My wife, a card-carrying permanent resident alien living in the U.S., allowed her German passport to expire and is seeking a renewal through the German Consulate in New York City. She has her documentation mostly in order, including German birth certificate, but needs to show proof of a name change that took place during an adoption in Iowa when she was four years old. Difficulty: Iowa adoption records are sealed. Looking for advice on how to best request a copy of the documentation, or provide a suitable alternative. Comprehensive details inside. [more inside]
posted by Joey Bagels on Jul 23, 2012 - 5 answers

What does it mean to "leave" a country on a passport (specifically, the US)? [more inside]
posted by media_itoku on Jul 9, 2012 - 8 answers

I'm a British native, and my partner is Asian - we've been married for some years (Asian more in the sense of 'outside the EU', which would have made this easier). At the weekend, a wallet containing their ICFN (Immigration Card for Foreign Nationals) was stolen. They urgently need to fly on family matters this weekend, however we're not sure what the status of their return will be without the ICFN [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 3, 2010 - 5 answers

How do I travel from the UK to the US as a US citizen if I don't have a passport or a valid driver's license? [more inside]
posted by nímwunnan on Nov 13, 2008 - 10 answers

HomelandSecurityFilter: If you have visas/stamps in your passport from Communist or former Communist nations, can this prejudice your entry into the US? [more inside]
posted by SpacemanRed on May 29, 2007 - 12 answers