Easier to get in than to get out......

Merika · 06-01-2005, 01:21 PM

I thought of this when Vautrin mentioned Passports.

Chloe is traveling to the UK to visit with Meanon. Because she is 15...she no longer can use a child passport....nor an adult one. There is one for just her age group.

We did the paperwork, I went with her to turn it in to show ID and all was well. Until a month later when we call because we wanted to know why we haven't heard anything. We are then informed they are questioning if I am her REAL Mom. They ask me to send in documentation to prove it. I remind them THEY have her birth certificate...which was turned in with the paperwork. All I could offer is by tax return which DOES have her name on it or any official school documents. They didn't want those.

What they wanted is a copy of my marriage licence, even though her name isn't on there (DUH!), plus a copy of my drivers license, military work ID and insurance card...even though her name isn't on any of them either. I also needed to get my 'signature' notarized. THEN....I had to send it all to a special address in a certified letter needing signature....which cost a retarded amount of money.

I send it and get the signed certificate back. The same day they send me a letter asking for the same documents they just got and SIGNED for. We are not calling....hour after hour....while being informed they are getting too many calls and don't have an on-hold or que line.

It's the dumbest thing I've ever been through...since it's so OBVIOUS I would be paying for someone else's teen to go to the UK.

I bet it isn't that hard to send your kid from Nigeria to the US.

Vautrin · 06-01-2005, 01:41 PM

I would have expected things to be easier, as you can probably go to any country in the world with an US-passport. Excepting some hostile nations (North-Korea, Iran et cetera). But that is of course adults. With kids the thing is more complicated.

For Europeans: you could probably travel on a national ID-card, which is now accepted in most Western-European / EU countries. The Dutch ID-card for instance is accepted in more than 30 European countries. I expect something similar to be possible in other European countries.

I once heard of an American adult that applied for political asylum in, I think, France. 1 out of how many millions of Americans that have visited France?

But the bureaucratic idiocy that is in the procedure Merika described only serves to annoy people. Would it stop a determined terrorist or immigrant? No. Would it stop people with little money and time available? Yes.

Stone · 06-01-2005, 03:14 PM

Humm someone else told me that if you are going to leave the county get a passport several months in advance. guess they we're right. I wouldn't know I have only travled to the Islands where a Birth Certificate is acceptable.

Regardless of the pain in the arse it will be well worth it for Chloe :lol Is Jackson jellous?

Duke · 06-01-2005, 04:08 PM

I'm 37 and still don't have a Passport, maybe I should actually invest in one.

Merika · 06-02-2005, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stone

Regardless of the pain in the arse it will be well worth it for Chloe :lol Is Jackson jellous?

NO..he's just glad she's going to be gone. LOL! He couldn't leave his Mama that long anyway.

It doesn't take months for a passport...but since they are passing legislation that you would need one for even Mexico or Canada....I would think it a good idea to go ahead and get one to save the mad rush later. As an adult, they are good for 5 years and cost right aroung $100.

darkangelism · 06-02-2005, 08:41 AM

adult passports are good for 10 years i think. But yeah thats a retarded system.

twinkle · 06-02-2005, 09:06 AM

That's strange! When I wanted to go to the USA, all I needed was a visa. Which I did get after waiting 3 weeks for a stupid interview - and they did indeed ask me a lot of stupid papers, but I was prepared.

It was quick - if you count stading in line for... 4, maybe 5 hours? I got it. I've alredy told you that my Turkish friend didn't.

I know nothing about the UK, I haven't been there yet. Beaurocrats :roll: , they're sooo retarded! I don't understand why the hell do you need to prepare all those papers. In France there's a list with all documents you need to present. No surprises. It sounds pretty logical.

Sorry for all the fuss, I'm 100% SURE it's all worth it! She'll have a blast there, the Brisith are really crazy, I've heard.

Vautrin · 06-02-2005, 05:30 PM

Yes, twinkle, the travel will definitely be worth it for Chloe.

For my travels I did not need a visa, as I was a Dutch Citizen and qualified under the Visa Waiver Program. All I had to do was fill in two forms on the airplane, and subsequently explain a thing or two to the Immigration officials. It is free, and does not cost the quite substantial amount that I would have to pay for an application for a visa.

It is idiotic that I can go almost everywhere without too much bureaucratic hassle, and that Twinkle has to depend on visa.

Merika · 06-02-2005, 06:06 PM

But...both of you guys needed passports....right?

Vautrin · 06-02-2005, 06:07 PM

That is true. But as they are practically forced upon all citizens of the Netherlands, that is barely an issue, for travels.

Merika · 06-02-2005, 06:11 PM

I think instead of passing legislature for everyone here to get mandatory National ID's....it would've been wiser for everyone to have to get a passport. It would make so much more sense.....than twice the trouble and cost.

I DID finally reach the Passport Bureau in Washington. They asked me how did they 'pick up' that I was the applicant's stepmother....and all I could say is how the h*ll would I know???????????????

Vautrin · 06-02-2005, 06:23 PM

Merika, I don't know which surname Chloe and Jackson have, but that might be the cue, that the possibility exists. Absurd? Yes.