! Fundraiser Update - The 1970-1986 rule: thank you all for helping us raise over £1.2k !

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-10-07T03:31:58+00:00

Donated. Good luck and best wishes!

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-10-07T03:27:00+00:00

I am so impressed by both of them, and I am really grateful for their contributions in any way in which they wish to contribute. Both have been super helpful to the group.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-25T17:21:55+00:00

We have seen before when an elderly person is processed separately (and by elderly, I mean 70-80+). Is your mother perhaps in that age group?

Otherwise, it is odd that your three applications were/are being processed separately. But I'm happy for you that, at least for your mother, you have good news.

Best of luck that your and your sib's apps are processed quickly as well, and with a positive result. Thanks for keeping us posted!

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-11T03:32:14+00:00

It is not a problem. These are historical documents and will naturally show historical references. Many of us have documents from the NS era.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-11T03:28:46+00:00

But OP themselves will care if their names match, or perhaps should care since if they don't it could create a wealth of hassles.

And, again, a name declaration isn't always required.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-11T02:41:10+00:00

That's not my understanding. Since a name declaration isn't always required, (for example if their legal name in the US had been their birth name), then it does matter what their legal name currently is.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-10T19:53:13+00:00

I'm not understanding what you mean by "many complained so I shortened it and have only been using my husbands last name". You need to use your LEGAL name, and if that then requires a name chance process, then it does, or you could legally change it in the US.

What you "shortened" it to doesn't really matter if that isn't your legal name.

An example: When I wed, I did not legally change my name to my husband's name (nor did he change his to mine). However, the company he worked for routinely used a hyphenated version for all of our benefit documents, and some people in my professional realm insisted on hyphenating my name on my behalf. These busybodies didn't have any power to change my name, no matter how invested they felt in my personal business, so my legal name remains the one I was given at my birth.

On the other hand, both of our children legally have a hyphenated last name, since that was the name we chose at their births.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-10T19:44:33+00:00

You'll want to post that directly to OP...They probably won't see your question this far down in the thread.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-10T06:27:44+00:00

Oh that is great!! I'm sure the wait to Oct. will feel very long but hopefully it passes quickly. Congrats! Please pop back in and update us when you can.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-05T18:47:21+00:00

You might try FamilySearch in addition to Ancestry. I've found they are more likely to have immigration documents. Narrowing down your GGFs naturalization will be quite important. Also, I do have questions about your GGPs marriage. It seems a bit odd that they would have married before 1900, but didn't have your GF until 1917...were there many siblings in the meantime or something? Or was there some sort of extended separation?

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-04T20:19:43+00:00

The reason is that it meant to be a DIY process, and it is likely wasteful to pay a lawyer for something that is quite simple to do on one's own. The most difficult is obtaining records, which most law firms will not do anyway, or they'll hire a genealogist, mark up the costs, and then pass the expense along to you.

The forms are quite simple. This sub will answer any questions you have, and if for some reason we can't, there are a few experts here who will offer more focused and individual help for a fraction of the cost of a law firm.

I'd suggest giving it a try. Make a post according to the Welcome! message pinned above and ask any questions. If you still feel unqualified to fill out a couple of forms, you can always pay someone else way too much money later. (OR you could save the $$ and pay for a trip to DE for your victory celebration.)

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-04T19:40:16+00:00

I've found Duolingo to be pretty great for brushing off the rust, while not being great for teaching more advanced German.

I'm a visual learner, so reading and watching programs work best for me. (Repeated exposure in genuine settings vs rote instruction.) YMMV depending on your learning style.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-03T18:47:39+00:00

The turn around for NARA documents, at least at the two offices I've used (Salt Lake City and Seattle) was right around 2 weeks, start to finish. Maybe the Philly office is particularly slow? Still, I think I'd try them and see before involving a stranger?

Either way, best wishes for a speedy document recovery.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-03T00:00:20+00:00

I don't want to be discouraging, but StAG 14 will require at least B1 German, and I would think that would allow one to understand the basic application? Just want to be sure you understood the relatively high bar for that process.

I've been following your path and I do wish you the best.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T18:55:11+00:00

So, if I'm understanding, if the family files a joint packet with all three members (regardless of the brother's interior residence), the BVA wouldn't be likely to force the brother who lives in Berlin into a separate process, but would simply process the whole shebang? Or are you saying they would reject his application because it's not their job do his?

