amendments?

[maddief]

I went to my Consulate to speak with the person in charge of dual citizenship applications and who is apparently new to the job and doesn't really know what she's talking about as evident by the "I don't know" responses to some of my questions.

She told me that with name changes (my grandfather went by Franco in Italy and Frank in the States, and my father legally changed his middle name), I have to get an amendment for the vital records documents. However, she didn't know how to get one. She mentioned something about a public notary. Can anyone advise me? Can I have my friend who's a notary simply draft something up saying that the two names are indeed the same person? And do I need to get one for each document or just one?

[drovedo]

You need a notarized signature and stamp for each document necessary for the application that the consulate asks to be notarized. Having a friend do it isn't exactly ethical or necessarily legal depending on whch state you live in.

I suggest going to your bank to get your documents notarized. They should do it for free or minimal cost. Bring supporting documentation to back up his identity.

[peggymckee]

Hi!

May I ask which consulate--and the name of the lady, if you recall it? Was this your citizenship application appointment--or did you just go in and ask questions at the front desk or similar?

Many thanks, Peg

[mler]

Frank seems an obvious translation of Franco, and if your father's middle names was changed legally (by court order), you should have no problem amending his birth certificate through the vital statistics office.