h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I dont know the finer details, but ive just been told of a friend who's son has had to postpone his marriage because of irregularites with paperwork.

He is British and has been in the army for many many years and on his travels, met a lady from Russia and as you do, have fallen in love and want to marry.

The wedding was to be in England, the date was set, the arrangements made, within army rules and confines... and at the last minute, it had to be stopped.

All because someone, in making out her passport had spelt her name wrong. they had put one extra letter in her name.
She has now had to go back to Russia to get the paperwork corrected and then she can come back to marry.

so that could be a while, with bureacracy as it is.

Yesss...there are obviously lots of different ways of transliterating between the Cyrillic and Roman alphabets. Gorbachev? Try Gorbachov, Gorbatchov, Gorbatschov, Gorbatschev, Gorbatshof, Gorbatshoff....etc.

Plus, two of the 'letters' are silent in English (The 'hard' and 'soft' letters).

Good grief, Serenity that is awful I hope it works out for them soon.

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I remember reading in the 1980s, in Ms magazine, an article about a guy who decided to take his wife's name on marriage, and the problems he had with the American system, which sputtered to a halt, (DMV etc) because they couldn't cope with it!

Why doesn't that surprize me...*rolls eyes*

I can't wait for my turn to go to DMV