State Department Trying to Make Getting a US Passport More Difficult

[thetreble 19]

This application will not be required of everyone, just those with irregular birth recordd.

This application is primarily directed at home birth situations near the southern border. They are trying to document the claim to citizenship. there has been lots of controversy on "mid-wife" birth documents in the border states.

The fact that it is selective, however, and there are no guidelines outlining who would and who would not have to fill out the form with more questions it not lawful. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's prejudice. It's not someone's fault that their mother, for example, had a home birth. Who cares?

In a lighter note, geez, passport renewal is easier, thank the Poutine Gods...

Amen. I sent mine in a few weeks back. Got it back in 10 days! Awesomes.

[S and P 9]

I know when I got my US passport it was really easy all the info they asked for was stuff that was already on my birth certificate....(which was easy to obtain also)....so I could understand maybe putting some more safeguards in place.. (Don't you need a guarantor or something like that to get your passport in Canada??) but that form is INSANE.. and as usual.... WAAAAYYYYYY overboard and just screams of racial profiling.....*sigh*.....I hope that doesn't pass....

[Inky 1,110]

(Don't you need a guarantor or something like that to get your passport in Canada??)

Not anymore, if you fit under a certain guideline, someone who is Canadian and has had a passport for more than a certain amount of years can sign it. Does not have to be a doctor/lawyer/dentist etc or really anyone that knows you.

[Used to be broken 147]

The fact that it is selective, however, and there are no guidelines outlining who would and who would not have to fill out the form with more questions it not lawful. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's prejudice. It's not someone's fault that their mother, for example, had a home birth. Who cares?

Apparently the State Department cares.

An applicant bears the burden of establishing his/her identity and citizenship, and the Department may require an applicant to submit such additional evidenceof identity and/or citizenship as it deems to be necessary. 22 C.F.R. §§ 51.23, 51.40, 51.45. The procedures for establishing an applicant’s identity and citizenship are outlined in 22 C.F.R. part 50, subparts B and C.

The legal authorities under which the information is requested include, but are not limited to the following:

22 U.S.C. § 211a et seq.;

Executive Order 11295; and

22 C.F.R. Parts 50 and 51.

[thetreble 19]

Thanks Tips.

[Max1gk 68]

Read 'em and weep: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/state-dept-wants-to-make-it-harder-to-get-a-passport/

Another excellent government brain fart..

[Marilyn. 340]

I always thought the American passport was too easy to get compared to the Canadian one but this is going too far..

[Allie 5]

Section C: Information for Non-Institutional Births or Delayed Birth Filings

If you were not born in the United States skip Items 5-12 and continue to Section D. If you were born in the United States,

you must complete Items 5-12 if you answer "No" to either of the questions below

Born outside the U.S. you don't answer those stupid questions

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Interesting - although why make people born outside the US answer fewer questions? Maybe they assume they already have the dirt on us since we've been through immigration?

Cripes I couldn't answer all the questions about past employment - all except 2 places that I've worked don't even exist anymore. I wouldn't remember names or addresses either. As for my mum's info, I could answer it probably (my parents have lived in the same place since before I was born. But my mum wouldn;t remember details....why not ask for a long form birth cert?

Stoooopid

[Marilyn. 340]

I was just checking out the proposed new form and it says this at the top of Section C:

"If you were not born in the United States skip Items 5-12 and continue to Section D. If you were born in the United States,you must complete Items 5-12 if you answer "No" to either of the questions below. Was your birth recorded within one year of the date your birth occurred? Were you born in a medical facility?"

so if you were born in a hospital and your birth was recorded within a year of your birth you don't have to answer the questions in that section...

[Marilyn. 340]

but listing all the places you have lived, worked and went to school since birth is crazy..

[warlord 73]

I really hope this isn't for people who have passports already. If it was imagine how impossible that would be. Come on, the work history one is funny. 99% of peoples old work places would be gone out of business or closed or merged, there would be no phone numbers, who the hell remembers supervisors and even addresses? I think most my old companies no longer exist anymore...