The Conservative Cave

Current Events => Politics => Topic started by: Chris_ on April 25, 2011, 04:14:54 PM

Title: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: Chris_ on April 25, 2011, 04:14:54 PM
Quote
State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history

In February, the department published a request in the Federal Register allowing 60 days for comment before the new rules go into effect.

"The Biographical Questionnaire for a U.S. Passport, form DS-5513, is used to supplement an application for a U.S. passport when the applicant submits citizenship or identity evidence that is insufficient or of questionable authenticity," according to a supporting statement (PDF) issued along with the request for comment.

"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," Consumer Traveler's Edward Hasbrouck noted.

The Consumer Travel Alliance opposes the new form as "exceeding the statutory authority of the DOS, unconstitutional, and in violation of U.S. obligations pursuant to international human rights treaties to which the U.S. is a party," according to draft comments (PDF) prepared by the group.
Raw Story (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/25/state-department-wants-passport-applicants-to-reveal-lifetime-employment-history/)

Not sure how I feel about this.  If the claims are true the State Department is obviously over-reaching, but considering the source, I'm highly suspect of the entire article.  Is 60 days a normal period for RFC?  It seems like a very short amount of time.

Maybe I should stop getting my news from Fark.
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: thundley4 on April 25, 2011, 04:31:49 PM
Only some , not all applicants would need to do this, for most the normal proof of citizenship would suffice.  

Obama may have to since he doesn't have a birth certificate.
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: DefiantSix on April 25, 2011, 04:45:46 PM
Only some , not all applicants would need to do this, for most the normal proof of citizenship would suffice.  

Obama may have to since he doesn't have a birth certificate.

Obama may be screwed - and have to go back to his Indonesian passport to get around, as a result - because his resume is pretty light, too.  :thatsright:
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: JohnnyReb on April 25, 2011, 04:58:49 PM
Obama may be screwed - and have to go back to his Indonesian passport to get around, as a result - because his resume is pretty light, too.  :thatsright:

Obama has a resume...40+ years as a world traveler, community organizer and all round troublemaker.
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: DefiantSix on April 25, 2011, 05:01:01 PM
Obama has a resume...40+ years as a world traveler, community organizer and all round troublemaker.

But as the State Department is looking for a lifetime WORK history - and we know the Bastard in Chief hasn't worked a day in his life - his resume doesn't do him a damned bit of good.
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: CG6468 on April 26, 2011, 07:06:02 AM
All of this information is already available from the IRS. Screw the State Department.
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: rich_t on April 26, 2011, 01:49:16 PM
All of this information is already available from the IRS. Screw the State Department.

Not according to what I've heard.

Proposed form:

http://www.papersplease.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ds5513-proposed.pdf
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: Eupher on April 26, 2011, 03:48:50 PM
This looks like the form that would be used by people who have never before applied for a passport.

Just a month ago I renewed mine for another 10 years, and my application was a page and a half long.

But don't worry, illegals. With Imam Barack in office, you won't have to worry about filling all that out in English. You can do a tenth of that in Arabic, or Spanish, or any other language, and have it successfully processed. Hell, you don't even have to write. You can just dictate it and have some State Department weenie write it out for you.

Then you wind up with an American passport, and you're in like Flint.

 :sarcasm:
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: NHSparky on April 26, 2011, 04:50:26 PM
You want to see my employment history?  Okay.

1981-present: Gainful.  Verification?  Form 1040's from 1982-2010.
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: true_blood on April 26, 2011, 08:14:13 PM
But don't worry, illegals. With Imam Barack in office, you won't have to worry about filling all that out in English. You can do a tenth of that in Arabic, or Spanish, or any other language, and have it successfully processed. Hell, you don't even have to write. You can just dictate it and have some State Department weenie write it out for you.
Then you wind up with an American passport, and you're in like Flint.:sarcasm:
:lmao:
Sad, but true.
Title: Re: State Department wants passport applicants to reveal lifetime employment history
Post by: Gratiot on May 07, 2011, 11:03:52 PM
Quote
...is used to supplement an application for a U.S. passport when the applicant submits citizenship or identity evidence that is insufficient or of questionable authenticity

If I'm reading correctly, that seems to be a key piece.  Which wouldn't necessarily be an unreasonable burden of proof to show, if one doesn't have the required documents or they appear reasonably suspicious.

For initial issue passports or renewals, accompanied with the standard documents, I whole-heartedly think this is too intrusive and an unreasonable burden of proof to convey.