Hello Everyone,
I would like to say "Thank You" first for having this great site. I was originally directed here by someone who recommended it on another message board.

I have a appointment on May 5 with the Italian Consulate in NYC (which I made a year ago) to submit the required paperwork for applying for dual citizenship. Give yourself at least that much time to get all the paperwork in order.

After I got copies of all the US birth, marriage and death certificates needed (long form, certified, apostiles,etc.) I had to get all the translations. Where to go? I visited several other online sites but the prices varied from reasonable to expensive. Then I found this site, joined as a member and contacted Carole about the possibility of transcribing my certificates and how much would it cost. Although there is no actual fee for these translations, a voluntary contribution to the site is suggested.

After figuring out how my scanner worked (finally), I emailed Carole copies of my certificates. I never realized just how much work is involved in transcribing these certificates - every single word and date on each document must be transcribed! Carole knew how important it was to have them back to me before May 1st. She emailed me several questions on signatures that had to be verified for correct spelling so she could finish each one. (Doctors back then wrote just as bad as the doctors do today!).

After several phone calls to track down and verify signatures of doctors, corners, etc. from back to the 1940's, we had all the information needed to finish - Carole emailed them back and they are all terrific - clear and exact and with days to spare.

My request to anyone reading this who is considering in having documents translated:

(1) give yourself plenty of time to have your documents translated. Remember, it takes time for the transcriber to do these translations, especially if information has to be verified. None of this "I need it tomorrow" stuff.

(2) make sure your copies are as clear as can be before emailing them. If you can't read them, no one else will be able to either and you will lose valuable time in trying to verify the information.

(3) read over all the documents you want transcribed to be sure YOU can read all the names, dates, etc. If you can't, track down the information you need BEFORE you send them.

(3) please make a generous contribution to this site if you do have translations done so it will continue to be around for a very long time. I, for one, don't know what I would have done with this site being available.
(Probably get a lot more grey hair!)

Again, thank you Carole - you will never know how much it means to me to have your help and assistance in being so great with my translations. Continued success on this very helpful and valuable site as well.

Sincerely,
Carol Laurito

Oh Carol!

What a wonderful letter! We love our Carole too and honestly, we would be lost without her. I also hope you will continue to keep us posted on your progress.

As for the grey hairs .. they still may come but then there's always

Now thats funny - have you been looking in my closet!! I use that one in 106 - might have to go lighter to match the grey!
Regards,
Carol

106, huh? I use #4 myself but I find it a bit dark this time of year ..