Please Help With Question

[digbeezgrl 0]

I sent away ($70) for a copy of my prior divorce decree (this was 10 years ago, misplaced the document when I moved) and just got it via Fed Ex.

Thank you, morons at vital statistics who can't spell. Not only is my last name spelled wrong, but my birth year is one off as well. I called to have another (corrected) version sent to me, and they told me I'd have to

SPEND ANOTHER $70 TO GET A COPY OF MY F****ING MARRIAGE CERT. SO THEY CAN COMPARE INFO!

I was like, Oh, I don't think so Scooter. I am sooo pissed right now! Isn't it their job to know how to spell my name and what year I was born? This IS the Bureau of VITAL STATISTICS, after all.

I said, can't I just fax you my drivers' license (with birth date and name, of course) and she said no. I'll be DAMNED if I'm spending another friggin $70 for a document that I don't need.

My name is spelled 'SCHNEIDER" and on the Decree it's spelled "SCHNIEDER" and also, my birth year is 1975 and it says 1976.

Should I leave it, or have it corrected? Will they care? Does it look suspicious, like I am another person or something, or will they understand that it's a typo? I REALLY dont want the hassle of getting ANOTHER document that I won't even need except to prove the spelling.... SHEESH!!!

I won't be around till this evening, but please don't hesitate to chime in here and gimmee your opinion as to what to do here....

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YO

[Jenn! 918]

If it were me, I wouldn't risk it. You never know how closely they're going to scrutinize your documents and you don't want an RFE, that'll just slow everything down.

You could make it through no questions asked, but is it worth the $70?

The process is expensive, and we paid money for a bunch of things we never ended up needing, i.e. police certificates, translations, etc.

It all comes down to how much of a risk taker you are, I believe.

Good luck!

[snz1802 0]

i wouldn't risk it, I would just get a corrected copy....I was told by a lawyer once that mistakes are the reason most visas that don't go through , not because they are not approved, but because mistakes hold them up......and they get thrown to the bottom of the pile again.....

[Jasman0717 9]

Welcome to the wonderful world of government Bureaucracy

[j&js 0]

You have probably already tried, but I would fight them like crazy to get a corrected copy for free since it is their screw-up, not yours.

Other then that I agree with everybody else, I wouldn't risk it.

Murphy's Law: if you blow it off, they will ask for it; if you get it, you will never need it

[Criag 0]

I sent away ($70) for a copy of my prior divorce decree (this was 10 years ago, misplaced the document when I moved) and just got it via Fed Ex.

Thank you, morons at vital statistics who can't spell. Not only is my last name spelled wrong, but my birth year is one off as well. I called to have another (corrected) version sent to me, and they told me I'd have to

SPEND ANOTHER $70 TO GET A COPY OF MY F****ING MARRIAGE CERT. SO THEY CAN COMPARE INFO!

I was like, Oh, I don't think so Scooter. I am sooo pissed right now! Isn't it their job to know how to spell my name and what year I was born? This IS the Bureau of VITAL STATISTICS, after all.

I said, can't I just fax you my drivers' license (with birth date and name, of course) and she said no. I'll be DAMNED if I'm spending another friggin $70 for a document that I don't need.

My name is spelled 'SCHNEIDER" and on the Decree it's spelled "SCHNIEDER" and also, my birth year is 1975 and it says 1976.

Should I leave it, or have it corrected? Will they care? Does it look suspicious, like I am another person or something, or will they understand that it's a typo? I REALLY dont want the hassle of getting ANOTHER document that I won't even need except to prove the spelling.... SHEESH!!!

I won't be around till this evening, but please don't hesitate to chime in here and gimmee your opinion as to what to do here....

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YO

H

I wouldnt risk it either. I had something similar but i called the manager of the county clerk and explained the situation directly to an authority over the clerks for call us this stuff...the clerks always seem to be in a hurry anyway...tell your trouble to the county clerk directly and bring this typo stuff to his or her attention.

My divorce decree has a case number. I just told them the case number and they pulled up the information. If the original divorce decree is in error...you may have problems then....Criag....

