Travelers & Military folks! Please tell me if you can help my friend!

[Djeta Thernadier]

Hello!

I am hoping that you might be able to help a friend of mine. She's at a loss as to what to do and I knew someone on this site would be able to help.

She is getting married in the Virgin Islands on May 9th. She & her fiancé will be flying out from Boston that weekend, getting married on the beach on the island, and returning the following week. They are both American citizens. It sounds like a wonderful and great wedding trip.

The problem she is having is this:

Her fiancé can not get a passport because according to the post office (who I'm told gladly took his $140-something) told him that he does not have enough proof that he is a citizen. Getting to the islands won't be a problem, but returning will be and they might not let him in.

He was born in Germany on an army base. Both of his parents are deceased and he has very little in the way of "proof" of his US citizenship.

He does have an actual copy of his birth certificate but it is torn and creased. The seal is also missing and so is the name of his parents. He has his dad's birth certificate and his parent's marriage license. He has most of his school records, but he does not have apparently enough to claim he is a citizen of the US.


Does anyone know if, when he returns, a voter's registration card and a marriage license is enough to clear customs? He can't get a copy of his birth certificate. The post office told him to contact INS and I suggested contacting the US army for a copy, but the wedding (which is non refundable and paid for) is coming up in less than one month and we all know how long paperwork can take

Please, please someone help. Feel free to PM me here or email me at (email address semi obscured against spammers) sjipson AT SIGN comcast.net.

Thank you all,
Sheri

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

I can't help you Sheri, but I can pose this query to you: Why would anyone want to come back from the Virgin Islands?

 

[Crothian]

IT wouldn't be a cheap place to live, I've been there and it was amazing. It wasn't cheap though

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Actually, her fiance's aunt lives there! She lives in a nice condo on the beach and apparently always talks about going on vacation to other places! That boggles the mind, I'd never want to leave. But I guess it's like any vacation spot, fun for a month or so, but then you get so used to it that things that once mesmerized you become mundane.

I dunno though. After having had SEVEN really freezing, miserable months of Boston , I think I'd stay

 

[TheAuldGrump]

You can generally get a new copy of your birth certificate from the city (or in this case army base) records, these cost around 5 dollars. If the army base has been closed then the veteran's organizations might be your best bet (Assuming that the reason for the Army base birth involve a parent in the military.) The names of both parents will be needed, and if at all possible a social security number. Since time is an issue you may want to have them make two copies, one for a US address, the others where they are staying in the Virgin Islands.

I have heard several horror stories involving attempts to convince customs of US citizenship, if they are not certain that they will be able to return then they probably shouldn't leave. The paperwork involved has increased dramatically since 9-11 but the number of staff for both customs and immigration has remained the same, they have no choice but be slower than cold mollases.

The Auld Grump

 

[Umbran]

He was born in Germany on an army base. Both of his parents are deceased and he has very little in the way of "proof" of his US citizenship.

If he was born of US citizens on a US Army base, in an Army hospital, there will be record of that birth. If he knows which, a few phone calls should yield him a new copy of his birth certificate.

 

[thullgrim]

OK, this is what I know, I make no guarntee's as to accuracy.
F
or military dependents born overseas there are a number of rules. First they are American citizens, though they usually carry a dual citizenship until they are eighteen when they declare a citizenship. I don't know if this is a formal declaration or not. I would think registering for selective services would be enough to prove citizenship, but if your working under a deadline i am afraid you are in a bad way, if its a close one.

He had to have been issued a passport to return to states from the overseas location his parents were stationed at. I believe all overseas dependent birth certificates are issued from a central consular location, at least my sons was. I will look up the address and post it for you later along with any other information I might find. That being said, Dept of State should have a record of previous passport issue for him as he had to have returned to CONUS from the overseas location.

The form name is (FS-240) Consular Report Of Birth Abroad Of A Citizen Of The United States of America. This is a basic citizenship document. In order to obtain a replacement document for a lost/stolen or mutilated FS-240, a notarized affidavit explaining the loss/theft/mutilation must be provided to:

Department of State
Passport Services
Correspondence Branch
1111 19th street, N.W.-Suite 510
Washington, DC. 20522-1705
​

Written requests should include (1) Full name of child at birth (plus any adoptive names); (2)Date and Place of Birth [I would include the base name if he knows it] (3)names of parents; (4)serial number of the FS-240 (if issued after november 1, 1990 and if availalbe) (5)any available passport information; (6) signature of the requestor and; (7)notarized affidavit explaining the circumstances. There is a $30.00 fee, payable by check or money order to the Department of State.

I would try that if there is time. Also have him place a call to his senators and congressmen, its amazing how fast the beauracracy can work when someone is cracking the whip at them. Try the previous passport route first though he had to have one to into the country in the first place. Also if he wnet to school overs DODEA (dod education office) should have school records) might be able to help if he was school age.

If I think of anything else I will post again.

Thullgrim

 

[Hand of Evil]

My brother had to do this, also born on an Army base in Germany, record of birth, record of both parents, SS card and some other stuff, then had to get a certification from the goverment saying it was true, it took 90 days!

Oh, you may want to find out IF a passport is needed, if it is the US Virgin Islands it may not be required.