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-   -   Problems getting passport (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/1048525-problems-getting-passport.html)

angik Feb 5, 2010 10:08 am

Problems getting passport
 
My brother is having trouble with his passport application.
First they said his birth certificate is invalid so he has to send off for a new full form.

They are also saying that his drivers license is invalid. It is a new license he got within a month or applying for his passport so it's not expired and has his current address.

Now - 5 weeks after he applied he gets a letter telling him that he needs to send a different birth certificate, 5 points of id and provide: every address he has ever lived at, every school he has ever atteneded, every job he has ever held and the names and addresses of every immediate family member.
Wouldn't be such an issue - expect we are going to Mexico in 15 days!!

Does anyone have any advice on how to speak to a real person to help get this expidited or how he can find out why his drivers license was considered invalid?

Thanks!!

GUWonder Feb 5, 2010 10:31 am


Originally Posted by angik (Post 13331741)
My brother is having trouble with his passport application.
First they said his birth certificate is invalid so he has to send off for a new full form.

They are also saying that his drivers license is invalid. It is a new license he got within a month or applying for his passport so it's not expired and has his current address.

Now - 5 weeks after he applied he gets a letter telling him that he needs to send a different birth certificate, 5 points of id and provide: every address he has ever lived at, every school he has ever atteneded, every job he has ever held and the names and addresses of every immediate family member.
Wouldn't be such an issue - expect we are going to Mexico in 15 days!!

Does anyone have any advice on how to speak to a real person to help get this expidited or how he can find out why his drivers license was considered invalid?

Thanks!!

Where was the driver's license issued (i.e. for which state)?

Are you talking about an application for a US passport?

Has he ever held a US passport before?

If not, does the name on his Social Security card match the name on his driver's license?

Does he have a state-issued birth certificate or certified copy with a raised seal on it in the same name as that on the driver's license?

Proof of citizenship can be demonstrated by various means as can proof of identity -- both are required to be demonstrated -- but the best way to do that in an absolutely timely manner involves using a US Passport Agency office.

It sounds like the passport-issuing facility is concerned about fraudulent-attempt to acquire a passport. It's not fun having to resolve such concerns but they are possible to resolve if you and a couple of other US citizen relatives work at resolving the matter in-person at a US Passport Agency.

Ari Feb 5, 2010 11:33 am

What are the circumstances of the birth certificate? Was the birth certificate issued by a so-called "suspicious midwife" in a border state?

Refer to: http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/a...ts-us-citizens

The lawsuit was settled, but that just means they have to reject an application rather than just file it without further action.

Welcome to flyertalk! ^

polonius Feb 5, 2010 11:39 am


Originally Posted by angik (Post 13331741)
My brother is having trouble with his passport application.
First they said his birth certificate is invalid so he has to send off for a new full form.

They are also saying that his drivers license is invalid. It is a new license he got within a month or applying for his passport so it's not expired and has his current address.

Now - 5 weeks after he applied he gets a letter telling him that he needs to send a different birth certificate, 5 points of id and provide: every address he has ever lived at, every school he has ever atteneded, every job he has ever held and the names and addresses of every immediate family member.
Wouldn't be such an issue - expect we are going to Mexico in 15 days!!

Does anyone have any advice on how to speak to a real person to help get this expidited or how he can find out why his drivers license was considered invalid?

Thanks!!

God, how ridiculous. Everyone should get their children passports at birth (like my parents did:)). It's only the first ones that have these problems; renewals are simple. Contact your congressperson's constituent services office! This is your best bet!

eastport Feb 5, 2010 11:44 am

Even straight-forward passport renewals are a problem right now.

The state department web site has contradictory information about how long the process is currently taking, with the stated times ranging from one to four weeks. One page has a statement that they are adding additional staff to handle the backlog.

I'm current in the process of renewing my passport. I has been over two weeks without any indication that they have received and are processing the application -- significantly longer than the "allow 7-10 days" delay before online status tracking should work. And this after taking the minimum risk approach: filling out the online application (which should avoid data entry delays and errors), and having the postage applied and the envelope inspected at the post office counter.

angik Feb 5, 2010 12:07 pm


Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 13331893)
Where was the driver's license issued (i.e. for which state)? Kansas

Are you talking about an application for a US passport? Yes

Has he ever held a US passport before? No

If not, does the name on his Social Security card match the name on his driver's license? Yes - his name has always been the same

Does he have a state-issued birth certificate or certified copy with a raised seal on it in the same name as that on the driver's license? Yes

Proof of citizenship can be demonstrated by various means as can proof of identity -- both are required to be demonstrated -- but the best way to do that in an absolutely timely manner involves using a US Passport Agency office.