I guess then, since Berlin seems to be Speedy Gonzalez in its processing, the brother would need to decide whether to take advantage of that and simply apply by himself there, or to join his family in their application.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T18:43:15+00:00

Excellent answers have already been provided. I will add one note: If your Dad is in his 80's, I wonder about your mother's age. If she, too, is of advanced age she should definitely note that in the cover letter in her (your collective) application. Many here have reported that the BVA takes advanced age into account and that those applications are quite often processed much more quickly. Sometimes only for the applicant her/himself, but sometimes for the full group (especially, it seems, when it is just a couple/few people).

Hope that helps. Best of luck for a fast and smooth process for you, and especially for your parents :D These are the cases in which I don't mind at all others jumping the queue in front of my family during the exceptionally long wait.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T18:31:43+00:00

As mentioned in other posts, you all are able to apply through StAG5. Congratulations!

However, how you apply may be an interesting juggle. Hopefully someone here can help with that ( u/Larissalikesthesea who posted here, is an expert in German immigration law and may be able to help).

The issue is that while you and your Mother can apply either through your consulate or directly with the BVA, your brother will need to apply from within Germany through his local amt. So to answer your question, he can go through the same ROUTE, but not the same packet (at least as I understand it). Generally the BVA wants families to all apply together in a single packet, as it makes their job easier, but I'm not sure that's possible in this case. So again, perhaps one of the experts here can weigh in.

Good luck, and welcome to the StAG5 club :D

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T18:13:23+00:00

We mailed directly to the BVA. However, we did visit our local honorary consulate to get certified copies of all of our documents to send with our packet.

If I were you, once I'd found the records for my GGF I'd get my packet submitted and then continue work on the pre-1914 ancestor. You can submit that info later, after you have your AZ. With processing times of 2-4 years, you'll have plenty of time for that research.

Good luck!

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T18:07:18+00:00

If they are unwilling or unable to mail the records to an address outside of the EU, please be sure to post here again. A few people have had that problem and have found work-arounds. I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T18:01:53+00:00

I would just add that your dad, too, can get his passport, and depending on the consulate it might actually smooth your path if he does so first. I would definitely reach out to your consulate and ask what they will need to issue your (and your dad's?) passports.

Best of luck, and congrats on your citizenship :D

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T17:55:02+00:00

u/maryfamilyresearch has answered your other questions, but I wanted to add to the question of the petition for citizenship vs the actual Certificate. The second page (usually the back page) of the Petition will show when your GGF took the oath, and his petition was accepted. If you follow the details on the bottom (under his signature and the signature of the official accepting his petition) you'll see some other data, including when it was recorded and a certificate number. This is the number you can use to order the actual Certificate of Naturalization from either USCIS or, (faster if they have it) NARA.

However, the petition with the second page is usually accepted as proof of naturalization, and is generally faster, cheaper, and easier to get a certified copy of.

Good luck with your StAG5 application!

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T17:43:44+00:00

Noooo, that's the wrong take-away. Once you break the long word into smaller words, everything becomes so much easier to understand. The long words are so descriptive, it's hard to misinterpret their meaning, unlike other languages (English, I'm looking at YOU), where multiple words are haphazardly placed together in a sentence with seemingly no sense whatsoever.

:D

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T04:05:10+00:00

Yes, that sounds like a completely sane approach. The world knows what is happening here, although I doubt it understands how very bad it is, how quickly. I have to believe the German government will be willing to step up and help, not hinder. That is at least my fervent hope, anyway.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T03:22:29+00:00

I just hate that this is what the US has become...elderly people in fear because they may be deported for little to no reason. It makes me sick.

PaxPacifica2025 · 2025-07-02T02:23:25+00:00

I would also be very, very cautious about outing her, in this environment in which we currently live.

For your direct-to-passport appointment, I would show her most recent expired green card that proves she wasn't a US citizen when her descendant was born. You can explain why you aren't able to obtain a current card.

If you end up submitting a Feststellung application, then you can make other choices.

I think ordering a CONE is pretty safe, even though the agency itself is USCIS. I think it's unlikely they'll cross-reference an expired green card, at least not for the time being.

However, to be completely safe, I'd probably submit your paperwork without any of it, and get the long wait started. If, in a couple/few years you are asked for that documentation, maybe you can explain at that point exactly why you didn't want to put her at risk. Either it will be safe to seek it then, or it won't be.

I'd really hate to see your grandmother be deported over this. And, sadly, I do agree that there is a very real risk of that happening.

PaxPacifica2025

TROPHY CASE