creepy u.s. passport situation

Sounds like a prank from the Oink Adminstrator.

i would talk to someone familiar with like immigration law and see if this is normal, absolutely. it definitely sounds kindof fishy (baptismal certificate? give me a fucking break)

how come he doesn't have a passport, how old is he? where is he from?

Someone could have stolen the mail and is now trying to get all his info? Maybe I'm just paranoid about all these identity theft adverts on TV just now.
I'm not familiar with the US at all but I can't believe they would want all that stuff.

Then again that would mean the details would have to be sent somewhere else as stealing mail a 2nd time would be impossible surely. So maybe it is genuine.

I am just paranoid about those adverts i think,

yes also they must have a number u can call? to ask why they need this information and if it is routine. surely u have a right to that information.

He's 32 years old, a citizen. He's never needed a passport (he's only been to Mexico, which used to not require a passport), so he never got it. Our parents aren't citizens (they're residents), but my other brother and I have our passports.

The only other thing we can think of is that he and my father have the same first name (my brother is a "Jr."), so maybe they've made a mistake thinking it's my dad applying with my brother's documents? I don't know. That seems a bit far-fetched.

And, exactly, he's going to call whatever agency is listed on the letter. The letter seems legit. He just got this letter today, though, so he hasn't called yet.

well yeah, that phone call should do the trick. definitely investigate it tho, much better safe than sorry.

i hate dealing with this stuff, sooo annoying. i'm a resident and i'm waiting on my replacement green card (lost wallet) - SUCH A FUCKING PAIN.

requirements:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

ouch. My mom just had to renew her green card, and it was horrible. She was booked on an international flight while her card was still being processed, so she had to travel using the temporary paper card they gave her. The immigration officials sure did not like that, haha. From what she's told me, she had a horrible experience with them.

yes u know why? cuz they're incredibly FUCKING rude. every place in the city, without fail, they treat u like a leper cuz ur not a citizen. it's disgusting, the way they think they can talk to ppl. i get on their good side by playing the innocent lost boy, but inside it's all judgment and rage. bastards.

::sigh::

Really fuckin weird.

xpost

I was looking at the list of requirements, and I am beginning to have doubts as to whether he provided the correct birth certificate (with a mark from the registrar), but he says it was the correct one.

Still, though, to then require all of this other stuff because of that? Why not just reject the application, and require that he apply correctly, ya know?

Oh, and I just remembered they also stated that he must provide two references who could testify as to his identity! Jeez.

i don't understand how they would use a baptismal certificate to verify identity. the government doesn't have copies of those.

I know, right? So, so strange.

well maybe then they really did confuse ur dad w him?? u have to update us on what happens

They can't be making sure he's a christian can they? If not he doesn't get a passport. That can't happen, right?

*shudder*

It's possible they've confused him with my dad, but it doesn't seem likely to me. I can't wait to hear what they tell him when he calls. I'll definitely let you know!

I had those same thoughts regarding his religion, but that just seems too crazy. Way too crazy...

Yeah no way it's that.

He probably got put in the "Does not have a birth certificate" pile. The documents you mentioned sound like possible substitutes for a birth certificate in order to verify person's existence. I'm sure when you call they'll just tell you to resubmit the application with a legit birth certificate.

super cub otm, if you don't have a valid birth certificate they will request all sorts of crazy things to prove your existence. best for him to call, they have the worst automated phone tree in the world but the rep I spoke to was very helpful.

I just spent a stressed-out month trying to get my passport. didn't have birth certificate, requested one, was sent one with wrong birth date (spent a freaky weekend thinking that I've been celebrating the wrong birthday my whole life - turned out to be a typo), requested another, spent 4.5 hours in line in boston passport office, felt like throwing a party when I finally got it.

if you need to get a passport fast, don't mail it in, get an appointment at the local passport office for an expedited one. I've been hearing a lot of horror stories about 5 - 7 month waits, people sitting at airport terminals watching their planes take off because terminal employees wouldn't accept their proof of application, etc.

spent a freaky weekend thinking that I've been celebrating the wrong birthday my whole life - turned out to be a typo

wau

it was a great story to tell at parties.

The passport office is getting so creepy and inefficient that it's apparently become a political issue. I'm on all kinds of random senators' mailing lists and got an e-mail about it. Part of it is excerpted here:

"As many have probably heard – and perhaps experienced – there is currently a severe backlog of passport requests that is causing much stress. We all rightfully expect better service from our federal government, and it is my hope that the Department of State will take immediate action to swiftly eliminate the application backlog, and be more responsive to those seeking help to obtain a passport."

Don't call the number on the letter, look up the passport office in the phone book. If they are pinching your identity then they'll obvs tell you that they do need all the documentation.

We are this close to DNA samples.

Don't call the number on the letter, look up the passport office in the phone book.

This is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL.

That list seems very, very suspicious. I would be willing to bet that it's one of two things, the first obviously being identity theft. The second is sort of the flipside of that, i.e., that his name and/or data has somehow gotten onto an identity theft (or terrorism!) list and therefore all the extra documentation is because they really want to be sure he is him.

The passport backlog is SO BAD that INS has asked everybody in the State Dept. to please consider temping for them processing passport applications for TIME and A HALF of whatever salary they actually make. (I have a friend who mentioned getting $80 an hour to put together boxes.)

I think this might be a mistake due to all that outside staffing.

The passport office is getting so creepy and inefficient that it's apparently become a political issue.

to be fair, the state department is responding to an increase in demand caused by the congresspeople who are now bitching about the delays (i.e. they passed the law requiring passports for entry to mexico/canada).

imagine your boss tripling your workload and then running down the hall screaming that you're falling behind in your work. ready, fire, aim!

birth certificates are confusing. some places require a certificate embossed with the seal of the hospital, for instance, EVEN THOUGH YOUR ORIGINAL DOESN'T HAVE THAT SEAL ON IT. best thing to do is request an "original copy" of your birth certificate from your hospital - it will be as legit as legit gets, with whatever modern hoo-ha embossing that's required these days. my original birth certificate, for instance, is just a kind of negative photostat of a piece of paper. i had to get a more recent "original copy" in order to apply for a residence permit in the UK.

in other words, supercub OTM