally.  We truly regret this happened."

It's the kind of problem Left Blank for Confidentiality said could have been prevented.   

"That's just a mistake that cannot happen," said Left Blank for Confidentiality.

DSS told us they believe this mistake is a rare occurrence. If problems continue you can be sure 7 On Your Side will make sure it is addressed.

END OF EXCERPT

If you have questions or comments about this site or DNA tests in general send us a comment below. 

 

How Genealogical DNA Tests Benefit your Ancestral Research

(For privacy purposes, some details have been removed)

I run the SMITH Family Project at a genealogy testing facility, my maiden name was SMITH. Before creating this project, I had been researching my family for years. In these years, I (and others in my family) have not been able to get back any further than John SMITH who was born ca. 1725. There was much speculation on where this John was born and also whether he was actually British or French with such a common surname.

I began researching all the SMITH branches years ago trying to figure out where our branch may fit in. I never found anything concrete to prove or disprove any connection to the British SMITH branches in this country.

When Genealogical DNA testing came along, this gave me another opportunity to prove/disprove a connection to one of the SMITH branches which is why I started the SMITH Family Project. I had a male family member take a beginner's Genealogy DNA test. We started with just a 12-marker test, I soon realized that we needed to test more markers if I was going to find out anything or make any possible connections as there were a number of 12-marker matches with various surnames and it was obvious that more testing needed to be done to rule out those that were definitely not related. Within a couple of weeks of receiving the first results back, I upgraded the test to Y-DNA 37-marker.

I must point out that I was very aware at this time that I might actually be looking for a surname other than SMITH. Some family stories that had been passed down over the years had speculated on a few possible other names, such as Smyth, Smithe, Smithie, Smythie, Smithy, Smythy  all of which could have been changed to SMITH upon entering the United States. 

Once I received the second set of results, a total of Y-DNA 37 markers now, I realized I had much more concrete information. There were no matches to a SMITH (at least not close enough to call them relatives); however, out of the 37-markers tested a male family member's results matched 35-markers with a gentleman named Smithie.

I wrote to this gentleman immediately. He wrote back and told me of the research he had done on his Smithie family name, that they had come from Great Britain; and that perhaps family members had set sail for the USA and had their family name changed or shortened upon arrival.  

Researching this I found that Smithie (a name I mentioned above as being passed down through the family) had been shortened to SMITH in some cases.

Once again, I upgraded a male family member's test from 37-markers to 67-markers. The Smithie man also upgraded his test to 67-markers, when these results came back we were only off by 5-markers.

This Smithie gentleman has a degree in genetics and gives seminars on Genealogy and DNA testing. He believes that this is the line that my family came from even though we have yet to make the family connections. He also believes that if I can get my line back one or two more generations and we should be able to connect the families together. I am very excited about this; however, getting my line back even one more generation is proving to be quite challenging and I'm not sure that I'll be able to find the records to support this theory.

So I said all this, number one to tell my story; but, more importantly, to say that the matches with alternate surname can be useful if you know or believe that there may be a possibility that: 1) your surname may have been changed at some point in time, 2) someone in your direct line may have been adopted or not the natural child of the parents, or 3) there were some indiscretions on the part of your ancestors and so a name change was chosen as a way to create distance.