NationStates Jolt Archive

I remember reading that a good portion of Americans don't have one, do you?

My real point is a possible blog entry in terms of the cost of a passport. It's now GBP144 for a 48 page passport, which I need due to extensive traveling, especially to China and India with their tedious one page visas - although India's is quite pretty, even a 32 page version is GBP120 or so.

I run through my passports every two years and, I don't know, does it not seem a high cost for what is essentially a book, I'm sure there's security issues with producing each one but, seriously, it seems a money'making scam to me.

So, do you have a passport, if so how often do you go through one and finally, isn't there a case to say a government should be at least subsidising the cost if not, and I don't expect this really, providing them free as part of my citizenship?

I have one, my son has two. Still haven't managed to get through all the pages, but in the US you can just go to the embassy and have extra pages added into your passport.

I have one, my son has two. Still haven't managed to get through all the pages, but in the US you can just go to the embassy and have extra pages added into your passport.

Surely not indefinitely?

For the UK, if you purchased a 32 page book you can add another 16 to make it 48, I think that's the case but after 48 you need to have a new one.

..and I think you have to pay for the extra pages as well.

It just seems like extortion to me, as in it's highly overpriced, I'm happy with some cost but, essentially, GBP150!

*grumbling mainly 'cos I have to get a new one tomorrow,*

On the bright side, the reason I specifically need a new one now is that I'm off to visit America later this month and having just 2 pages left is not acceptable alas.

I have a passport, but the last time I used it was when the Czech Republic wasn't yet in the EU. I think it has expired.

I can travel through all of EU and most non-EU european countries with my ID alone (about 10 € / 5 years).

By the way, a passport in Italy costs 40,29 € (fixed cost, valid 5 years) + 5,92 € (for a 32-pages passport) or 7,23 € (for a 48-pages). Plus you have to provide three photos.

Dont have one.

Never been more than a state away from where I live.

Would like to see the world though.

By the way, a passport in Italy costs 40,29 € (fixed cost, valid 5 years) + 5,92 € (for a 32-pages passport) or 7,23 € (for a 48-pages). Plus you have to provide three photos.

That's a reasonable price, I wonder if it's because I'm overseas, maybe it's cheaper in the UK,

*goes to check*

Okay, still coming in at GBP82 for a 48 page, GBP72 for a regular version, which remains higher than Italy, I should complain to the EU.

In the UK, its £72 for a 10 year passport such as mine. 32 page book. But, seeing as hardly anywhere I go stamps them there is no need.

They are also biometric these days. (Chipped) Dunno if that's new or not.

I paid the £10 fee from the post office to speed up the passport application. Expecting it to be posted to me within 10 days, It was delivered by private courier 3 days later to my door :)

That's a reasonable price, I wonder if it's because I'm overseas, maybe it's cheaper in the UK,

*goes to check*

Okay, still coming in at GBP82 for a 48 page, GBP72 for a regular version, which remains higher than Italy, I should complain to the EU.

Yay, you should. Expecially, iirc, because you Britons don't have an ID valid for travelling through Europe, right? It looks very stupid to need a passport to take a vacation to France.

Surely not indefinitely?

For the UK, if you purchased a 32 page book you can add another 16 to make it 48, I think that's the case but after 48 you need to have a new one.

..and I think you have to pay for the extra pages as well.

It just seems like extortion to me, as in it's highly overpriced, I'm happy with some cost but, essentially, GBP150!

*grumbling mainly 'cos I have to get a new one tomorrow,*

On the bright side, the reason I specifically need a new one now is that I'm off to visit America later this month and having just 2 pages left is not acceptable alas.
Honestly, I have no idea and the State Department website doesn't say how many you can add. It DOES say that there is no fee for the extra pages though.

only 75 dollars for a passport book in the US. additional pages are free. last ten years too.

also can get a passport card for 20 dollars but that's only goof for NAFTA countries.

Yay, you should. Expecially, iirc, because you Britons don't have an ID valid for travelling through Europe, right? It looks very stupid to need a passport to take a vacation to France.

Some nations, a drivers licence will suffice.

Ireland for example.

I THINK France too. Can't be sure.

Honestly, I have no idea and the State Department website doesn't say how many you can add. It DOES say that there is no fee for the extra pages though.

extra pages are always free.

That's a reasonable price, I wonder if it's because I'm overseas, maybe it's cheaper in the UK,

*goes to check*

Okay, still coming in at GBP82 for a 48 page, GBP72 for a regular version, which remains higher than Italy, I should complain to the EU.
Currently it's $100 for a US passport. It was $85 when I got my son's through the US Embassy in Tokyo. I do remember that the cost for a Japanese passport for my son was really cheap though. My wife's was more expensive than mine.

Currently it's $100 for a US passport. It was $85 when I got my son's through the US Embassy in Tokyo. I do remember that the cost for a Japanese passport for my son was really cheap though. My wife's was more expensive than mine.

if your in the states and you do it by mail it is only $75(60 for under 16). the extra $25 is the in person fee.

I'm going to whine at the embassy, I can't stand them anyway.

After a long argument over the time it would take to process a new passport, this was in Thailand a fair few years back, I was told that if I'd lost or had the passport stolen they could emergency process it.

'I'll be right back' I said, quite willing to fling it out into the street.

They capitulated, and what annoyed me was that they could have done so far earlier, without the arrogant attitude and just generally been a little more helpful to one of their citizens.

Now they're screwing me for money.

It was £18 in 1992. The rising cost is supposedly to pay for the introduction of the identity card in 2010.

I'm going to whine at the embassy, I can't stand them anyway.

After a long argument over the time it would take to process a new passport, this was in Thailand a fair few years back, I was told that if I'd lost or had the passport stolen they could emergency process it.

'I'll be right back' I said, quite willing to fling it out into the street.

They capitulated, and what annoyed me was that they could have done so far earlier, without the arrogant attitude and just generally been a little more helpful to one of their citizens.

Now they're screwing me for money.

got to love the government by fees approach.

It was £18 in 1992. The rising cost is supposedly to pay for the introduction of the identity card in 2010.

I'm paying way more than my fair share, I would like a quarter ownership of your ID card please, well not you, you seem a bit of a psycho but someone's at least.

ID Cards no one wants...I might add.

ID Cards no one wants...I might add.

I really can't understand this Anglo-Saxon hate for compulsory IDs. I find strange, and dangerous, that people aren't required to have an ID. This way one can give false identity at hotels and banks, or when questioned by the police, or when applying for welfare.
Of course there are privacy issues, but I think that a modern country can find a way to implement complusory ID while respecting the citizens' privacy. Meh.

I really can't understand this Anglo-Saxon hate for compulsory IDs. I find strange, and dangerous, that people aren't required to have an ID. This way one can give false identity at hotels and banks, or when questioned by the police, or when applying for welfare.
Of course there are privacy issues, but I think that a modern country can find a way to implement complusory ID while respecting the citizens' privacy. Meh.

compulsory Id is bad. Who care if you a few people get around the system. I want my right to anonymous.

compulsory Id is bad. Who care if you a few people get around the system. I want my right to anonymous.

It's no more compulsary than a passport is.

It's no more compulsary than a passport is.

which is good. and it needs to remain that way.

I am still annoyed i need some form of ID to work.

I have one now, but I didn't a few months ago. I got an excuse though; Australia is so isolated that you don't really go anywhere unless you have a specific reason, you can't just take day trips to the next country. So it's not really worth having a passport continually.

I really can't understand this Anglo-Saxon hate for compulsory IDs. I find strange, and dangerous, that people aren't required to have an ID. This way one can give false identity at hotels and banks, or when questioned by the police, or when applying for welfare.
Of course there are privacy issues, but I think that a modern country can find a way to implement complusory ID while respecting the citizens' privacy. Meh.

I don't understand it either, ID cards sit in the wallet very nicely and link me to all manner of services with a simple swipe of the card. I suspect most people will very much like them, some won't.

Part of the issue is the British government's incompetence when it comes to organising anything, the staggering cost of implementation, which then tends to mostly fail, roll on the Olympics.

Actually, going way off topic, the best face-saving plan for the Olympics is to set out to create the 'cheap and cheerful' Olympics, at least we can pretend we meant it that way and can just have some fun.

