topic Re: Passports? in Community Chat

Passports?

Shorty2U — Fri, 20 May 2016 02:00:42 GMT

Has anyone had this much trouble getting a passport?

My granddaughter (18) applied for her 1st passport (to travel to Europe this Summer)

She was of course born in PA here in the USA. But she was refused saying they need more proof she was born in America. She had filled out everything including sending her birth certificate.

Years ago, her birth certificate was lost. So my daughter sent for a new one years and years ago. But there was something misspelled on the birth certificate. So my daughter had that all fixed long ago and got her birth certificate long ago (as in many years ago).

Well the passport was refused due TO her getting a copy and fixing the mistake (again long ago) so they wanted more proof she was born in America.

They said to get school records and everything which she did. (Which makes no sense to me because how can school records prove she was born here, she didn't start school till 5 yrs old!). But of course she complied and did what they said.

NOW she got a thing saying no passport until she fills out a census! She lives at home with her parents and sisters because she just turned 18 (2 months ago) and is just about to graduate high school! But she is now filling out the census.

Yes I understand these are different times and things are strict, but I spoke to others who had their kids get passports in the past years and no one had all this trouble.

And my thoughts are I wonder if other countries are checking who flies back and forth over here like this? Geesh, I cant get over they don't trust a birth certificate from the USA and then school records. Now its a census has to be filled out first?

PS) She is actually thinking of changing her trip to later because she doesnt know if her passport will get OKd and here in time.

Re: Passports?

sunshine45 — Fri, 20 May 2016 02:41:05 GMT

my daughter got hers a couple of years ago when she went to study abroad for her junior year. we had her official birth certificate (ordered several from the department of vital records for our state), her social security card (although i am not sure they needed that), and her drivers license......all with her name spelled the same way. she did not have any problems. she filed it with expedited service and she received it within two weeks.

Re: Passports?

Kachina624 — Fri, 20 May 2016 02:14:13 GMT

I never heard of anyone having as much trouble as your granddaughter. We had major congestion at all the passport application places here a few months ago when the government said NM drivers licenses would not get you on a plane or in government facilities because they were issuing them to illegal aliens. Our last legislative session seems to have fixed that.

Hope she get it straightened out.

Re: Passports?

Stray — Fri, 20 May 2016 02:27:24 GMT

@Shorty2U- I had to get a birth certificate issued by the state with a raised seal. I was born in a city in NJ where some records were stolen from our Town Hall and a known terrorist lived there with an active cell.

Re: Passports?

qbetzforreal — Fri, 20 May 2016 02:45:02 GMT

@Shorty2U wrote:
Has anyone had this much trouble getting a passport?

My granddaughter (18) applied for her 1st passport (to travel to Europe this Summer)

She was of course born in PA here in the USA. But she was refused saying they need more proof she was born in America. She had filled out everything including sending her birth certificate.

Years ago, her birth certificate was lost. So my daughter sent for a new one years and years ago. But there was something misspelled on the birth certificate. So my daughter had that all fixed long ago and got her birth certificate long ago (as in many years ago).

Well the passport was refused due TO her getting a copy and fixing the mistake (again long ago) so they wanted more proof she was born in America.

They said to get school records and everything which she did. (Which makes no sense to me because how can school records prove she was born here, she didn't start school till 5 yrs old!). But of course she complied and did what they said.

NOW she got a thing saying no passport until she fills out a census! She lives at home with her parents and sisters because she just turned 18 (2 months ago) and is just about to graduate high school! But she is now filling out the census.

Yes I understand these are different times and things are strict, but I spoke to others who had their kids get passports in the past years and no one had all this trouble.

And my thoughts are I wonder if other countries are checking who flies back and forth over here like this? Geesh, I cant get over they don't trust a birth certificate from the USA and then school records. Now its a census has to be filled out first?

PS) She is actually thinking of changing her trip to later because she doesnt know if her passport will get OKd and here in time.

yes, all countries require a valid passport/papers to travel outside of the country of origin. in some countries, it's even worse.

She's also going to need a visa. That's another part of traveling abroad. She's get her docs.

