** ALL ** Passport Related Questions in here! Please Read Post#1 first!

spurious

Oh they have the Russian speakers, they are not allowed speak it while on official business because it is not an official language of the country.

It's like something from a film. To get help with her electricity bill, my friend's mother had to get a 'nod and a wink' from a Russian speaker at the electricity company, meet her outside the office during her lunch hour to explain (in Russian) what she wanted to do, return to the desk after lunchtime, where the Russian lady made sure she was available and conduct her business wordlessly.

The Latvian speaker she met at the original desk refused to admit she understood Russian, though by her age she would have been educated under the Soviets so she certainly did, but she just shouted in Latvian at this 70 year old woman who speaks only Russian. Ludicrous.

tatli_lokma

spurious wrote: »

Oh they have the Russian speakers, they are not allowed speak it while on official business because it is not an official language of the country.

TBH I don't see any problem with that...if its not the official language of the country, then there is no requirement to speak it in the Embassy. It would be helpful for OP, but no different to say, an American citizen, who has lived outside of the US since birth, and doesn't speak English, only say Dutch or French. There may well be someone in the embassy who can speak Dutch or French but there is no obligation on them to speak to the person concerned. I know its a pain, but its not really that they are doing anything wrong.

ballsymchugh

Clayton Fast Lip wrote: »

Very useful, cheers.

So afraid of missing something and my application being denied. :eek:

izzy, give the irish embassy in knightsbridge a shout. i applied for my renewal through london and got it in a few weeks. you'll need a name to deal with though, and if you have travel itinerary, send them a copy. they'll help you get the passport on time (within reason).
but i got mine the day after i was due to fly...

spurious

It's a human rights issue I suppose and the EU are constantly bringing it up with Latvia's MEPs, but essentially it boils down to 'the Soviets screwed us, so now we'll screw you'.

You're talking a very large minority of people, over half the population in some cities. They don't get the vote, they don't even get proper citizenship or passports without passing a Latvian test.

Anyway, it's no surprise that the unequal treatment for all born in Latvia continues in their embassies.

netopia

Kotek Besar wrote: »

Yes because:



No need to send original, just certified copy.

Just to butt in. If you are sending a passport from another country it does need to be the original. The only photo ID that is will be accepted as a certified copy is the driver's licence. All the other items MUST be original. Its very badly written but if you read it again you'll understand what I mean.

netopia

netopia wrote: »

Just to butt in. If you are sending a passport from another country it does need to be the original. The only photo ID that is will be accepted as a certified copy is the driver's licence. All the other items MUST be original. Its very badly written but if you read it again you'll understand what I mean.

Urghh...well that's a huge problem. I don't have a driving licence and I can't really send away my passport.

Does the student card need to be valid? I think I have a few old ones.

netopia

The old student cards (originals) will be fine as long as your face can be seen and it doesn't look like a totally different person.

netopia

netopia wrote: »

The old student cards (originals) will be fine as long as your face can be seen and it doesn't look like a totally different person.

I wonder if a library card is OK? It's a photo one for a big library in London. Doesn't have my first name on, though, just last name and initial.

netopia

That sounds ideal, you could submit that with the copy of the UK passport or the older student cards (just to be certain to be sure).

katerina621

Little Ted wrote: »

and instead endure the nonsense of the Irish citizenship procedure, take 26 months of waiting and fork out over €1000 for the pleasure! I think I'd rather speak Russian and not be understood! lol

In fairness to the embassy, I do know that many Latvians speak Russian as their main language, but most embassies only recognise the legal language of the country and perhaps english. For example, the Turkish embassy will only communicate in English and Turkish. Many Turkish nationals speak Kurdish as their first language, but they won't speak to you in Kurdish if you phone the embassy. I don't think its just a Latvian 'anti-Russian language' policy. More likely they don't have Russian speakers on staff.[/QUOTE


it's ok if they don't speak Russian, but they have to talk in English, We are all in Ireland.

katerina621

spurious wrote: »

Nice to see they are consistent in their doomed anti-Russian language campaign. At least you can get a Latvian passport and are not deemed an alien refugee or stateless person in the country you were born in.

I'm in Latvia at the moment staying with some Russian speakers and it's unreal - think going into Ian Paisley's office speaking only Irish for the sort of reaction you get if you try to speak Russian to anyone like the electricity or phone people.

Glad you got the passport sorted. Would you not go for Irish naturalisation at this stage? Bypass all the nonsense.

I would love to go for Irish naturalization. Will search for information what do i have to do for it.

i was born in USSR, in Russian speaking family, studied Latvian in school as second language at that time, then in 90's situation has changed, and my native Russian language became second language in school. But I never spoke Latvian apart from few hours in school. Then 10 years ago I left my country forever and have no willing to go back.

P.s the embassy is rude, but airport Latvian border (passport check) is ridiculous, once going to Ireland from Latvia, they sent me away from passport check point until I would remember my Latvian language knowledge from school , they started to ask questions, like why do i go to Ireland, my answer was -I am going home ....haha ....their face when I said that.....lol
then after a while they let me go.....

Why would i need any knowledge of Latvian language if i live in Ireland !!!

castie

The US example isnt really close to this situation.

Its more like going to the Irish embassy in China.
They then refuse to speak to you in English and will only speak mandarin (local language) and irish.

I know I would be in a very very difficult position if I needed to get anything done!

munchkin_utd

katerina621 wrote: »

I would love to go for Irish naturalization. Will search for information what do i have to do for it. <snip>

You may as well do it. The criteria are ludicrously easy.

You only need to have been in Ireland 5 years and pay the fee with the correct documentation.
No tests or interviews or even requirement to be able to speak english (although you must be able to support yourself which is hard if you don't speak the lingo!)

