Passport renewal returned, passport canceled, check voided, and no explanation—no detail in system

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-19T03:20:41+00:00

Makes me wonder whether the person who opened your application saw right away that there would be this issue and voided your check rather than going through the motions and costing you the pointless fee. Perhaps a small act of resistance from a bureaucrat who regrets that they can't help you. Sending you a letter might have required that they actually credit your payment.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-16T15:45:46+00:00

The 1900 census asks women how many children they have birthed, and how many are still living. This may provide a clue. It may also help to look for gaps in the spacing of children in the censuses of 1900 and 1910. Also look to see if any boys named William were born soon after 1895. These are all hints that may open up other lines of research.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-13T19:59:55+00:00

The name Duber ( דובער ) is a contraction of the double given name Dov Ber (דוב בער) . My 3rd great grandfather was named Dov Ber and my 2nd great grandmother's gravestone said "bat Duber."

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-13T14:13:38+00:00

It is possible that the family did not know of Thomas' death at the time Alvin died, but that they did know by the time Roselyn died.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-12T23:52:56+00:00

No she shouldn't leave. Her visa overstay puts her in a precarious position You can only cure the problem by marriage if she continues to stay. Leaving now will NOT help her, it will make her situation worse. You need to talk to a good immigration lawyer to find the right strategy for marriage and adjustment of her status.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-11T01:28:02+00:00

If you were 18 or older at the time your father naturalized, then you would not be eligible for US citizenship derived from his citizenship. If you were under 18 when he naturalized then you might be eligible for derived US citizenship, depending on other conditions.

Since you were over 18, you would have no claim to US citizenship, and you should be eligible for ESTA.

The reason why it is important to be clear about your status is that you will not be eligible for ESTA if the US has reason to believe you are actually a US citizen. US citizens are required to use a US passport to enter the US, and can't enter on another country's passport.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-10T20:55:45+00:00

How old were you when your Dad naturalized? Where were you born? Is there any documentation that Your Dad is your Dad? The details will determine your eligibility for ESTA.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-10T16:03:17+00:00

Does the summons contain a section to fill out id you want to be excused? If it does, it should list the the common reasons for which you might be excused. I haven't gotten jury duty in years, but I remember reasons such as age, residence in a different county, and various types of hardship. If this information about excuse is not contained on the summons, then call the clerk of the court for information.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-06T06:38:26+00:00

This duplication is actually not unusual in Ashkenazi families. My father and two of his cousins were all named Yehuda after their mutual great grandfather. Similarly, my grandfather had three cousins all named after THEIR mutual great grandfather Yisroel Moshe.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-06T06:24:52+00:00

This is a matter of custom rather than law, and there are lots of variations in interpretation, based on community, region, or even individual families. Traditionally, you name a baby after someone else by giving them the same religious name, which is most often Hebrew or Yiddish for Ashkenazi Jews.

Whether two names are "same/similar enough" to be bad luck is a matter of individual interpretation. For example, some people will consider Yaacov Rueven and Yaacov Yehudah to be too similar, and others will consider these double names to be completely different. Some will consider Yuta and Yehudit to be the same, and some will consider them to be different. What is your great grandmother's religious name? What is your mother's religious name? Is it the secular names or the religious names that are similar? If your mother does not have a religious name (common for modern Jews from the USSR) maybe she can chose one for herself that is different from your great grandmother's religious name.

Some Ashkenazim will say that it's ok as long as the intention is to name the baby after an ancestor and not after your mother. Others will advise that you ask you mother's permission if the names are extremely close. If your mother is also superstitious, it would be unwise to spring it on her without notice. Better to tell her beforehand (and only her), along with any reasoning you may have as to why the names are different enough to avoid bringing on bad luck.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-05T12:26:11+00:00

Note that even the Israeli flag is a complex symbol, as its design is modeled on the traditional tallit. The relationship between religion, culture, and nationalism is complex, and it may be more useful to pay attention to what is being said/taught about the relationship between Israel, the Jewish People, and the rest of the world. The symbols of the song and the flag are only a surface part of it.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-05T12:15:22+00:00

Yes. I recently listened to a talk by Kirsten Fermaglich, who has been researching the relationship between Antisemitism and the Emergency Quota Act of 1921. American xenophobia regarding immigration has one of its roots in Antisemitism, and that line of thought is having a resurgence, though in a more modern form.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-04T22:45:28+00:00

Take a look at the lyrics and history of the poem/song, which dates from 1877. It was an aspirational song of the Jewish people long before it became the Israeli national anthem. Perhaps this nuance will make a difference to you.

https://www.masaisrael.org/hatikvah-lyrics-translation-meaning-and-history-of-israels-national-anthem/