Re: Passports?

Suziepeach — Fri, 20 May 2016 02:48:43 GMT

I got my first passport only a couple months ago. All they needed was my birth certificate & thank goodness filling out the paperwork wasn't bad at all. I had my passport in my hands at almost 3 weeks and a few days later they returned my birth certificate.

Re: Passports?

truffle — Fri, 20 May 2016 02:50:42 GMT

@sunshine45 wrote:
my daughter got hers a couple of years ago when she went to study abroad for her junior year. we had her official birth certificate (ordered several from the department of vital records for our state), her social security card (although i am not sure they needed that), and her drivers license......all with her name spelled the same way. she did not have any problems. she filed it with expedited service and she received it within two weeks.

That's exactly right. One must contact Vital Records in the state you were born to get an official birth certificate. Years ago I contacted the hospital where I was born and obtained a copy that way and it included a raised seal...not accepted anymore and hospitals no longer can do that as it all has to come from Vital Records. I wonder if a newborn can get a birth certificate anymore from their hospital. Anyone know?

Re: Passports?

Lila Belle — Fri, 20 May 2016 02:57:30 GMT

While it may be an inconvenience I'm happy to hear that there is scrutiny being paid where discrepancies have been found.

@truffle I got mine soon after my birth as did both my children. Thankfully we had no problems.

Re: Passports?

Mz iMac — Fri, 20 May 2016 03:39:20 GMT

Your granddaughter was red flagged because of the following:

"there was something misspelled on the birth certificate."

"passport was refused due TO her getting a copy and fixing the mistake"

Granddaughter needs an original BC showing a raised seals showing no mistakes. Not a BC that apparently was obviously "altered."

"NOW she got a thing saying no passport until she fills out a census!"

If your GD is 18 she is no longer a minor in the eyes of the government. She must complete a census report if ordered no matter who she lives with.

Re: Passports?

Shorty2U — Fri, 20 May 2016 03:58:33 GMT

Ok thanks for the replies, and she does have her birth certificate from vital statistics. But it wasn't the 1st one from when she was born, but it has the seal (it just had been fixed and re-ordered) so I guess that's why they got suspicious. I just don't get this census thing now? I guess its best that they are checking people out, but from the replies here it was easier for others. That must be because everyone else had their original birth certificate "since birth".

Re: Passports?

patbz — Fri, 20 May 2016 04:50:16 GMT

If your grand daughter still is having a problem do a telephone congressional with your congress person so that her application can be expedited. Look up your congress person's web page, the information on how to do this should be there.

Re: Passports?

sandraskates — Fri, 20 May 2016 05:00:12 GMT

My radar antenna has gone up over the word census.

@Shorty2U The real census is a 2 question document that is filled out every 10 years.

Then there is the American Community Survey which is a very invasive survey document purportly put out by the US Census Bureau.

Re: Passports?

Plaid Pants2 — Fri, 20 May 2016 08:31:59 GMT

When I applied for my passport, all I needed was the birth certificate with the raised seal.

Oh, and I did NOT need a visa when I went to Ireland.

Re: Passports?

SundayMonday — Fri, 20 May 2016 09:55:04 GMT

My new daughter in law, who's mother was a spaced out hippyish type, never got a birth certificate for any of her children. They lived in a small town where everybody knew everybody and she actually graduated from high school without a b/c. Then she married my son who was a soldier being posted to Germany. After going round and round like your situation with the passport office, her aunt who knew the late Senator from SC (forgot his name), called him in Washington DC. He said for her to drive on up , she and my daughter in law did and they got her passport that day. That all happened nearly 30 years ago. Get in touch with your state Senator. Go to his local office and make a pest of yourself.

Re: Passports?

Tribesters — Fri, 20 May 2016 11:21:18 GMT

@Shorty2U

I am a passport acceptance agent. From the info you've provided I do not think the birth certificate is the problem. You must submit proof of citizenship AND current photo identification. I am guessing the ID may be the problem. Was a photocopy (front & back) of the ID submitted along with the birth certificate? And was the ID an acceptable form of primary ID? For example an in-state drivers license is on its own sufficient. However, an ou of state drivers license or a learners permit needs another form of ID. Usually for an 18 year old a student ID would work along with the learners permit. So, for example, if your granddaughter is from PA. but applied for her passport while away at college in NY she would need to submit copy of both her license & student ID.

Travel.state.gov is the official website- you can check acceptable forms of ID there. Also visa information is available as well.

Re: Passports?

GSPgirl — Fri, 20 May 2016 11:28:09 GMT

Just a head's up. Apply for your passport very early. I had my original picture rejected. It took another 3 weeks to receive my passport after I had the pic taken at the post office. My original pic was taken at the UPS store with an authorized passport camera. My friend had the same problem and his 3rd picture was finally accepted. The passport office has new software and your picture has to be perfect. No shadows in the background, can't be over exposed or under exposed, and must be the perfect size. No smiling either.

Re: Passports?

Vivian — Fri, 20 May 2016 11:49:02 GMT

I can tell you that one incorrect letter, one wrong space, or one misplaced period can wreak havoc with international travel. My husband got his own passport, going through the process at our county clerk's office. However, I'm in charge of travel arrangements. That means I have to write down the exact name as it appears on the passport. My husband uses his first initial, then his middle name, e.g., H Mergatrod Smith. Sometimes he puts a period after the H, sometimes not. Sometimes errors appear on official documents and the H appears next to the M without any space. I have to be very, very careful to put my husband's name on international flight reservations exactly as it appears on his passport, where a period appears after the H. But then, on his credit card, no period appears after the H. It became so frustrating that I started putting the flights on my credit card where a simple first name and last name get me right in.

Re: Passports?

sunshine45 — Fri, 20 May 2016 14:55:31 GMT

@Shorty2U wrote:
Ok thanks for the replies, and she does have her birth certificate from vital statistics. But it wasn't the 1st one from when she was born, but it has the seal (it just had been fixed and re-ordered) so I guess that's why they got suspicious. I just don't get this census thing now? I guess its best that they are checking people out, but from the replies here it was easier for others. That must be because everyone else had their original birth certificate "since birth".

my daughters was NOT the original birth certificate we received after her birth, it was a copy of the birth certificate, an official copy that is obtained by the department of vital records in our state. i ordered 6 actually just to have them on hand.

Re: Passports?

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 20 May 2016 19:19:09 GMT

@sunshine45 wrote:
@Shorty2U wrote:
Ok thanks for the replies, and she does have her birth certificate from vital statistics. But it wasn't the 1st one from when she was born, but it has the seal (it just had been fixed and re-ordered) so I guess that's why they got suspicious. I just don't get this census thing now? I guess its best that they are checking people out, but from the replies here it was easier for others. That must be because everyone else had their original birth certificate "since birth".

my daughters was NOT the original birth certificate we received after her birth, it was a copy of the birth certificate, an official copy that is obtained by the department of vital records in our state. i ordered 6 actually just to have them on hand.

I can't imagine many people have the original birth certificate that was issued when they were born. Most people lose them or they are ripped or tattered. My DH and I both do but they are in pretty horrible condition.

It is very, very easy to go down to your city or county health department and get an official copy of your birth certificate with the raised seal. Here the cost is $25.00. That is all you need.

Re: Passports?

blackhole99 — Fri, 20 May 2016 19:38:13 GMT

I was born in the early 50's and my birth certificate was issued by the local hospital. Of course my eastern european surname was spelled wrong and my parents never had it corrected. At that time I also received a birth and baptismal certicicate from our church when I was baptised. This document had my surname spelled correctly, but is not a legal document so I had to request a birth cert. from Vital Stats when I applied for my passport. I filled out the paperwork and sent it in and a few weeks later received my state issued birth certificate with my mothers maiden name spelled incorrectly and my fathers surname spelled incorrectly. I kept the birth certificate with the misspelled surnames because everthing else was correct and filled out the paper work for my passport and received it without a problem. Many people are denied passports for these mistakes that happened years ago and were never corrected.