It sounds like the passport-issuing facility is concerned about fraudulent-attempt to acquire a passport. It's not fun having to resolve such concerns but they are possible to resolve if you and a couple of other US citizen relatives work at resolving the matter in-person at a US Passport Agency.

His closest in person passport agency is a 14 hour drive away... Is that really the only way? His application is in SC. He lives in Kansas....


Originally Posted by Ari (Post 13332275)
What are the circumstances of the birth certificate? Was the birth certificate issued by a so-called "suspicious midwife" in a border state?

Refer to: http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/a...ts-us-citizens

The lawsuit was settled, but that just means they have to reject an application rather than just file it without further action.

Welcome to flyertalk! ^

He was born on a Marine Corps base in California. His birth certificate has a raised seal. He already request a birth certificate through one of those express agencies who say they can get it to him in 3-5 days. But that will then put us only 10 days from our trip!!


Originally Posted by polonius (Post 13332319)
God, how ridiculous. Everyone should get their children passports at birth (like my parents did:)). It's only the first ones that have these problems; renewals are simple. Contact your congressperson's constituent services office! This is your best bet!

He called his congressman's office today. They told him to send in the paperwork.... we can only hope they repond quickly when they get all of this!

Ari Feb 5, 2010 12:39 pm


Originally Posted by angik (Post 13332539)
He called his congressman's office today. They told him to send in the paperwork.... we can only hope they repond quickly when they get all of this!

Can you figure out what might have made them suspicious? Is there something unusual about yout brother's birth certificate or DL? Has he even been a victim of identity theft?

GUWonder Feb 5, 2010 2:35 pm


Originally Posted by Ari (Post 13332732)
Can you figure out what might have made them suspicious? Is there something unusual about yout brother's birth certificate or DL? Has he even been a victim of identity theft?

I asked and was told that amongst the most common reasons for this to happen is that proof of citizenship and proof of identity don't line up enough (including sometimes not lining up enough with the SocSec name+number submitted) or is inadequate; that there have been multiple applications for a passport in the same name in a relatively short (shorter than normal/shorter than expected) time-frame but with different information (e.g., different addresses, often legitimate due to a move to another address/city/state/country); that the photo of the person on the current application seem too dissimilar to photos from previous applications and/or passports issued.

A lot of that is done to try to root out the possibility of identity theft or to catch it; or to try to prevent non-citizens from getting a passport to which they are not entitled.

GUWonder Feb 5, 2010 2:44 pm


Originally Posted by angik (Post 13332511)

He was born on a Marine Corps base in California. His birth certificate has a raised seal. He already request a birth certificate through one of those express agencies who say they can get it to him in 3-5 days. But that will then put us only 10 days from our trip!!

The California Department of Public Health is usually the party people contact in California to get certified copies of birth certificates for people in that state, but do they offer any kind of legitimate expedite facility to get it that fast?

The raised seal on the birth certificate he has currently was placed there by what entity/agency?

N1120A Feb 5, 2010 2:50 pm


Originally Posted by GUWonder (Post 13333468)
The California Department of Public Health is usually the party people contact in California to get certified copies of birth certificates for people in that state, but do they offer any kind of legitimate expedite facility to get it that fast?

The raised seal on the birth certificate he has currently was placed there by what entity/agency?

You can get a BC more easily by just contacting the individual county.

noham6597 Feb 20, 2011 3:20 am

Same Problem
 
I too have had the same problem in approximately a one year period of time. Last December I submitted an application for a passport card due to the fact that I was driving from Alaska to Illinois through Canada and they sent me the a denial letter which I did not purse at the time since I decided to fly. Most recently I submitted an application for a passport book which was also denied.

