documents rejected for marriage license

OK, I'm CERTAIN other immigrants can relate to this story.... this is another first generation = second class citizen tale....
We showed up to brookhaven town hall with both driver's licenses, both current US passports, my (NY) baptismal certificate, and FH's (polish) birth certificate with translation, and (polish) baptismal certificate.

Totally shot down.... Why? well, apparently 'they only accept translations from a list of 8 local companies'. (Our english translation was done by the polish gov't, and has all official seals..) She made me feel like all his documents were junk

Upon realizing he 'americanized' his name by legally making a minor change in spelling, she was actively trying to find another reason to shoot down the proof of birthdate doc's. (The spelling change is documented on his passport, and she was debating whether or not that was official enough).

gotta love the US gov't. They've got this way to make immigrants feel like junk with every transaction. Now we have to pay $60 to get the same doc translated a 2nd time
vent over.....

oh noooo

I'm sorry
Glad you did it early.

Oh no--I'm sorry

The government can be so difficult! Thank goodness you went early!

im sorry! i know i dont understand why the gov't insists of giving people such a hard time

I'm so sorry to hear they gave you such a hard time! At least you have the time to get it all sorted out

I am so sorry that you have to go through this.

That *****, hope it goes better the second time around!

frankly, I'm getting a bit paranoid.... I sense that when we show up with the new translation, she'll shoot us down again becuase of the spelling change, despite it being documented in his passport...

sooo envious of the girls who walked into town hall with their driver's license and walked out with a marriage license

well, the current debate is going to ALL THE WAY his parent's place (relatively close to staten island) and picking up his naturalization papers and name change papers...

OR

paying for the 2nd translation and hoping that will suffice.

Since we're on the north shore of eastern LI, the trek to his parents is about 2 to 2.5 hours each way once traffic is factored in.... But, we'd at least be able to visit them... Maybe we should do that?

this really stinks... this was supposed to be a happy morning....

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Posted by portjeffbride

well, the current debate is going to ALL THE WAY his parent's place (relatively close to staten island) and picking up his naturalization papers and name change papers...

OR

paying for the 2nd translation and hoping that will suffice.

Since we're on the north shore of eastern LI, the trek to his parents is about 2 to 2.5 hours each way once traffic is factored in.... But, we'd at least be able to visit them... Maybe we should do that?

this really stinks... this was supposed to be a happy morning....

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sweetie, why would you go back to that same place when all you need is ONE form of ID -a driver's license in SI. I wouldnt even think twice about it....but it's up to you.

how frustrating!

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Posted by EverlovingEv

sweetie, why would you go back to that same place when all you need is ONE form of ID -a driver's license in SI. I wouldnt even think twice about it....but it's up to you.

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true, but then we'd both have to take off a 1/2 day of work.... it's 75 miles of rush hour traffic I'm seriously debating it, though.
Must figure out game plan with FH....

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Posted by portjeffbride

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Posted by EverlovingEv

sweetie, why would you go back to that same place when all you need is ONE form of ID -a driver's license in SI. I wouldnt even think twice about it....but it's up to you.

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true, but then we'd both have to take off a 1/2 day of work.... it's 75 miles of rush hour traffic I'm seriously debating it, though.
Must figure out game plan with FH....

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Not for nothing, but whats more important, your marriage license, or taking a 1/2 day at work? Just go and do it. It'll clear your head, and lift a huge amount of weight off your shoulders. Going back to the same place that gave you a hard time with the papers, isn't what I would do. But the choice is yours. You never know what other excuses will come up, if you go back there.

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Posted by werock0709

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Posted by portjeffbride

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Posted by EverlovingEv

sweetie, why would you go back to that same place when all you need is ONE form of ID -a driver's license in SI. I wouldnt even think twice about it....but it's up to you.

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true, but then we'd both have to take off a 1/2 day of work.... it's 75 miles of rush hour traffic I'm seriously debating it, though.
Must figure out game plan with FH....

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Not for nothing, but whats more important, your marriage license, or taking a 1/2 day at work? Just go and do it. It'll clear your head, and lift a huge amount of weight off your shoulders. Going back to the same place that gave you a hard time with the papers, isn't what I would do. But the choice is yours. You never know what other excuses will come up, if you go back there.

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well, that's obvious... but it certainly is a major inconvenience for both of us to basically spend about 7 hours in the car, when everyone else has the luxury of a half hour transaction.

More contructive question:
what LI town halls did anyone just have to show their license?

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Posted by portjeffbride

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Posted by werock0709

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Posted by portjeffbride

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Posted by EverlovingEv

sweetie, why would you go back to that same place when all you need is ONE form of ID -a driver's license in SI. I wouldnt even think twice about it....but it's up to you.

---

true, but then we'd both have to take off a 1/2 day of work.... it's 75 miles of rush hour traffic I'm seriously debating it, though.
Must figure out game plan with FH....

---

Not for nothing, but whats more important, your marriage license, or taking a 1/2 day at work? Just go and do it. It'll clear your head, and lift a huge amount of weight off your shoulders. Going back to the same place that gave you a hard time with the papers, isn't what I would do. But the choice is yours. You never know what other excuses will come up, if you go back there.

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well, that's obvious... but it certainly is a major inconvenience for both of us to basically spend about 7 hours in the car, when everyone else has the luxury of a half hour transaction.

More contructive question:
what LI town halls did anyone just have to show their license?

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I replied to your post. Long Beach City Hall. We were in and out in 15 minutes.

can't his parents just UPS the documents to you so you don't have to travel to staen island?