Can't let this go by: "...he took a Certification of Live Birth to the office as proof of birth. They rejected it. Said he needs a REAL birth certificate."

No, they did not. What they did is say that your friend had to bring in a certificate direct from the issuer, not a copy. It needs to have the raised stamp. Getting a passport requires the same thing.

Damn. I was hoping the Ick had passed on somewhere else.