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/WP11000014

tatli_lokma

castie wrote: »

The US example isnt really close to this situation.

Its more like going to the Irish embassy in China.
They then refuse to speak to you in English and will only speak mandarin (local language) and irish.

I know I would be in a very very difficult position if I needed to get anything done!

well English is a recognised language in Ireland. If however, the official language was Irish and we no longer were recognising the English language, then they could refuse to speak in English. Or similarly in your example where the embassy refused to speak Mandarin.

Look, I am just playing devils advocate here...I'm not saying I agree with the Latvian policy regarding Russian and Russian speaking citizens. I'm just pointing out, that if Russian is not a recognised language, then there is no obligation (perhaps other than moral) on them to speak in Russian in the embassy.

And if things really are as bad as you say (and I have no reason to doubt you) possibly, wouldn't someone with such a status civil service job as working in the embassy be nervous of being heard to speak Russian and get into trouble?

As for their refusal to speak English, well, I think at that point they were probably just being awkward for the sake of it.

Builderfromhell

Just checked my passport express on-line tracking and it reads;
issue date; 23 July.

This is the date we fly so I am wondering if I might be able to collect it by driving to cork Friday the 19th. I am afraid if I go on Monday the 23rd they may have already posted it.
Can't get through to them on phone.

Mr Simpson

Builderfromhell wrote: »

Just checked my passport express on-line tracking and it reads;
issue date; 23 July.

This is the date we fly so I am wondering if I might be able to collect it by driving to cork Friday the 19th. I am afraid if I go on Monday the 23rd they may have already posted it.
Can't get through to them on phone.

You need to keep on ringing unfortunately, it takes a while to get through on those phones.

IrishAm

katerina621 wrote: »

I would love to go for Irish naturalization. Will search for information what do i have to do for it.

Why?

katerina621

munchkin_utd wrote: »

You may as well do it. The criteria are ludicrously easy.

You only need to have been in Ireland 5 years and pay the fee with the correct documentation.
No tests or interviews or even requirement to be able to speak english (although you must be able to support yourself which is hard if you don't speak the lingo!)

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/WP11000014

thanks!!!!!!!

rog871

Hi guys,

Supposed to flying out to Spain early thursday the 19th July. Does anyone have an idea how long the application takes to be checked, printed and sent out.

Starting to get worried now.

Status: Received on 03/07/2012 and has been registered.
Issue Date: 16/07/2012
Website Last Updated: 14/07/2012 at 18:45

Mr Simpson

rog871 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Supposed to flying out to Spain early thursday the 19th July. Does anyone have an idea how long the application takes to be checked, printed and sent out.

Starting to get worried now.

Status: Received on 03/07/2012 and has been registered.
Issue Date: 16/07/2012
Website Last Updated: 14/07/2012 at 18:45

It may be cutting it a bit fine waiting for it to be posted, my advice would be to ask if you can collect it from Molesworth Street when its ready. Hope it all works out.

dylano_k

Hi all,

I have one of the newer passports with the plastic like card with all the info on it. My mother put it in the washing machine and dryer and it has destroyed the book on it, but the info card is in perfect condition. Is there a way i can have the book replaced without having to buy a brand new one? Going away on the 3rd of August

Our man in Havana

New passport required.

Mr Simpson

What he said ^^^. Not a chance, sorry.

Builderfromhell

Builderfromhell wrote: »

Sent Passport renewal application today using 'Passport Exprerss'.
When I got home I realised I had not included daughter's long birth cert.
The Garda had asked to see it and then I put it back in my pocket for safe keeping.

Hoping I can ask staff at Passport office tomorrow to accept this doc. if posted later tomorrow and still process application in less than 10 days.

10 days is the absolute limit as we will be flying on the afternoon of the 10th day.

UPDATE
Got email on Thursday saying they had noted my travel details and would contact me if passport needed to be collected.
Checked Passport tracking today and passports have been posted. They gave me an AN Post tracking number.
Very impressed with professional service.

DATES
Posted Monday
Birth cert posted Tuesday
Email received Thursday
Passports confirmed posted 7.45am this morning so were probably posted on Friday.
That's 5 day turnaround or 3 days if you consider they would have got birth cert on wed.

Mr Simpson

Thats great to hear, enjoy your holidays

Got no reply from the embassy by e-mail and gave up trying to ring them after waiting 10 minutes on hold. I will e-mail them again but would anyone be able to help me with this?

I need to supply:


-Additional form of photo ID
Has anyone tried this with an expired student or photo library card? Also, is it definite that only originals are accepted of everything but driving licences (and I don't have a licence so that's out)? The wording on the application form makes it sound like copies of everything are OK.

- Documentary evidence to show use of name
How many different things am I supposed to send? Have a few pay slips and bank statements.

- Evidence of residence at application address
Have savings account statements and letters from hospital in London (I see a specialist there even though my home address is in NI). Does this need to be within the last 3 months? Application form says nothing about how recent it needs to be. And again, how many do they usually need? Is one proof of address enough or do they need 2 or 3?

Another passport question....

As a dual British/Irish national, would I be obliged to use the Irish passport when entering and leaving Ireland? I hadn't heard about this rule until a couple of weeks ago and tbh it would be a bit messy (sometimes I fly into Belfast and back out of Dublin etc). I had previously assumed that I could continue to use the British one whenever I wanted. Any info?

Mr Simpson

You can fly in and out on whatever passport you like.

Our man in Havana

The United States and other countries do take exception to dual nationals not using the correct passport when entering their country.

Mr Simpson

Really, I would have thought that once you used the passport you registered for the ESTA with they wouldn't have a problem.