Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Passport to Nowhere :: Birtherism Questions Proposed into Passport Applications


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A travel agent friend sent me this article from Consumer Traveler about Proposed Changes to the Passport Application forms and Process.The New Biographical Portion asks Questions that would be near impossible for most to answer. The Friend asked me is it possible that this is from The Onion or a joke ? Yet when I clicked through the links to the post it seems that most of the links are legitimate. State Department proposed the changes in February with a 60 Day Comment ( complaint/concern) Window, which is closing this week.

The questions are so absurd that it will cripple the process and perhaps ruin the ability of many to obtain a Passport, which has never been a problem under previous administrations. Why is it now being retooled in such Draconian Fashion ?
How drastic are the Questions? Take a look ...
( Excerpt from "Consumer Traveler")::
"The U.S. Department of State is proposing a new Biographical Questionnaire for some passport applicants: 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.
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It seems likely that only some, not all, applicants will be required to fill out the new questionnaire, but no criteria have been made public for determining who will be subjected to these additional new written interrogatories. So if the passport examiner wants to deny your application, all they will have to do is give you the impossible new form to complete."

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More Information and Resources:::
(1) The Consumer Traveler article has all the details and links of the Proposed Application Changes.

(2) This is what the new proposed form does look like and has the Biographical Questions on it that are so concerning.

(3) Here is the Actual notice from the State Department Explaining the Proposed Changes and WHO and Where to write to, as the 60 day window comes to a close there is still time to write and call and raise concerns. I also recommend that you contact your Elected Reps and raise concerns.

(4) Raw Story has more about the proposed Questions in the Biography, that is a must read.
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Enigma Question : Yet reading the Questions the language and content is very similar as to what we hear being asked of President Obama by the Birthers regarding his Own History and his own Biography...It raises questions : Are there those in DC that are obsessed with Heritage and History of Who Lives here ? Are they so obsessed that that they would try to use that information to restrict Rights and Travel and Work of those that live here. If so, It is a Serious Issue, with darker implications and shadows of the 1930's Rising again....And the ugly vision of "Papers Please".

4 comments:

Carolyn Moon said...

What is so disturbing and alarming about all this--in my humble opinion...is a young and brilliant man of color was the catalyst for all this madness. A shameful state of affairs!

Anon-Paranoid said...

Enigma my sweet rose...

Breaking news….

Obama releases copy of Live Birth Certificate.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110427/D9MS22U00.html

Photo of Live Birth Certificate….

http://apnews.excite.com/image/20110427/Obama.sff_DCSA103_20110427090511.html?date=20110427&docid=D9MS22U00

Now the birthers, racists and bigots will all scream that its a fake. Watch and see…

Anon-Paranoid said...

Higlite and place in browsers URL bar.

Sewmouse said...

It was my understanding from what I read that this "biographical" application would only be needed for those who cannot provide standard acceptable documents such as a birth certificate.

If that is the case, it might actually make it possible for MORE people to be able to get a passport, as it would add an alternative for those without "papers".

I know that is a big "IF", but until I know which is the truth - what criteria triggers a "we need you to fill this out" - I can't in good conscience make a decision as to bad/good about it.