Requests for Correction

Bureau of Information Resource Management

Disclosure of Requests

This page provides public disclosure of the Department of State’s (DoS) responses to requests for correction of information disseminated by the Department as set forth in its Information Quality Guidelines.  The Department will review the performance of these guidelines on a recurring basis within the framework of the Department’s strategic mission.  As a result, the guidelines may be revised in correlation with changes to policy and procedural guidance as changes occur.

1. Notarial Services at U.S. Consulate Chennai

The Department received a request for correction from a U.S. citizen who was seeking to have documents authenticated at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, India.

a. Request for Correction Received on December 17, 2004

Subject: Notary services at US Consulates

Dear Official:  I am a U.S. citizen looking for some notary services to get some documents authenticated at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai. I tried using the U.S. Consulate Chennai website. The site directs me to travel.state.gov site which is supposed to provide me with the notary availability and fees details.

Then all hell breaks loose. The links do not work. The links also do not have any contextually correct information.

Using your definition of “quality” comprising of utility, integrity and objectivity, I have to say this travel.state.gov is practically useless. The link the consulate website is linked to does not have any information related to notary services. Even after painful 30 min. of browsing I still cannot find any useful information on who will provide notary services at the consulate in Chennai, India and how much will they charge.

Feel free to contact me and I will be happy to show you the pains I went through. That will hopefully help other U.S. citizens not have to endure the same fate.

b. DOS Initial Response of December 17, 2004

From: Data Quality Coordinator
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 3:14 AM
To:
Subject: Information Quality Submission B201

Thank you for filing your information quality submission online on 12/17/2004 to the U.S. Department of State website.

Your submission has been received and we are working on a response for you. If you would like to write back with additional information about your question, please include the following reference code in the subject line of your message: B201.

c. DOS Interim Response of December 21, 2004

From:  Data Quality
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 8:28 AM
To:
Subject:  RE: Data Quality Submission B201

In Reply to: Your Data Quality Submission of 12/17/2004, the subject of which was Notary services at U.S. Consulates, and the text of which follows:

Dear Official:  I am a U.S. citizen looking for some notary services to get some documents authenticated at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai. I tried using the U.S. Consulate Chennai website.  The site directs me to travel.state.gov site which is supposed to provide me with the notary availability and fees details.Then all hell breaks loose. The links do not work. The links also do not have any contextually correct information. Using your definition of “quality” comprising of utility, integrity and objectivity, I have to say this travel.state.gov is practically useless. The link the consulate website is linked to does not have any information related to notary services. Even after painful 30 min. of browsing I still cannot find any useful information on who will provide notary services at the consulate in Chennai, India and how much will they charge. Feel free to contact me and I will be happy to show you the pains I went through. That will hopefully help other U.S. citizens not have to endure the same fate.

This is to inform you that the Data Quality coordinator has received your inquiry requesting correction to material you believe to be incorrect.

Your request for correction has been found valid by the reviewer at the Department, and has been forwarded for substantive review to the appropriate bureau.  A reviewer at this bureau will make a determination as to what response is required to your request.  You should expect to hear back from us within 60 days regarding your request.  You may also soon see the completed correction you requested in future information distributed by the Department.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Data Quality Coordinator
U.S. Department of State

d. DOS Final Response of February 22, 2005

From:  Data Quality
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 4:13 PM
To:
Subject:  FW: RE: Data Quality Submission B201

This is to inform you that the Web link to the information you sought concerning notary services at American Consulate General Chennai has been corrected and is now accessible.  It is published on the Notarial Services page at http://www.travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_701.html.  This site provides the public with a variety of information on consular service fees, including fees for notarial services.

We hope this information is helpful to you in responding to your inquiry.  Again, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Data Quality Coordinator
U.S. Department of State