I am in the process of getting two. Renewing my NZ one and getting an Irish one for the first time.

Expensive and tacky if going by the awful logo.

compulsory Id is bad. Who care if you a few people get around the system. I want my right to anonymous.

I wonder why. What do you have to fear? It seems to me that in Anglo-saxon countries, the citizens fear the State alot. It's strange to me: I fear a deviant use of the State by some parts (be it secret services/police/political parties), but I don't fear the State itself.

I wonder why. What do you have to fear? It seems to me that in Anglo-saxon countries, the citizens fear the State alot. It's strange to me: I fear a deviant use of the State by some parts (be it secret services/police/political parties), but I don't fear the State itself.

The Anglo-Saxon countries are filled with people who ran away from the state. The rest of the world is filled with people who collaborate.

I wonder why. What do you have to fear? It seems to me that in Anglo-saxon countries, the citizens fear the State alot. It's strange to me: I fear a deviant use of the State by some parts (be it secret services/police/political parties), but I don't fear the State itself.

The fact that at anytime it could oppress us is fear enough. Every democracy is jsut waiting to become a tyranny of the majority.

Part of the issue is the British government's incompetence when it comes to organising anything, the staggering cost of implementation, which then tends to mostly fail, roll on the Olympics.


Want to talk about ITALIAN incompetence? :p

The Anglo-Saxon countries are filled with people who ran away from the state. The rest of the world is filled with people who collaborate.

The fact that at anytime it could oppress us is fear enough. Every democracy is jsut waiting to become a tyranny of the majority.

Very different answers, and both interesting. Maybe we should make a new thread about Anglo-saxon culture and State.

Want to talk about ITALIAN incompetence? :p

Mafia!

:p

I've got a British and Irish passport but I tend to use the Irish one more often as no-one has a major issue with the Irish :p

I really can't understand this Anglo-Saxon hate for compulsory IDs. I find strange, and dangerous, that people aren't required to have an ID. This way one can give false identity at hotels and banks, or when questioned by the police, or when applying for welfare.
Of course there are privacy issues, but I think that a modern country can find a way to implement complusory ID while respecting the citizens' privacy. Meh.

IDs aren't required to book hotel rooms in the UK. Besides, booking in as Mr and Mrs John Smith is an established tradition:).

Banks you need a form of id (if not two), likewise for welfare afaik. If you don't have id you can't open a bank account.

The main opposition is currently that they'd be charging us for an additional card that doesn't benefit us. It doesn't let us do anything we can't already do.

But it's symbolism as much as anything. The idea of being forced to give the state personal information and carry a card just feels to totalitarian for our taste it seems.

IDs aren't required to book hotel rooms in the UK. Besides, booking in as Mr and Mrs John Smith is an established tradition:).



why would you need an ID for a hotel room if you pay with cash??? that's just crazy talk.

IDs aren't required to book hotel rooms in the UK. Besides, booking in as Mr and Mrs John Smith is an established tradition:).

Huh. Here it's required. (That was introduced back in the '70s because of the Years of Lead terrorism).


Banks you need a form of id (if not two), likewise for welfare afaik. If you don't have id you can't open a bank account.

So you'd trust your data to a private company (like a bank) but not to the State you vote for? Meeeehh.


The main opposition is currently that they'd be charging us for an additional card that doesn't benefit us. It doesn't let us do anything we can't already do.

This is reasonable. Though if it were to substitute the passport, at least for inter-EU travels...

But it's symbolism as much as anything. The idea of being forced to give the state personal information and carry a card just feels to totalitarian for our taste it seems.
I see.
Anyway here's no one is forced to carry a card: though, if during a police check you don't have an ID, they might arrest you (not automatic though) and carry you to the nearest police station, where you'll have to give your data with a formal declaration; they'll take a pic of you, let you go, and then check with the civil register offices.

The ID is complusory for some services, like, dunno, education (you have to provide your ID when you send your children to school).

The main opposition is currently that they'd be charging us for an additional card...

Quite, it's the charging I object to.

Given Getbrett says passport fees have risen dramatically to pay for this ID, does that mean it's free when it arrives or is there another charge?

