yet more ways the US is whacked

[mickeym]

By way of tabaqui:


The US State Dept. wants to make it more difficult to get a passport. The proposed new Form DS-5513 asks for all addresses since birth; lifetime employment history including employers’ and supervisors names, addresses, and telephone numbers; personal details of all siblings; mother’s address one year prior to your birth; any “religious ceremony” around the time of birth; and a variety of other information. According to the proposed form, “failure to provide the information requested may result in … the denial of your U.S. passport application.”

Go here to let them know what you think about that idea. (Apparently they think it should only take the average USian about 45 min. to gather all that information. o_O)

Comments

[missyjack.livejournal.com]

how ridiculous, especially as - how would they verify it all? I notice though the article says only "some applicants" would be required to do this. I am sure we can guess who that would be.

At present only about 37% of Americans have passports (compared to over 70% of Australians) - you really don't need more discouragement !

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the "some applicants" part really made me grind my teeth, because I'm willing to bet a lot of money I don't have that it would be anyone who might possibly be a person of color, or have a religious affiliation that isn't middle-america-approved.

I submitted a comment, and very respectfully told them I thought the proposed changes are ridiculous. I have a LOT of my history (addresses, employers) documented, but not everything all the way back to birth!

It's really crazy to think we would need that level of information given to the government to vacation somewhere outside of our borders. *shakes head*

[deathbymutation.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I'm so happy to be Canadian. I've moved 6 times in 2 and a half years so naming all my addresses would suck balls and my mom has moved over 30 times in her life. She barely remembers what she had to for lunch yesterday let alone what address she lived at before she had me.

[deathbymutation.livejournal.com]

Oh oh oh and what about those who are in foster care? People who don't have access to family history because parents have terminated contact or are deceased?

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Dude, I don't even know. *shakes head* It's CRAZY! *I've* moved fifteen times in the last 21 years, just myself! And for people who aren't skilled at record-keeping (such as my ex)...they're doomed. Plus, as you say, people in foster care, or who don't have access to family history... it's nuts.

Can I come be Canadian, too? Please?

[deathbymutation.livejournal.com]

*Opens front door* Quick, while they're not watching the border!

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Ah, but there are EYES EVERYWHERE. *nods* *g*

I have a spare room, IF YOU CAN GET A PASSPORT!

[ms-nerd.livejournal.com]

Any religious ceremony? Like a Christening? Or a Briss? I can't IMAGINE what else they'd want to know about.

It's funny (I'm on a roll here) that the US Government DEMANDED a few years ago that Canadians and Mexicans need passports to enter the country by land, sea or air and forced this stupid North American travel fuckery. Yet the US Government makes it so hard for their own people to travel. Why don't they just post signs at all airports and borders saying HERE BE MONSTERS, STAY HOME WHERE IT'S SAFE!!! It's like you're all living in the Truman Show.

Re: I have a spare room, IF YOU CAN GET A PASSPORT!

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

I still have my passport from when I went to visit nopseud in 2005. I think it's good for 10 years, so I'm covered for a few more. But honestly, it's NUTS. This whole country is going nuts. Birther bills and budget issues, and Rand Paul talking about running for President...if I come, I'll have to bring Matthew with me. Is that okay? We can share a room *g*

Re: I have a spare room, IF YOU CAN GET A PASSPORT!

[ms-nerd.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, they told Canada "your passports can only be good for 5 years 'cause you send us terrorists and pot and stuff". I have infinite rage over this issue. My government is also made up of dipshits (who we will elect again next week, sigh) but we don't have half the problems you do.

I have a big, finished basement suite with electrical that is NOW up to code! Free WiFi, hot and cold running cats and cable! But you have to buy your own coke zero 'cause I'm possessive about them.

Re: I have a spare room, IF YOU CAN GET A PASSPORT!

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Canada sends terrorists to the US? Since when?

I know that no government is going to be perfect: there's no chance to make everyone happy with every issue. But yeah, we're pretty screwed up here.

Cable, WiFi and cats! Sounds like heaven :) I'm more of a diet pepsi gal anyway, so no problems there. Plus, I know how to change diapers and jiggle babies! :) (Holy cow, we might could have our XFiles-and-nachos marathon *g*)

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

well, no passport for me. i have no idea of employers since that was pre-tbi. no idea of addresses -- we moved 2/yr when i was in k-3, and my mother's long dead and even longer divorced from my stepfather, who've i never seen since the divorce in the 70s.

and how in the world would one know one's mother's address before one was born, espeically if said mother is dead.

and religious ceremony? there goes the separation of church and state.

man...

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to dig out my birth certificate and see if it lists where my folks were living when I was born. I can't remember. And like I said to someone up above, I'm luckier than a large percentage of people because I have good record-keeping skills and a good memory. Plus I'm interested in my family history, so I probably could answer some of that stuff just because I've asked assorted family members.

But it's just ridiculous that the government thinks they need to have that information just so I can go on vacation.

And I don't think the church and state have been very separate for a while now :(

[fromcainwthlove.livejournal.com]

looks like you only need to know where your mother lived prior to your birth if you weren't born in a medical facility. ditto the religious ceremony stuff--they want to try and establish that you were actually born in the U.S.

why you can't just present a damn birth certificate, though, is anyone's guess.

[munibunny.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess I'm never leaving the country then because I can't remember anything past 10 years. *lol*

[cereta.livejournal.com]

Oh, Lord. I mean, I was baptized before my adoption. I don't know the date, or the officiant, what if any name was used. And full employment history? Have these people met grad students? I worked jobs I don't even remember the name of, much less the supervisor.

[slothy-girl.livejournal.com]

wow... that's really stupid *sigh* the US gets up to some ridiculous crap, but seriously- stupid :|

[fromcainwthlove.livejournal.com]

wtf? is this for real? i couldn't possibly find all of that stuff. i have no idea where my boss from the bookstore i worked at when i was 16 now lives.