Adoption Certificate Suffice for Birth Certificate?

My husband was adopted by his step-father after he married my husband's mom.  When my husband called to order his "long birth certificate", they sent him a certified copy of his adoption order.  I'm checking to make sure this will work for the birth certificate portion of the required documents to send in with my visa application.  The main reason I'm questioning this is because it says in big bold print at the bottom
WARNING:  A CERTIFICATE IS NOT EVIDENCE OF IDENTITY.

Edit:  I will also be including my husband's actual passport.  Also his name was changed per the adoption so any identity documents prior to that would be in a different name - which would just cause even more headache I'm sure.

My husband's says the same thing on the bottom of his, which he ordered from the registrar in the county he was born in. It concerned me at first as well, but I think really what the ECO is looking for is that your sponsor is British--not so much the identity as much as the citizenship aspect. In my case, we used my husband's long-form birth certificate and a photocopy of the picture page of his passport to prove he was British and there didn't seem to be a problem. But, I can't really speak as to whether an adoption order would act in the same respect--though in my unprofessional opinion I think it would, but I don't have any experience with that particular issue you have (hopefully someone has and can tell you for sure).

The birth certificate is not to prove your husband's identity, but rather to show his right to live in the UK.  If he doesn't have a birth certificate, then send a certified copy of his passport information page, or the passport itself, instead.  I wouldn't risk sending the adoption form. 

I'll be sending his passport but it was my understanding that the sponsor's birth certificate was a required document (as well as the passport or a copy).  Is this not correct?  My question is if the adoption certificate is ok in place of the original birth certificate, not in place of the passport.

The birth certificate is not to prove your husband's identity, but rather to show his right to live in the UK.  If he doesn't have a birth certificate, then send a certified copy of his passport information page, or the passport itself, instead.  I wouldn't risk sending the adoption form. 

I'm glad historyenne brought up the option of him getting his passport copies certified since I had forgotten about that option

I'll be sending his passport but it was my understanding that the sponsor's birth certificate was a required document (as well as the passport or a copy).  Is this not correct?  My question is if the adoption certificate is ok in place of the original birth certificate, not in place of the passport.

The birth certificate is only *required* if the sponsor's passport (or a certified copy of it) can't or won't be provided. If you can get it certified or send the original then you wouldn't need to worry about a birth certificate.

If your husband is willing to send his actual passport, then forget the rest. Passport proves identity and right to live in the UK, which is what they are looking for.
You see people sending birth certificates (like I did) because they dont have a certified copy of the passport and the sponsor doesnt want to send the actual passport.

OOOOhhhh ooookkkkk.  I will be sending my husband's actual passport so I will be fine.  I thought I needed the birth certificate and the passport (which I thought was a little redundant to begin with).  Thanks guys!!

The birth certificate is not to prove your husband's identity, but rather to show his right to live in the UK.  If he doesn't have a birth certificate, then send a certified copy of his passport information page, or the passport itself, instead.  I wouldn't risk sending the adoption form.  

I thought you needed the birth certificate even with a certified copy of the passport page?

I thought you needed the birth certificate even with a certified copy of the passport page?

If the copy of the passport is certified, with a stamp or a signature of someone qualified to certify documents, then that's proof that an original document has been presented and was sufficient enough for the certification--therefore, it would prove the sponsor is British.

I thought you needed the birth certificate even with a certified copy of the passport page?

Nope: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf4husbandswivespartners#Q15

Evidence that your sponsor is settled in the UK. (This can be a copy of their passport or registration certificate that has been confirmed as a true copy, in other words 'certified').

Emphasis added by me.

OK wait...do I need my birth certificate then?  The link below says I should include my original birth certificate - isn't that covered by sending your passport?

You shouldn't need it, though some people send theirs.  I think it might depend on the consulate.

OK wait...do I need my birth certificate then?  The link below says I should include my original birth certificate - isn't that covered by sending your passport?

Correct. I'm not entirely sure why it's included in the list since you would need to produce a passport to get a visa *anyway*, but the passport does negate the need for the USC's birth certificate.

But, with that said I added mine as well--it was no skin off my nose to do it since it was handy anyway.

OK wait...do I need my birth certificate then?  The link below says I should include my original birth certificate - isn't that covered by sending your passport?

You do not need your birth certificate, you are sending your passport. But if it makes you feel more secure to send it, then send it. I had mine when I applied so I sent it just to cover all my bases. Others have just sent their passports and have been perfectly fine.

Thanks Tammy & WebyJ.