I don't even mind a reasonable charge, I'm just offended by having to pay GBP150 for a small book, it's not even an interesting read.

I see.
Anyway here's no one is forced to carry a card: though, if during a police check you don't have an ID, they might arrest you (not automatic though) and carry you to the nearest police station, where you'll have to give your data with a formal declaration; they'll take a pic of you, let you go, and then check with the civil register offices.

The ID is complusory for some services, like, dunno, education (you have to provide your ID when you send your children to school).

they cant even arrest me for failure to show ID in the US. And unless their is a suspected crime in the area they cant even force me to verbally give my info.
http://www.flexyourrights.org/frequently_asked_questions#07

If I am not driving or flying i should not be required to have my ID.

I'm going to whine at the embassy, I can't stand them anyway.
A Pom whining?
what are the odds?
and whining at their governmental bureaucracy?
Again, what are the odds?
:tongue:

I remember reading that a good portion of Americans don't have one, do you?

My real point is a possible blog entry in terms of the cost of a passport. It's now GBP144 for a 48 page passport, which I need due to extensive traveling, especially to China and India with their tedious one page visas - although India's is quite pretty, even a 32 page version is GBP120 or so.

I run through my passports every two years and, I don't know, does it not seem a high cost for what is essentially a book, I'm sure there's security issues with producing each one but, seriously, it seems a money'making scam to me.

So, do you have a passport, if so how often do you go through one and finally, isn't there a case to say a government should be at least subsidising the cost if not, and I don't expect this really, providing them free as part of my citizenship?

mine last for 10 years, and i think i'm only on my second one in life at the mo. clearly i don't travel enough :P

of course, you don't get stamps any more for travelling within the EU, which means i never get a stamp. the last time i travelled outside Europe was 8 years ago (wow, it feels like yesterday... :()

I really can't understand this Anglo-Saxon hate for compulsory IDs. I find strange, and dangerous, that people aren't required to have an ID. This way one can give false identity at hotels and banks, or when questioned by the police, or when applying for welfare.
Of course there are privacy issues, but I think that a modern country can find a way to implement complusory ID while respecting the citizens' privacy. Meh.
The amount of information the British government is planning on storing on these ID cards is much more than is stored on cards on the continent. It's less an ID card and more a portable life's story.

Besides, I haven't needed one for opening accounts, staying at hotels, or applying for welfare, so why do I need one now?

A Pom whining?
what are the odds?
and whining at their governmental bureaucracy?
Again, what are the odds?
:tongue:

Blah blah blah :gundge:

There's a reason we sent you bastards to the other side of the world.

I really can't understand this Anglo-Saxon hate for compulsory IDs. I find strange, and dangerous, that people aren't required to have an ID. This way one can give false identity at hotels and banks, or when questioned by the police, or when applying for welfare.
Of course there are privacy issues, but I think that a modern country can find a way to implement complusory ID while respecting the citizens' privacy. Meh.

The amount of information the British government is planning on storing on these ID cards is much more than is stored on cards on the continent. It's less an ID card and more a portable life's story.

Besides, I haven't needed one for opening accounts, staying at hotels, or applying for welfare, so why do I need one now?


This is the issue I have with them. I still have a Belgian ID card (well Carte de Sejour technically since I'm not Belgian) and it just has the basic information on me, with the records kept in the local commune and that I have no problem with.

I dislike the current ID plans because of the vast amounts of biometric data the government plans to collect and store on a central database - especially given the governments history of database storage. I'd be much happier if ID cards had less information and were based at a local level.

I dislike the current ID plans because of the vast amounts of biometric data the government plans to collect and store on a central database - especially given the governments history of database storage.

"Yes Prime Minister, bit of a late one last night, possibly a whiskey too many, left the database on the train..."

Want to talk about ITALIAN incompetence? :p

Actually, yes....

But we might need a new thread to properly discuss Berlusconi's new bridge to Sicily.

That's going to go really, well, isn't it? Billions of euros sunk into Sicily and Calabria...

What are the chances of the Italian state keeping the 'Ndrangheta's and Mafia's hands off that project?

But as I said - might need a new thread for that one.


