Terminator X
26th April 2011, 00:13
The U.S. Department of State is proposing (http://federalregister.gov/a/2011-4154) a new Biographical Questionnaire (http://papersplease.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ds5513-proposed.pdf) for some passport applicants: The proposed new Form DS-5513 (http://papersplease.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ds5513-proposed.pdf) 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.
It seems likely that only some, not all, applicants will be required to fill out the new questionnaire, but no criteria have been made public for determining who will be subjected to these additional new written interrogatories. So if the passport examiner wants to deny your application, all they will have to do is give you the impossible new form to complete.
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/571284/why_the_government_could_make_it_nearly_impossible _for_you_to_get_a_passport/
Let's all play "guess the demographic" of who will receive this fancy new form. :rolleyes:
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.
It seems likely that only some, not all, applicants will be required to fill out the new questionnaire, but no criteria have been made public for determining who will be subjected to these additional new written interrogatories. So if the passport examiner wants to deny your application, all they will have to do is give you the impossible new form to complete.
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/571284/why_the_government_could_make_it_nearly_impossible _for_you_to_get_a_passport/
Let's all play "guess the demographic" of who will receive this fancy new form. :rolleyes: