Passport Delays
Jul 24th, 2014, 02:18 PM
#1
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Passport Delays
State Department technical glitch creating major passport, visa delays
Washignton Post story http://tinyurl.com/nyvfbh8.
Do we have a government or a clown show in Washington?
Washignton Post story http://tinyurl.com/nyvfbh8.
Do we have a government or a clown show in Washington?
Jul 24th, 2014, 11:21 PM
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You should be grateful you aren't British.
In their wisdom they have closed down the Consulate passport service, so nearly everyone, no matter where they live, has to apply to the UK. The backlog as a result is months. People abroad can get a one year extension on their passport at a consulate, but it isn't accepted by many other countries for travel.
It came as a complete shock to the passport service and the British government that adding so many extra applications to the already overstretched service at home would cause chaos. Duh.
In their wisdom they have closed down the Consulate passport service, so nearly everyone, no matter where they live, has to apply to the UK. The backlog as a result is months. People abroad can get a one year extension on their passport at a consulate, but it isn't accepted by many other countries for travel.
It came as a complete shock to the passport service and the British government that adding so many extra applications to the already overstretched service at home would cause chaos. Duh.
Jul 25th, 2014, 04:11 AM
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"adding so many extra applications to the already overstretched service at home would cause chaos"
I applied to get mine renewed in mid-June, at the height of the "months long backlog" media hysteria . The new doc arrived in early July - well within the service standard of 28 days.
No whingeing newspaper has shown a shred of real evidence of any "months long backlog". With about 680,000 applications a month, the number of outstanding applications should always be around 650,000-700,000. On June 20, the innumerate Guardian (OK: a tautology) called a queue of 490,000 (or 20 days of applications) "chaos" (http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...profit-surplus)
The truth was glaringly obvious to anyone able to count - a skill which, like an interest in the truth, disqualifies anyone from writing for the Guardian. The "months long backlog" is an entirely spurious invention of dedicated government-bashers.
This isn't to say that moving overseas applications was a sensible decision. But if you're going to cite media whinges, you might have the basic courtesy to check whether there's any evidence for them.
I applied to get mine renewed in mid-June, at the height of the "months long backlog" media hysteria . The new doc arrived in early July - well within the service standard of 28 days.
No whingeing newspaper has shown a shred of real evidence of any "months long backlog". With about 680,000 applications a month, the number of outstanding applications should always be around 650,000-700,000. On June 20, the innumerate Guardian (OK: a tautology) called a queue of 490,000 (or 20 days of applications) "chaos" (http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...profit-surplus)
The truth was glaringly obvious to anyone able to count - a skill which, like an interest in the truth, disqualifies anyone from writing for the Guardian. The "months long backlog" is an entirely spurious invention of dedicated government-bashers.
This isn't to say that moving overseas applications was a sensible decision. But if you're going to cite media whinges, you might have the basic courtesy to check whether there's any evidence for them.
Jul 25th, 2014, 08:20 AM
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Is ITV un-Guardian enough for you?
http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-0...ling-from-mps/
Because you were lucky yourself, don't discount the experience of thousands of others.
http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-0...ling-from-mps/
Because you were lucky yourself, don't discount the experience of thousands of others.
Jul 25th, 2014, 09:08 AM
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The State Dept is hardly the only place in the US that has ever had computer problems, get real. Private companies have them all the time, including some real major ones. I know some airlines have had them for days as I was affected by one of those (United/Coninental merge). Delta and Unitred have had a computer problems where many people could book tickets for about nothing for hours. Amazon.com has had computer problems that have shut the site down for at least half a day.
I'm sure you are perfect, but no one should not allow plenty of time for passport renewal, it can take weeks, after all. And knowing the government, I would guess the computer problems they have are probably due to some outside company or vendor, not their own employees. OUr company has had the computer crash once and it was down for a whole day, I forget the reason but it was really unusual (the entire network). The State Dept's computers are not down anymore, it didn't last that long, it's just the capacity isn't quite up to normal yet.
I'm sure you are perfect, but no one should not allow plenty of time for passport renewal, it can take weeks, after all. And knowing the government, I would guess the computer problems they have are probably due to some outside company or vendor, not their own employees. OUr company has had the computer crash once and it was down for a whole day, I forget the reason but it was really unusual (the entire network). The State Dept's computers are not down anymore, it didn't last that long, it's just the capacity isn't quite up to normal yet.
Jul 28th, 2014, 12:46 AM
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Jul 28th, 2014, 03:09 AM
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Ah but Flanner won't believe such a left wing rag, tarquin. Should have linked to the Mail or the Torygraph.
It really annoys me that what once was a simple transaction with our local consulate, and with local postal rates, has now become a major pia, costing a fortune, not only for the new passport, should they deem to send me one, but also the cost of international insured postage.
It's almost enough to make me become Dutch.
It really annoys me that what once was a simple transaction with our local consulate, and with local postal rates, has now become a major pia, costing a fortune, not only for the new passport, should they deem to send me one, but also the cost of international insured postage.
It's almost enough to make me become Dutch.
Jul 28th, 2014, 06:01 AM
#10
you're right, hetismij - bureaucracy for its own sake. they can hardly justify it on the basis of security - what is better - you turn up with passport at the consulate with your old passport so they can see it's you, or you have to send it off to the UK where it can get lost/stolen and they have no idea who is actually renewing it?
but when has common sense had anything to do with any government?
Flanner - i seem to recall Theresa May, the Home Secretary no less, having to apologise in the HoC for the appalling service that voters are presently receiving from the "Passport Service" or whatever orwellian name they've given themselves this week.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...rt-fiasco.html
Did she do that out of the goodness of her heart? in error? because she enjoys public humiliation? No?
sounds to me like there is a problem then. [and the link is that well-known lefty rag The Torygraph, BTW]
but when has common sense had anything to do with any government?
Flanner - i seem to recall Theresa May, the Home Secretary no less, having to apologise in the HoC for the appalling service that voters are presently receiving from the "Passport Service" or whatever orwellian name they've given themselves this week.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...rt-fiasco.html
Did she do that out of the goodness of her heart? in error? because she enjoys public humiliation? No?
sounds to me like there is a problem then. [and the link is that well-known lefty rag The Torygraph, BTW]