On the OP... I travel outside the EU - mainly to the USA - several times a year, so can't do without one. My Australian-citizen Latvian citizenship-eligible Russian wife is in the UK on a spouse visa and an Australian passport - and might be one of the first people in line for a UK identity card.

My main bureaucratic irritant recently has been US customs and immigration. I had to travel to the US one day before the new compulsory on-line registration system for visa-waiver entry came into force, having registered for the system in advance, and having been told it was already in operation. All travellers to the US are being given dire warnings that if you haven't registered in advance, you might not get in. I drive across the single busiest border crossing in North America - from Windsor to Detroit - and what happens? All but one of the immigration people have never even heard of the new system, the one that has has no idea when it's being implemented, and I'm forced to get out of my car and spend half an hour queueing up with the suspected illegal immigrants to gain entry.

Which was nice.

I have a current passport and one when I was under 18, it ran out (only lasts 5 years for children 10 for adults.

I haven't really used my current one and I have only been to Europe since I got this one. Something which disappointed me when I went to Europe was that I only needed one stamp to get in and one to get out. I wish I had to get one when I entered and left every country, just like the old days.

I have a current passport and one when I was under 18, it ran out (only lasts 5 years for children 10 for adults.

I haven't really used my current one and I have only been to Europe since I got this one. Something which disappointed me when I went to Europe was that I only needed one stamp to get in and one to get out. I wish I had to get one when I entered and left every country, just like the old days.

what is with that EU? You seriously have diminished my ability to get passport stamps. Disband the EU right now so i can get more stamps.

what is with that EU? You seriously have diminished my ability to get passport stamps. Disband the EU right now so i can get more stamps.

Actually, given there's immigration to even pass through, you can ask for a stamp if you really want, well you used to be able to.

Actually, given there's immigration to even pass through, you can ask for a stamp if you really want, well you used to be able to.

too late i have already disbanded the thing.

So, do you have a passport, if so how often do you go through one and finally, isn't there a case to say a government should be at least subsidising the cost if not, and I don't expect this really, providing them free as part of my citizenship?

Yes the cost is an issue, but I say welcome to government. Not only do they charge you to get the damn thing but they want to increase their revenue as well.

It is the same reason why they charge $600 for a years worth of car registration. It is not as though it costs that much for the piece of paper and to be kept on a server for a year but government's being governments seek to get as much money as they can from the populance

what is with that EU? You seriously have diminished my ability to get passport stamps. Disband the EU right now so i can get more stamps.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

YEo because that is exactly what I said too. I said it disappointed me, please read my posts before going on some strange tangent again.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

YEo because that is exactly what I said too. I said it disappointed me, please read my posts before going on some strange tangent again.

its 6 am and Ive been drinking. i am going to do nothing but get on weird tangents.

though i thought i was concurring on the need to disband the EU to satisfy American wants.

its 6 am and Ive been drinking. i am going to do nothing but get on weird tangents.

though i thought i was concurring on the need to disband the EU to satisfy American wants.

Well I wouldn't know what the Yanks want. As for disbanding the EU I would use far better arguments then one saying tourists want more stamps.

Well I wouldn't know what the Yanks want. As for disbanding the EU I would use far better arguments then one saying tourists want more stamps.

I am an American if it is something i want then Europe needs to follow suit.

Actually, given there's immigration to even pass through, you can ask for a stamp if you really want, well you used to be able to.

Well I didn't see any immigration, I saw the old gates and booths where they would stop people and pull them over, but they weren't manned.

I am an American if it is something i want then Europe needs to follow suit.

Didn't work all that well for you in Iraq.

The amount of information the British government is planning on storing on these ID cards is much more than is stored on cards on the continent. It's less an ID card and more a portable life's story.

It's really not the much of a difference though - it's just shunted into Europol and the SIS II. It's less to do with EU citizens, and more to do with people who want to become EU citizens, dealing with immigration and crime issues.

The info stored that can be accessed by police and judicial organisations is surprisingly limited, as they don't have the jurisdiction yet. Personally, I'm tired of having to bring a booklet sized driving licence or passport for identification.

Didn't work all that well for you in Iraq.

they are not just sensible enough to do what we tell them. we expect much more out of Europeans.

