Help - any investigators out there!!
Dec 29th 2010, 1:23 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9
Help - any investigators out there!!
My wife is in the final stages of applying for a US passport. We have visited the US Embassy in London and have been told we need to gather one last area of information.
My wife is Scottish and has a Scottish mother and an American father (passed away). She has been requested to prove her dad's whereabouts in the USA 1954 - 1964.(10 years before my wife's birth) She only knew him properly for the last year of his life he died in 2009, so we're really trying to fill in the blanks.
At this point its probably quicker to list the areas we've already tried:
1. Washington passport records: Nil records
2. Social security: List supplied of taxes he paid for 1955 - 1964, however the US Embassy have stated that this doesn't actually prove he was resident in the US for that period; you don't have to be resident in the USA to pay taxes.
3. School records: School reports cover 1955 - 1957 inc.
Unfortunately we've now drawn a blank. It has taken my wife nearly two years to get to this stage and she now feels heartbroken that she'll fall at the last hurdle.
If there is anyone that has any ideas on where to go from here or who has had to go through anything similar I would be grateful for any advice.
Happy New Year Paul
My wife is Scottish and has a Scottish mother and an American father (passed away). She has been requested to prove her dad's whereabouts in the USA 1954 - 1964.(10 years before my wife's birth) She only knew him properly for the last year of his life he died in 2009, so we're really trying to fill in the blanks.
At this point its probably quicker to list the areas we've already tried:
1. Washington passport records: Nil records
2. Social security: List supplied of taxes he paid for 1955 - 1964, however the US Embassy have stated that this doesn't actually prove he was resident in the US for that period; you don't have to be resident in the USA to pay taxes.
3. School records: School reports cover 1955 - 1957 inc.
Unfortunately we've now drawn a blank. It has taken my wife nearly two years to get to this stage and she now feels heartbroken that she'll fall at the last hurdle.
If there is anyone that has any ideas on where to go from here or who has had to go through anything similar I would be grateful for any advice.
Happy New Year Paul
Dec 29th 2010, 1:35 pm
#2
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,387
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
Welcome to BE
No, BE does not employ investigators and afaik we don't have any as members.
How could her father have no passport record? Did her Scottish mom live in the US when married to your wife's father?
Does he have any family, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews?
Did he serve in the armed forces?
Where did he go to college?
What type of work did he do? Do you know the name of the company?
If you have his social security number, why not hire an investigator to research this for you. It isn't all that expensive and since she needs a US Passport to move to the US and to petition for your immigration visa, it would seem to be worth it for both of you to do this.
No, BE does not employ investigators and afaik we don't have any as members.
How could her father have no passport record? Did her Scottish mom live in the US when married to your wife's father?
Does he have any family, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews?
Did he serve in the armed forces?
Where did he go to college?
What type of work did he do? Do you know the name of the company?
If you have his social security number, why not hire an investigator to research this for you. It isn't all that expensive and since she needs a US Passport to move to the US and to petition for your immigration visa, it would seem to be worth it for both of you to do this.
Dec 29th 2010, 1:45 pm
#3
BE Commentator
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 8,424
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
My wife is in the final stages of applying for a US passport. We have visited the US Embassy in London and have been told we need to gather one last area of information.
My wife is Scottish and has a Scottish mother and an American father (passed away). She has been requested to prove her dad's whereabouts in the USA 1954 - 1964.(10 years before my wife's birth) She only knew him properly for the last year of his life he died in 2009, so we're really trying to fill in the blanks.
At this point its probably quicker to list the areas we've already tried:
1. Washington passport records: Nil records
2. Social security: List supplied of taxes he paid for 1955 - 1964, however the US Embassy have stated that this doesn't actually prove he was resident in the US for that period; you don't have to be resident in the USA to pay taxes.
3. School records: School reports cover 1955 - 1957 inc.
Unfortunately we've now drawn a blank. It has taken my wife nearly two years to get to this stage and she now feels heartbroken that she'll fall at the last hurdle.
