Bureacracy: v. The Act of Throwing Good Money after Bad

[dolari]

(99% chance of) RE-JECTED!

I woke up super early today, got cleaned up to the best of my abiility and applied for a passport.

I got to HEB to get my passport picture, which took about 30 minutes. Th epicture didn't take long but came with a horrible horrible comment about the picture: "There's some glare on your glasses but I can photoshop that out." Photoshop. An official document for the government. Oh, shit. The first sign that I was more than likely going to be rejected for a passport.

I got a really crappy lunch at HEB (their Chinese food has always horrified me, and does to this day) while I waited, then got my passport picture. I was horrified. Not because it was a picture of me. For once the picture came out very nicely. I mean I'm still an ogre, but it was a nice female ogre. Not, there was glare over my eyes from the glasses. I took passport pictures for Finko's, and that was a huge no no. I asked the picture taker if that was normal - she said you could see my eyes which were under the glare, and that's all they needed. I reluctantly took my pictures to the City Hall.

When I got there - I completely forgot my birth certificate. And the already filled out passport application. And the name change papers. SO I went back home, scoured my Orange Files, and found the birth certificate, name change papers and took off.

Where I promptly forgot the passport pictures. One more trip home, and I had everything - and I applied. The first thing they said "The pictures are borderline aceptable...there's glare over your eyes from the glasses." They did say the were broderline, though, and they accepted them.

Secondly - the name change papers. I've never had this problem before, but ALL my name change papers have had the first J in my name cut off. It's never been an issue before, but the agent said it was really iffy if they would accept this because they're all cut off. She was going to reject my application on that alone till I mentioned that all my papers had that J cut off. She accepted it, saying it would most likely not go through.

So I've applied for a passport. My chances of getting one are REALLY REALLY REALLY low. I've already called Pennsylvania for a copy of my name change order (with the specific instructions that they show my full name this time) and that's cost me $12. If I get rejected, I'll throw another $100 at the bureaucracy with the new paper, and this time take the pictures myself - I used to do it. I can do it again. And this time without photoshop.

Comments

[angharads-house.livejournal.com]

Would think that the name change papers would be crucial, since there's no way in hell your old name would let you travel as who you are now. Am, however, quite frankly gobsmacked that the authorities in Pennsylvania would have sent you mutilated name change papers. Somebody must have been staggeringly sloppy -- and you are entitled to better than that.

Does that mean that ALL your ID currently has your name misspelled? Madness, utter madness, and I thought Canada's bureaucracy was Byzantine in its functioning.

When people ask me about my first name I always blame it on Mom's bad handwriting. Yes, there's a massive joke lurking in there somewhere. ^_^

Good fortune to you.

Angharad

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

All my ID actually has "Jennifer" in it, despite the court orders saying "ennifer." It was sloppy photocopying (I've specifically requested that the new copies show my full name), but all my ID was changed in 1999, before 9/11 turned the US into a beuracracy that Frank Herbert would be proud of. No one questioned it before, and it didn't occur to me there might be a problem till they said "this may be unacceptable." And since that's not "Jennifer" there's a HUGE chance it'll get rejected.

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

The document in question: http://www.dolari.org/oap8pvwp/lbaeulwe.png

[angharads-house.livejournal.com]

I see. That's just plain daft. I suppose that's what happens when somebody really doesn't like their job, and is tossing monkey-wrenches in any way that they can.

Hangeth in there, though. I keep reminding myself, too: "it does get better". And thus far, it largely has.

[aspasia13.livejournal.com]

If you have an old set of glasses frames that works the best for pictures. Just take out the lenses and Wallah! Glasses without glare.

If you have a regular optometrist who knows you, they might even have a pair of lensless frames you could borrow for the photo.

[toastyman.livejournal.com]

I once owned a 1974 Mercury Zephyr. The title for the car said "Mercury Zephy" though. When I tried to sell the car, the county vehicle department wouldn't let us transfer the title because there was no such thing as a "Zephy". The clerk went outside, looked at the car, and decided that the name plate on the trunk said "Zephyr" so this wasn't the same car.

Days of deliberation, arguing, and futility ensued. Then the new buyer of the car went outside with a chisel and broke the "r" off the name plate. We brought the clerk back outside, and by some miracle of bureaucracy she was happy with this and approved the transfer.

I'm not sure how this story applies to your situation, but I don't recommend using a chisel to try to solve your problem. :)

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

I should go back in and white out the J in my name. :D

Or use the chisel. One of the two. :D

[emilydm.livejournal.com]

My first paycheque ever had a very embarrasing typo of my name. Luckily the bank cashed it okay, but it took the HR department a couple more pay periods to get it straightened out.

[amw.livejournal.com]

How can you not qualify for a passport??? I thought that was one of the implicit rights of being a citizen.

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

Oh, I qualify - it's just that two of the forms for the application aren't squeaky clean. They can reject my application, but I can always refile if it does.

The offending document: http://www.dolari.org/oap8pvwp/lbaeulwe.png

[sailing-harper.livejournal.com]

What... you think this is a free country?

The department of state considers them a privilege, not a right. They can accept an application, they can conditionally accept it, or they can outright reject it. Nice, huh?

Back in 1997 I paid the usual fee for a passport that would normally be good for 10 years. However, due to a certain discrepancy in my paperwork, I was given a passport good for only 1 year. They told me I could come back each year and renew for free until the 10 years was up. Thanks :(

Eventually, due to some medical procedures and an accompanying letter from the doctor, I was able to make the state department happy enough to give me a regular passport. It had only been 5 years, but they still made me pay the full 10 year fee.

Jenn: Best of luck on yours!!! HUGS!!!!!

[emilydm.livejournal.com]

:: Mily loves Ennifer with all her eart::

I got your message, dear heart, including the first chord of your phone's hanging-up chime. Fed-ex is golden, it's UPS that has the huge brokerage fees.