So, do you have a passport, if so how often do you go through one and finally, isn't there a case to say a government should be at least subsidising the cost if not, and I don't expect this really, providing them free as part of my citizenship?

Of course I've got a passport.
It's valid for... let's see, I think 10 years, and it cost me 20 Euros when I got my last one.

they are not just sensible enough to do what we tell them. we expect much more out of Europeans.

You know the thing about Europeans is that they have their outdated customs like bull fights and Morris dancing and then they brought to America terrorism when really they should have left it and taken it to the oil eaters but no they had to introduce it to us and then when we want to take it back to them they wont help us out. bloody ridiculous.

You know the thing about Europeans is that they have their outdated customs like bull fights and Morris dancing and then they brought to America terrorism when really they should have left it and taken it to the oil eaters but no they had to introduce it to us and then when we want to take it back to them they wont help us out. bloody ridiculous.

also they need to get rid of Techno. Techno sucks

It's really not the much of a difference though - it's just shunted into Europol and the SIS II. It's less to do with EU citizens, and more to do with people who want to become EU citizens, dealing with immigration and crime issues.
Are we at cross purposes here?

The info stored that can be accessed by police and judicial organisations is surprisingly limited, as they don't have the jurisdiction yet. Personally, I'm tired of having to bring a booklet sized driving licence or passport for identification.
One can assume that the police will have the juristiction to access the information stored on it once the cards are rolled out across the whole population; I think they are starting with port workers and students, but don't quote me on that. If you want something other than a passport/driving licence (I've got the small one anyway :p) there are plenty of private/local government run ID schemes for proof of age and address. If the government ID card scheme was just limited to that and fully voluntary, I wouldn't oppose it.

also they need to get rid of Techno. Techno sucks

Actually you damn, Seppo's came up with that.

Are we at cross purposes here?
I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure of the amount the UK government wants, the EU only needs stuff like name, country of origin (birth), birthdate and one or two other identifiying features. You are probably in a better position to know what Westminster is doing :tongue:


One can assume that the police will have the juristiction to access the information stored on it once the cards are rolled out across the whole population; I think they are starting with port workers and students, but don't quote me on that.
Hmmm, maybe I"m just inflating the issue to include immigration ;)

If you want something other than a passport/driving licence (I've got the small one anyway :p) there are plenty of private/local government run ID schemes for proof of age and address.
*shakes tiny fist at Ryanair*

I have 2 passports: my EU passport and my American passport. Dual citizenship kicks ass, sometimes...

I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure of the amount the UK government wants, the EU only needs stuff like name, country of origin (birth), birthdate and one or two other identifiying features. You are probably in a better position to know what Westminster is doing :tongue:


They did want a lot more than that, including a chip linking to medical information etc and all on a central database. It seems those ideas have been scrapped (or misrepresented in the first place) and after doing a bit of research, seems the plan is for Photo, name, gender, dob and chip linking to fingerprints - data will not be stored on central database either.

If it goes ahead in the current form, I have to say I'm not overly against it, though I wonder about the fingerprints part.

If it goes ahead in the current form, I have to say I'm not overly against it, though I wonder about the fingerprints part.

In HK it merely links your ID card to you, so when I go through immigration I merely put my card in, press my thumb to the scanner and the doors open, I'm through.

I'll be getting one. I'm going to be needing it for my Senior Trip to Italy and Greece next year.

First time I've gone out of the country. Woot.

I actually carry my passport around with me most of the time (unless I leave the house without a purse of any sort) because you're supposed to always have ID with you, which here means either ID card (Personalausweis) or passport. Usually people will have the ID card but after I had to replace mine two times because my wallet got stolen I was fed up with paying for another one and didn't renew it.

I don't remember what I paid for my passport anymore but Wikipedia tells me that currently German prices are as follows (no idea why the age & validity rules are like that):

if you're under 24; valid for 6 years:
- 32 pages: 37,50 Euro
- 48 pages: 59,50 Euro

if you're over 24; valid for 10 years:
- 32 pages: 59 Euro
- 48 pages: 81 Euro

Still a bit cheaper than your prices for inside GB, but more expensive than Italy, esp. the 48-page one.

Surely not indefinitely?