In the past I held a passport which was destroyed; however, it has been expired over 10 years, and according to the requirements I included a lost passport form in the application along with a certified copy (raised seal) of my birth certficate, copy of driver's license, voters registration, social security, corporate ID, and a professional license. On the most recent denial letter they are asking for additional ID along with a completed form asking for all of my addresses since birth, all of the places I've worked, all schools attended, etc.

Fortunately my trip had to be postponed due to other factors; however, this is really upsetting me and becoming what I consider preposterous actions on the part of the Department of State. I quote Richard Nixon "I am not a crook"

I'm open to suggestions!

Ada Aguilar Aug 19, 2013 9:28 pm

Problems getting my U.S. passport?
 
I requested a USA passport a month ago, now I received a letter telling me they need more information about my birthday, the letter says: Thank you for your recent passport aplication. Upon review we have determined that we need additional information regarding the factual circumstantes of your birth. This is because your birth record was filed on January 22, 1964 by a birth attendant who is suspected of submitting false birth records.... Well it says more but I'm so concerned about this because I was legaly born at the United States, can somebody help me please giving me some advice on what can I do, my father is dead and my mother was diagnosticated with Alzheimer... do I have to get a lawyer or something? I don't have a lot of money to spend..

Ada Aguilar Aug 19, 2013 9:34 pm

Problems getting my american passport?
 
I requested a USA passport a month ago, now I received a letter telling me they need more information about my birthday, the letter says: Thank you for your recent passport aplication. Upon review we have determined that we need additional information regarding the factual circumstantes of your birth. This is because your birth record was filed on January 22, 1964 by a birth attendant who is suspected of submitting false birth records.... Well it says more but I'm so concerned about this because I was legaly born at the United States, can somebody help me please giving me some advice on what can I do, my father is dead and my mother was diagnosticated with Alzheimer... do I have to get a lawyer or something? I don't have a lot of money to spend..

Ari Aug 20, 2013 12:36 am


Originally Posted by Ada Aguilar (Post 21302093)
I requested a USA passport a month ago, now I received a letter telling me they need more information about my birthday, the letter says: Thank you for your recent passport aplication. Upon review we have determined that we need additional information regarding the factual circumstantes of your birth. This is because your birth record was filed on January 22, 1964 by a birth attendant who is suspected of submitting false birth records.... Well it says more but I'm so concerned about this because I was legaly born at the United States, can somebody help me please giving me some advice on what can I do, my father is dead and my mother was diagnosticated with Alzheimer... do I have to get a lawyer or something? I don't have a lot of money to spend..

At least they started telling people the reason; they used to play games. As for advice, a lawyer might be better than a blog. There are federal lawsuits over this. Anyway, in addition to "suspicious midwives", the concurrent existence of Mexican and US birth registrations can cause scrutiny. If that is your case, you need a lawyer for sure.

How exactly the information in the form is useful is very unclear to me anyway. How does where you went to school help determine where you were born when people could hop back and forth the border back in the day?

If you were born here, you have to convince the government were born here. If they don't give you a passport and you disagree with them, you can sue them. If you have no money for a lawyer, you can contact the ACLU and ask them to point you in the right direction which should be no problem for them since they are behind many of the lawsuits.

GUWonder Aug 20, 2013 1:36 am


Originally Posted by Ari (Post 21302630)
At least they started telling people the reason; they used to play games. As for advice, a lawyer might be better than a blog. There are federal lawsuits over this. Anyway, in addition to "suspicious midwives", the concurrent existence of Mexican and US birth registrations can cause scrutiny. If that is your case, you need a lawyer for sure.

How exactly the information in the form is useful is very unclear to me anyway. How does where you went to school help determine where you were born when people could hop back and forth the border back in the day?

If you were born here, you have to convince the government were born here. If they don't give you a passport and you disagree with them, you can sue them. If you have no money for a lawyer, you can contact the ACLU and ask them to point you in the right direction which should be no problem for them since they are behind many of the lawsuits.

Some of the information requested may be less about determining citizenship than about determining identity and likelihood of association with fraudulent record makers/providers, even as there are school records that include parent/guardian/student-filled place of birth. That is where school attendance may come into play.

Evidence of physical presence during a specified period of time can also help with recognition of fraudulent documentation/application.

Has the ACLU tried to get a numerical breakdown of what percentage of the flagged applications are for persons who are ultimately issued a US passport?


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