Embassy folks can be some of the most idiotic government employees around. When I was stationed overseas, one of my troops fell in love with another sailor of the opposite-sex variety and wanted to get married. Since he had no birth certificate, the embassy would not allow him to get married in country, despite the Top Secret Background Investigation paperwork I took up to them on his behalf. They needed a birth certificate. He and his fiancee got a MAC flight to Travis, got married at the Base Chapel, took a week's leave in the states and came back. Thanks to all our friends at State for realizing we all fly the same flag outside our offices. Assholes.
posted by Jo Fish on 11.29.04 at 01:11 PM
Comments:
Sorry Jo, but this is just way off base.
The U.S. Embassy has nothing to do with getting married overseas. There is no U.S. overseas marriage law. We do supply information on the host country laws that apply to getting married overseas. The host country obviously needed a birth certificate.
E-mail me and I can supply you with links on that.
As to the first linked and unfortunate situation, we know that lady. She has since retired.
Admiral
posted by: Admiral on 12.01.04 at 04:42 PM [permalink]
Admiral,
Appreciate your comment. The incident did actually happen as described, it all worked out for the best. The young man, had gotten a TSBI for an ordy-related job, and one of his biggest hassles was the lack of a birth certificate, since he had been born in a rural locale at home and not in a hospital. The investigators confirmed all the details of his birth, growing up, schooling by doing what they were paid to do; investigate. His BI was adjudicated favorably for him.
Presentation of all supporting paperwork to th embassy folks for their "chop" to the locals was the downfall. They would not support his application, even with the documentation of the BI.
He was happier to have made the trip to Travis, and be married in the states. We pulled some strings with MAC and the AF guys to get him and his fiancee home together, and everything worked out well in the end.
It just left a bad taste in my mouth for the folks who could have helped but seemingly weren't interested in helping two enlisted US sailors do so, even though they could (and off the record they admitted that to me).
Thanks for the response. That's most interesting! Have to put that down as bureaucracy in action. Or, actually, non-action. A lot of people in the "G" just won't do anything that's a little outside of the job description. Since it appears to be the consular folks you were dealing with, let someone who currently works in the field say "sorry." Most of us try to get 'em right. Since the visa issuances to the 9/11 hijackers, I've noticed that people in the field are even more hesitant to do anything out of the ordinary.
Admiral
posted by: Admiral on 12.02.04 at 09:04 AM [permalink]