For the UK, if you purchased a 32 page book you can add another 16 to make it 48, I think that's the case but after 48 you need to have a new one.

..and I think you have to pay for the extra pages as well.

It just seems like extortion to me, as in it's highly overpriced, I'm happy with some cost but, essentially, GBP150!

*grumbling mainly 'cos I have to get a new one tomorrow,*

On the bright side, the reason I specifically need a new one now is that I'm off to visit America later this month and having just 2 pages left is not acceptable alas.
i just asked the husband, he said "no". meaning that you CAN get it extended as many times as you need for no extra money.

he doesnt travel as much as you do but he has had to have pages added to his (10 year) passport in the past.

i dont remember the exact price but its coming up on $100 to get a first issue passport, cheaper for a renewal and they are instituting (or maybe have instituted) a special passport for travel to mexico and canada that isnt so freaking expensive.

yes i have a passport but many americans dont because they havent had a need for one.

I have a passport... I've never filled all the pages though.

Most of my travel is between Canada and the US (or within Canada)... so they don't stamp the thing. My current passport looks about as new as the day I got it. My old passport had one stamp in it.

This isn't due to an unwillingness to travel, it's a lack of funds. :(

Actually, yes....
Bit of a threadjack...


But we might need a new thread to properly discuss Berlusconi's new bridge to Sicily.

Not exactly "Berlusconi's" (the current project can be traced back into the '70s).


That's going to go really, well, isn't it? Billions of euros sunk into Sicily and Calabria...

Yay. Over there, between corruption and inefficiencies... example: Reggio Calabria is waiting for a new dam that will be used as hydric reservoir. The dam has been completed about 6 years ago (took 20 years to make). Now it cannot be filled because they still didn't finish the new pipes taking the water from the dam to Reggio's aqueduct.


What are the chances of the Italian state keeping the 'Ndrangheta's and Mafia's hands off that project?

They're so zero that they would be negative if a negative probability made any sense.
After all, we have as PM the son of a banker of the Rasini bank (famed for money-laundering in favour of mafiosi), who also has as close friend mr.Dell'Utri (more than once involved in mafia affairs).


But as I said - might need a new thread for that one.

Too late, buster. :D


On the OP... I travel outside the EU - mainly to the USA - several times a year, so can't do without one. My Australian-citizen Latvian citizenship-eligible Russian wife is in the UK on a spouse visa and an Australian passport - and might be one of the first people in line for a UK identity card.

So your wife has an australian passport and a latvian one... she could get a russian one... check if she has some german blood, or some jewish blood, she could get also the german and the israeli passport! Awesome!



My main bureaucratic irritant recently has been US customs and immigration. ...

And still the americans laugh at the ineptitude and intricacy of the italian bureaucracy. C'est la vie, I suppose.

Something which disappointed me when I went to Europe was that I only needed one stamp to get in and one to get out. I wish I had to get one when I entered and left every country, just like the old days.

If you ask to the customs officers you can get it. I did so.

oops the husband says t hat it does cost money to get extra pages added and that if it gets too damned thick they will make you get a new one.

If you ask to the customs officers you can get it. I did so.
Really?!

Next time I go to Europe I'm having them do this. When I went to Italy I got a stamp from the Netherlands and that was it (we landed in Amsterdam and then caught a plane to Milan).

Really?!

Next time I go to Europe I'm having them do this. When I went to Italy I got a stamp from the Netherlands and that was it (we landed in Amsterdam and then caught a plane to Milan).

Just ask them nicely, as favour; they don't have to.

Just ask them nicely, as favour; they don't have to.

I will keep this in mind. :)

I will keep this in mind. :)

I've generally found they're quite happy to, bemused at the request but happy to fulfill.

Bit of a threadjack...

Yeah, well... I did suggest starting another thread.


They're so zero that they would be negative if a negative probability made any sense. After all, we have as PM the son of a banker of the Rasini bank (famed for money-laundering in favour of mafiosi), who also has as close friend mr.Dell'Utri (more than once involved in mafia affairs).


That's what I thought - but it's nice to get an Italian opinion more or less confirming that rather than relying solely on my possibly misguided and stereotypical view of southern Italian corruption.

From what I know, the Calabrians are far worse than the Sicilians, so no doubt it'll all be money well spent.

