There was a time I wanted to travel, internationally. There were many places that sounded intriguing.
Now, not so much. Guess I’m a bit of a xenophobe.
Through Monday proposed changes in passport regulation comments are accepted. After that, it’s up to the bureaucrats to decide.
Below are the specifics of the proposed changes (emphasis mine):
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.”
The State Department estimated that the average respondent would be able to compile all this information in just 45 minutes, which is obviously absurd given the amount of research that is likely to be required to even attempt to complete the form.
I find it, well, ironic, that just about anyone can enter this country by walking, or crawling under a fence, but for a U.S. Citizen to leave, lawfully, requires one’s entire personal history!
And, just a reminder, one now needs a passport to travel to Canada or Mexico.
(the blue Form DS-5513 above links to the proposed form!)
h/t Jennifer
Well, I guess I better hope I don't fall under that category. My mother is deceased and I don't think any survivors could possibly provide her address one year before I was born.I guess I better squeeze in all my int'l travel plans before 2017, when my current passport expires.
Posted by Tomi | April 27, 2011, 8:03 amI potentially forsee a day when good people do leave the country and because of their political views not being allowed back in.
Posted by Matt | April 27, 2011, 8:09 am