Questions on Passport Form - Big Brother is WATCHING YOU

[HockeyMom]

My old passport was issued 30 years ago and I had to get another. Ok, it's been a long time, but I am sure I was never asked all these questions the last time.

Although I do remember them asking about my parents (names, date and place of birth), I don't remember them asking if they were citizens. I certainly don't remember all these questions on spouse/spouses. This was an entire paragraph.

List all previous names you have gone under. Then they wanted the name of your current spouse, date of birth, place of birth, and if they are a citizen. What was the date of marriage? There were 4 spaces for names of previous spouses. Are you divorced? Are you widowed? I was a newlywed when my original passport was issued. I know they didn't ask all these questions.

Then the last box was about your trip. List the countries you are visiting. What are the dates of your trip? How many days will you be away from the US? DAMN. Maybe I just want to bum around Europe for an indefinite period of time? Maybe if I like it I WON'T COME BACK??????

This sure as hell sounds to me like Big Brother is watching us. Yeah, they don't want US to leave. As I said, I had a passport. I DO remember from then that the only question they asked was if I planned to visit certain countries. You just checked no if you weren't visiting these, and that was the end of it. There was nothing about listing countries, dates, or length of trip.

Build a fence around our borders to keep illgals out? Maybe what they really want a fence around our borders to keep us IN.

I must be getting old. This stuff just makes me furious.

[Heidi]

1. My passport was issued seven years ago, and none of those questions

were asked.

And you're exactly right about fences. They're every bit as effective at keeping people in as they are at keeping people out.

[deadmessengers]

4. Interesting

I received mine in May of 2000, and the application form I filled out looked exactly like the original poster's. They must have made the change between '99 and '00.

[JHB]

2. It gets worse: soon EVERYONE will need DHS clearance to enter or leave...

the country.

http://liberalcandy.blogspot.com/2006/11/us-citizens-to-be-required-clearance-to.html

U.S. citizens to be required ''clearance'' to leave the United States
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If the U.S. government (a.k.a Bush Administration) gets its way, beginning on Jan. 14, 2007, we'll all be on no-fly lists, unless the government gives us permission to leave-or re-enter-the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSA) has proposed that all airlines and cruise lines be required to obtain clearance for each passenger they propose taking into or out of the United States.

"This proposed rule implements the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requirement that such information be provided to the government before departure of the aircraft. This proposed rule provides air carriers a choice between transmitting complete manifests no later than 60-minutes prior to departure of the aircraft or transmitting manifest information on passengers as each passenger checks in for the flight, up to but no later than 15 minutes prior to departure."
***
When the DHS system comes into effect next January, your U.S. Passport won't matter, if the agency says "no" to a clearance request, or doesn't answer the request at all, you won't be permitted to enter-or leave-the United States. The decision would probably be made without a warrant, and come with many violations to your rights.

Earlier this year, HSA forbade airlines from transporting an 18-year-old a native-born U.S. citizen, back to the United States. The prohibition lasted nearly six months until it was finally lifted a few weeks ago. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union are two countries in recent history that didn't allow their citizens to travel abroad without permission. Hey, that's neat! What are your thoughts on this?
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And if the Nazi/Soviet allusions seem too harsh, just think of it as "the war on tourism". Just how much more will foreign tourists put up with before the take the States off their itinerary?

[earth mom]

3. The question is WHO don't they want to leave?

How about any able bodied person between 18 and 45 who can fight their wars for them or who will be made to work for cheap for the corporations that really control this country. If you're over 45 or older they could give a damn if you leave and probably would kick you out if they could so they don't have to pay medicare or social security, not to mention company pensions. :puke:

[hvn_nbr_2]

5. My last one was issued in 1975, and they asked then where I was going and when. nt