And when the bridge collapses in a storm in 15 years because someone used uncle Giustiniani's special cut-price concrete, well, I'm sure everyone will be thrilled.


So your wife has an australian passport and a latvian one... she could get a russian one... check if she has some german blood, or some jewish blood, she could get also the german and the israeli passport! Awesome!

Ah... no. She has an Australian one and she's eligible for the Latvian one, but the Latvians don't usually allow dual citizenship. It's a bit complicated. Her father was born in Riga between the wars, and was therefore a Latvian citizen at birth (though ethnically he's half Russian through his mother's side and half Latvian through his father's side). When Latvia became independent again, they restored the citizenship of everyone who had previously had a Latvian passport and all of their descendents regardless of their ability to speak Latvian (somewhat paradoxically given the language laws for residents) - but my wife would have had to have given up her Australian one, and even though Latvia's an EU member, we decided that wasn't worth it.

She's probably not eligible for a Russian passport. Her mother held a Soviet passport, but is an ethnic Russian born in Yugoslavia/Serbia to White Russian parents who were evacuated by the British Royal Navy in 1919. When the Whites were deported from Yugoslavia, the family ended up in Hungary, where they were all given Soviet passports; but my mother in law gave up the Soviet passport as soon as she could after defecting to Australia.

Everyone in the family speaks Russian as their first language, and they all consider themselves Russian, but none of them were actually born in Russia.

Curiously, though, my wife might be eligible for a free British work permit. Her grandfather was born on a British naval vessel off Lesbos during the evacuation of the Dowager Empress of Russia and associated nobility by the British Royal Navy in 1919. Through a little loophole, people born on British naval vessels and their descendents through to grandchildren are eligible for UK work permits. We lacked the time to track down the paperwork when we were moving back to the UK, though.

And we're fairly certain there's no German or Jewish ancestry in the family, though you can never rule these things out entirely.

We worked out that any hypothetical children of ours could play international sport for:

England (my place of birth)
Scotland (my mother's place of birth)
Australia (my wife's place of birth)
Latvia (her father's place of birth)
Serbia (her mother's place of birth)
And possibly Russia depending on post-Soviet Union eligibility rules (through her father's place of birth and her mother's former citizenship).



And still the americans laugh at the ineptitude and intricacy of the italian bureaucracy. C'est la vie, I suppose.

Believe me, I've travelled extensively on every continent except South America (and Antarctica, I suppose), and American immigration officials are some of the worst I've ever had the displeasure to encounter. My wife often compares them to Warsaw Pact immigration from the bad old days, and having spent some time in the GDR back when, I'm hard-pressed to disagree. I met friendlier and more efficient immigration officials in what used to be Zaire.

why would you need an ID for a hotel room if you pay with cash??? that's just crazy talk.

How else are they going to bill you if you trash the room and then just leave?

too late i have already disbanded the thing.

I lol'ed. :)

Mine has expired, and every time I think about renewing it, I think about how I'm probably not going to be able to afford to go on a vacation period in the next 5 years, much less a vacation to another country, and I decide against wasting the money.

Scotland (my mother's place of birth)
Shit, all you need to get on a Scotland International team is one Scottish grandparent.

Desperation is the key to victory.

what is the point of a passport if you don't plan to travel?

Shit, all you need to get on a Scotland International team is one Scottish grandparent.

Desperation is the key to victory.

It's not just Scotland; with most international teams these days you just need the one grandparent.

For Russia, I think you only need one Soviet Union-born grandparent, so you could have a grandparent born in Kyrgyzstan and still play for Russia so long as that grandparent was a Soviet citizen.

England are hardly immune, as evidenced by the north American-accented Owen Hargreaves (though he qualifies through parents, not grandparents).

England (my place of birth)
Scotland (my mother's place of birth)
Australia (my wife's place of birth)
Latvia (her father's place of birth)
Serbia (her mother's place of birth)
And possibly Russia depending on post-Soviet Union eligibility rules (through her father's place of birth and her mother's former citizenship).
.

If they can play rugby they're also eligible for Wales. Teach them a little Welsh and they'd be over-qualifiedFor the confused, see Grannygate