*Bad* Passport requirement change.

The State Department is prosing to require people "some" people (for an unknown value of some) to fill out a new form to get a passport.

http://papersplease.org/wp/2011/03/18/state-dept-proposes-biographical-questionnaire-for-passport-applicants/

The proposed form is Form DS-5513.

The deadline for comments is midnight Eastern time *today*

I'll post my comments later. So far I've hit things like date of birth for parents and siblings. Which I don't know closer than month/year. (Het it's been 40 years since I lived with my brother or my mother).

An insane amount of stuff about birth. And other info nobody is going to have. And they claim it'll only take 45 minutes to fill out? More like *months* And thousands of dollars to a private investigator.

ETA: Arrgh. The deadline was yesterday. :-(

Comments on the stupid form

My comments on the form from the previous post.
( Read more... )

Reply to my email

on that passport form stuff. Note that while it appears that their *intentions* are good, it's *still* setting the bar too high. Or at least going in the wrong direction.

Thank you for your e-mail.

If you are e-mailing regarding the proposed DS-5513, Biographical
Questionnaire for a U.S. Passport, we appreciate your interest. We are
seriously considering the comments that we continue to receive and may
very well incorporate several of the suggestions into a revised version.
We would also like to take this opportunity to clarify a few common
misconceptions regarding this form.

The Biographical Questionnaire for a U.S. Passport, form DS-5513, is not
designed to replace the standard DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport,
but rather to supplement the DS-11 only when the applicant submits
citizenship or identity evidence that is insufficient to meet his/her
burden of proving citizenship or identity. The Department estimates that
such supplemental information will only be requested for a small number of
applicants, perhaps less than .5% of the applications we receive annually.

The Department understands that some of the information requested is quite
detailed. However, in those instances where an applicant cannot provide
sufficient proof of citizenship or identity, it is important for the
applicant to provide additional information which will help establish the
applicant's United States citizenship or identity.

The Department asks a wide range of questions related to an applicant's
birth on the DS-5513, Biographical Questionnaire for a U.S. Passport form
in order to accommodate the wide range of birth circumstances of U.S.
citizens. Many of these questions may not apply to the majority of
applicants; however, for cases where the information may apply, it gives
an opportunity to provide additional information that may then support
passport issuance.

For information on what documentation is required when submitting a DS-11,
please refer to page two of the instructions.

We hope the above information addresses any concerns you may have.

Thank you!