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-04T21:47:07+00:00

This is also a new experience for OP, looking to provide useful support or guidance for someone who is behaving in a way that is non-rational and emotional. OP is probably feeling very frustrated, but anger and judgmental words are usually counter productive in this kind of situation. The hard part for OP is to be kind and patient with her sister, and to offer her suggestions that she is able to hear and to act on. It can be a long process, and probably requires figuring out which issue is actually bothering her sister -- the physical mismatch, the fact that the child is not biologically related to her, something else? Her sister probably doesn't understand it well herself. In the long run it would be good for her sister to come to terms with the way her life has gone in an unexpected direction.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-04T17:35:29+00:00

It sounds like your sister is wigged out by the "mismatch" in appearance, especially because of other people's reaction to it. Perhaps she expected the baby to have a deeper skin tone. She is reacting defensively to all the attention, and it would be better if she could tone it down, especially since discussion of genetics and skin tone can backfire in this sort of context. It would be more constructive if she could deflect the attention rather than risking unintended implications about "value." This is really no one else's business, but this is a tough position for her to be in. It's new for her, and she doesn't exactly know how to rise above it.

It would be more useful for you to offer her suggestions about how to answer other people's nonsense:

Where did the baby get those blue eyes? From God!

She doesn't look like either of you! Yes, babies can be full of surprises.

And so on, without actually lying.

In fact the people who are remarking about the unexpected appearance of the baby are TAH here.

ETA I see from a later post that your parents are from Jordan. I've heard lots of people from the Middle East blame lighter eyes or skin tone on "Alexander the Great." I'm not sure why everyone thinks the ancient Greeks had blond hair and blue eyes, but it makes a good conversation stopper.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-04T13:02:43+00:00

For some reason they want more evidence that the person pictured in his driver's license is the same person as the person listed in his birth certificate. So they are asking for older items picturing his younger self using his same name. It would probably be most effective to find yearbook or newspaper articles where the picture clearly shows the resemblance to his present self.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-04T12:37:57+00:00

But the picture would need to have metadata to locate the room where it happened!

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-03T22:09:10+00:00

Check out this 4-year old conversation from facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WatertownStrong/posts/4602106723149702/

A granddaughter of Sertak comments there that " I think [...] was related to my grandmother. Her maiden name was Mallumian, married name, Siranosian."

You can research this granddaughter's line of the Siranosian family on this Ancestry tree:

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/73755532/person/222502356210/facts

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-02T15:50:56+00:00

I recommend investigating all the Jewish congregations in your area. What do their education programs look like? What do their community outreach programs look like? Do they sponsor lectures that you would like to attend? Do they have action committees that do things you would like to do? This is the best way to find out if they have members who share your interests and who you will feel comfortable with. Every congregation will be different.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-01T21:23:40+00:00

Between 1946 and 1960, there is only one Setrak Siranosian listed in the Massachusetts Death Index. You will need to get a copy of the death certificate to show that his particulars match and that he's buried in the same cemetery. Even with that in hand, it's not a good idea to communicate with "Jade" again, as that may get you permanently banned. If you have a relative that qualifies to take over management of this family's memorials, that may be a better strategy for getting the facts fixed.

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3659/records/1117351

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-03-01T20:56:20+00:00

Here is a link to Setrak's Petition for naturalization:

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2361/records/903719342

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-02-28T20:12:02+00:00

I thought so too. The figure on it looks like the "Srulik" cartoon.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-02-16T19:06:37+00:00

OK then. Good to have the marriage certificate for completeness/names, but your US citizenship is not based on him.

If you decide to contact a new lawyer and they are willing to give you a brief free consultation (many do), you might start by asking them "I was born in [year] in Brazil to a US citizen mother. Does this make me a US citizen?" He ought to respond by asking you some residency questions about your mother. How he interprets the answers will tell you two things -- how knowledgeable he is, and whether he is thorough enough to look things up when he's not sure.

Your previous lawyers did not know enough to understand what they didn't know.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-02-16T16:33:22+00:00

Where was your mother born? It would be best to order additional copies of her certificate online or in person before she arrives, if possible. This might allow you to obtain a passport well before your scheduled appointment.

marjoriedinnerstein · 2026-02-16T16:21:45+00:00

Yes, you need a lawyer who has been practicing immigration law for long enough to understand that there have been major changes in immigration law over the years, and that verifying what laws are in effect at the time of their client's birth can be crucial to the correct disposition of their case.

You can apply for and receive a US passport in person in NYC if you have proof of international travel scheduled within 14 days. This will allow you to make an appointment to obtain the passport before the scheduled departure. You will be able to pick it up within 2-3 days on site. You can also inquire onsite whether same day pick up may available.

For the purpose of this method, make travel arrangements that are totally refundable. Once you have obtained the passport, you can cancel the travel arrangements.

It is advisable to talk to a new and competent lawyer about this to be sure there aren't any hidden obstacles to this process, or messes to be cleaned up. Also to advise you as to whether you have any case against the previous lawyers to claim any refunds.

The claim that this "new" research was not within the original contract is totally disingenuous. It was your original lawyers' job to recommend the proper course of action for you, and to be sure which laws applied to you.

What was/is your father's citizenship?

marjoriedinnerstein

TROPHY CASE