[digbeezgrl 0]

You have probably already tried, but I would fight them like crazy to get a corrected copy for free since it is their screw-up, not yours.

Other then that I agree with everybody else, I wouldn't risk it.

Murphy's Law: if you blow it off, they will ask for it; if you get it, you will never need it

Yes, you are right about that. ^^^This seems to be the story of my life lately with all this visa stuff...

Update!!!

Just to satisfy the curiousity of those of you who may go through the same deal...

I spent literally 3 hours today on the phone with The Department Of Health, The New York State

Supreme Court where the decree was issued, the Town Court where the marriage happened, etc etc etc../

There answers were all directing me to another office... 'Oh, we don't deal with that end of things..""

Are you KIDDING me? I was ready to reach through the phone and choke someone, I was SOOO frustrated.

Anyway, you'll love the end result. I found out that the ONLY way to have the document changed is to get a LAWYER. Not the answer that I wanted, but apparently, no one is allowed to change the certificate just because I call up to say it's spelled wrong. This sucks. Now, I'll spend 100's of dollars on something that has nothing to do with me. Idiots. I could really scream till I'm hoarse right now.

So when I called Sean in London, he just about had a fit. This is so much more of a pain in the a$$ that we could have EVER imagined it would be... pitfall after pitfall after pitfall.

Good thing our love is strong enough to endure. We joke over the phone, "BOY, you BETTER be worth it!!"

hehehehehehheheehehhe

Thanks for all your input. When I spoke to CIS today on the phone, they said the same thing you all did...

Yes, the info needs to be EXACT down to the letter, or they will Admin Review it, prolonging the process.

GAH!!!

[Aymerlu 3]

I actually had the same thing happen to me. My divorce was final in July 2001. When my fiance and I started talking about the K-1 visa before we met, I started getting things together and noticed that my birthday and social were not correct on my divorce decree. I basically had to get a divorce all over again. Crazy as it sounds my new divorce decree has July 2005! Psycho! We pay all this money to have someone do a job, they do it inncorrectly and we have to pay for them to fix it! Sorry you have to go through this. I hope all turns out well for you!

[TracyTN 237]

Ditto. I realized that my decree did not state that I was taking back my maiden name. Luckily I noticed it 2 days after it had been filed, so I rang up the lawyer and they fixed it for free and resubmitted it to the court.

Of course, the fact that I TOLD THEM THAT FROM DAY ONE obviously hadn't made a damn bit of difference. I wouldn't use that lawyer again if my life depended on it.

So ditto what Aymerlu said about paying them to do a job and they can't even do it right.

[j&js 0]

I can't believe that all these papers are so messed up. I am certainly going to be careful about spell/date-checking every important document I get from now on.... Thats the US govt (and lawyers) for ya I guess

[Peter Miami 0]

I hate to mention this while you are going through this pain in the a$$ situation. But guys any time you get an important document from anybody you have to go over it check it and re-check it and after you finish this you check it again. Yes, it sucks that people are making mistakes but this happens everyday and if it is you document and it is important you are the one who has to be responsible. If not we could just go around blaming everybody for everything. You did not look at your divorce certificate when you received it? Come on now! I know this statement is not going to make me popular but I have to tell the truth and maybe some people will learn.

Good luck,

Peter Miami

[digbeezgrl 0]

I hate to mention this while you are going through this pain in the a$$ situation. But guys any time you get an important document from anybody you have to go over it check it and re-check it and after you finish this you check it again. Yes, it sucks that people are making mistakes but this happens everyday and if it is you document and it is important you are the one who has to be responsible. If not we could just go around blaming everybody for everything. You did not look at your divorce certificate when you received it? Come on now! I know this statement is not going to make me popular but I have to tell the truth and maybe some people will learn.

Good luck,

Peter Miami

Ummmm... it was 10 YEARS AGO AND I WAS 18 YEARS OLD!!!!