If there is anyone that has any ideas on where to go from here or who has had to go through anything similar I would be grateful for any advice.
Happy New Year Paul
My wife is Scottish and has a Scottish mother and an American father (passed away). She has been requested to prove her dad's whereabouts in the USA 1954 - 1964.(10 years before my wife's birth) She only knew him properly for the last year of his life he died in 2009, so we're really trying to fill in the blanks.
At this point its probably quicker to list the areas we've already tried:
1. Washington passport records: Nil records
2. Social security: List supplied of taxes he paid for 1955 - 1964, however the US Embassy have stated that this doesn't actually prove he was resident in the US for that period; you don't have to be resident in the USA to pay taxes.
3. School records: School reports cover 1955 - 1957 inc.
Unfortunately we've now drawn a blank. It has taken my wife nearly two years to get to this stage and she now feels heartbroken that she'll fall at the last hurdle.
If there is anyone that has any ideas on where to go from here or who has had to go through anything similar I would be grateful for any advice.
Happy New Year Paul
Dec 29th 2010, 2:07 pm
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
Thanks Rete - Firstly sorry the title is a bit misleading, not actually looking for an investigator just advice on maybe an agency we haven't thought of in the US that could assist. Also forgot to mention that her mum was living in USA when they were married. She moved back to Scotland to give birth to my wife.
1. Her father was never in the Military.
2. He does have family in the USA 2 x Brothers and a Sister. We have a decent relationship with them and have contacted them for any additional info they can supply. Also trying to establish if he ever went to college.
3. Varied work throughout the 10 years, looks like laborer, taxi driver etc We have checked company names many don't exist any more. He did work as Golf Caddy throughout his life and we are in the process of checking through many of the Clubs he worked at.
1. Her father was never in the Military.
2. He does have family in the USA 2 x Brothers and a Sister. We have a decent relationship with them and have contacted them for any additional info they can supply. Also trying to establish if he ever went to college.
3. Varied work throughout the 10 years, looks like laborer, taxi driver etc We have checked company names many don't exist any more. He did work as Golf Caddy throughout his life and we are in the process of checking through many of the Clubs he worked at.
Dec 29th 2010, 2:25 pm
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Andover, MA
Posts: 1,703
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
Could try ancestry.com. It's intended for tracing back long lost relatives, but might prove useful.
They have things like voter lists, census records, etc.
They have a 2-week free trial, so worth a shot.
They have things like voter lists, census records, etc.
They have a 2-week free trial, so worth a shot.
Dec 29th 2010, 2:42 pm
#6
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
Dec 29th 2010, 3:44 pm
#7
BE Commentator
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 8,424
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
We have visited the US Embassy in London and have been told we need to gather one last area of information.
My wife is Scottish and has a Scottish mother and an American father (passed away). She has been requested to prove her dad's whereabouts in the USA 1954 - 1964.(10 years before my wife's birth)
My wife is Scottish and has a Scottish mother and an American father (passed away). She has been requested to prove her dad's whereabouts in the USA 1954 - 1964.(10 years before my wife's birth)
The best people to consult with are Robert Mautino and his daughter Kathryn Mautino -- they are the citizenship "mavens" for everyone.
Dec 29th 2010, 9:29 pm
#8
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
Thank you for your advice. I know my father attended All Saints Catholic School in Brooklyn but the school is now closed. I am having trouble locating a contact who can provide me with his school records. Does anyone know who I could contact in this area to get a copy of school records from around 1949 to 1955. Thank you for your help.
Dec 30th 2010, 3:09 am
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Quebec, Canada
Posts: 976
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
I strongly suggest you pay attention to post #3 and post #7.
Dec 30th 2010, 10:33 pm
#10
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9
Re: Help - any investigators out there!!
Thanks to you all for your replies and especially to S Folinsky, I contacted Robert Mautino as you suggested and he is absolutely fantastic and so so helpful. Happy New Year to yo.
