More Passport Trouble
posted on march 28, 2004, tag: new york
I received a letter on Thursday from the United Department of State requesting further proof of identification in order to process my request for a passport. They said they needed—in addition to my original birth certificate (which they have, physically, in their office), social security card, and signed affidavit from Katia—a photocopy of at least three (3) additional proofs of identification that were at least five years old.
First of all—five years ago I was 18. I don't really have anything older than five years (at least that was on their list), let alone three items. Apparently that wasn't a big deal, however, because when I called the passport agency the man on the phone didn't even let me finish describing my situation before cutting me off with, "Don't worry about it. Just send what you have. Doesn't matter how old it is." If it doesn't matter, pal, why do you specify an age?
I sent copies of my college ID, my high school ID, my expired New Jersey driver's license, New York State ID, social security card, employee ID, pay stub, bank statement, and a hand-written note about my phone call to the agency. At this point there's really not much else I can do to prove I'm me, so they had better give me a passport.
Comments
There are 3 comments, comments are closed
Thomas Chai on 03/28/2004:
I am surprise. I thought they are paranoid of letting visitors into the country but I never thought that they are paranoid too of letting its citizen get out of the country.
Stew on 03/29/2004:
Heres a mathematical solution:
g + po + u = pa
where G = gun, po = passport office, u = you, and pa = passport :)
mad bull on 03/29/2004:
Consider taking pictures and having the back signed by a notary public who knows you, along maybe with a note from him/her, verifying that he knows you and that that IS a picture of you, etc...
Where are you planning to go to anyway? You Americans are accorded the honour of flying to lots of places on the strength of your driers license. Maybe you're going to the wrong places. Come to the warm, sunny, friendly Caribbean and soak up some rays and forget that place where they want you to have a passport...