I understand what you are saying, but NO, it is NOT my responsibility to make sure documents are spelled correctly. We PAY paralegals to do that. When I got this in the mail 10 years ago, believe me, it was the LAST thing I wanted to be scrutinizing over. I just threw it in my file cabinet as fast as I could as if it were on fire. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would ever need to use it again, and to have to have my name spelled correctly to boot! It's an honest oversight, but please! Basic proofreading too much to ask? I don't think so.

I don't mean to sound negative, but our process will be held up, according to the NYS Dept. of Health, by at least a month because of this 10 year old typo. This hurts, and I know you know how I feel to not be with my love! Of course my natural reaction is to get frustrated! (and not with myself, either, since it wasn't me who typed up the document in the first place)

Just venting, and trying to help others from having to go through this too.

*UPDATE!!!*

Called again this morning and spoke to a supervisor who said, as long as I get a hold of my marriage certificate, send them both back and they will send me an AMENDED Divorce decree, free of charge!!! (Still, $70 for the marriage cert, but who cares???)

YIIIPPPEEEEE!!!!!!

Thanks for all your support guys.. you have been invaluable. Even you, Miami.

[TracyTN 237]

Not just that, but it IS a very stressful time when you're going through a divorce. Things that you'd normally never miss will escape your attention, esp. when you think you've paid a professional to help you cover your a$$.

If you've not gone through one, Peter, than you may not understand what we're saying. If you have, and everything went off without a single hitch, then you're very very fortunate.

[mrswooten4ever 0]

Hi I had something similar happen with my Divorce Decree .... they have my previous married name down as my maiden name. Lawyer had it amended free of charge as he admitted that it should have been checked before leaving their offices! Same lawyer also lost my original marriage certificate that had taken me five months to obtain from South Africa. Case of what can go wrong will go wrong LOL

Take care

Adele

[Sacha 0]

I hate to mention this while you are going through this pain in the a$$ situation. But guys any time you get an important document from anybody you have to go over it check it and re-check it and after you finish this you check it again. Yes, it sucks that people are making mistakes but this happens everyday and if it is you document and it is important you are the one who has to be responsible. If not we could just go around blaming everybody for everything. You did not look at your divorce certificate when you received it? Come on now! I know this statement is not going to make me popular but I have to tell the truth and maybe some people will learn.

Good luck,

Peter Miami

Ummmm... it was 10 YEARS AGO AND I WAS 18 YEARS OLD!!!!

I understand what you are saying, but NO, it is NOT my responsibility to make sure documents are spelled correctly. We PAY paralegals to do that. When I got this in the mail 10 years ago, believe me, it was the LAST thing I wanted to be scrutinizing over. I just threw it in my file cabinet as fast as I could as if it were on fire. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would ever need to use it again, and to have to have my name spelled correctly to boot! It's an honest oversight, but please! Basic proofreading too much to ask? I don't think so.

I don't mean to sound negative, but our process will be held up, according to the NYS Dept. of Health, by at least a month because of this 10 year old typo. This hurts, and I know you know how I feel to not be with my love! Of course my natural reaction is to get frustrated! (and not with myself, either, since it wasn't me who typed up the document in the first place)

Just venting, and trying to help others from having to go through this too.

*UPDATE!!!*

Called again this morning and spoke to a supervisor who said, as long as I get a hold of my marriage certificate, send them both back and they will send me an AMENDED Divorce decree, free of charge!!! (Still, $70 for the marriage cert, but who cares???)

YIIIPPPEEEEE!!!!!!

Thanks for all your support guys.. you have been invaluable. Even you, Miami.

Sorry if this offends anyone but I feel your state system is very #######.

If the council (our terminology for your department of whatever) sends out a document that is incorrect to what you have filed then surely they should be bending over backward to get the situation rectified?

My boyfriend divorced his bitter twisted exwife years ago and today he occasionally has to go through some of the most ridiculous process to prove he paid maintenance fees when the state got it wrong. And they tell him it is up to HIM to prove that they got it wrong. How f*cking ####### is that??

The more I hear about situations like these, the more I'm beginning to appreciate England all the more.

I really feel for you and if I were there I would definitely have gone down the office to personally tell them how incompetent they are.

All the best and I hope you'll beat the system!!!