passport application

Grayson

So, I just went into my local Garda station to get my passport form stamped. It's for a lost passport. I gathered everything they asked for on the form. However the garda on duty wouldn't even look at any of it unless I could provide a driving license.

I have to travel in 2 months. If I need to get a drivers license first, I'm screwed.

Rant over

Boscoirl

That doesn't sound right, ring the passport office, or go back to the Garda Station tomorrow and hope there is a different copper on the desk

The King of Moo

That sounds completely wrong.

I'm in the middle of filling out the form to renew my passport right now and will be going to the Garda station in the next few days.

There's no mention on the form about having to provide a driver's licence: you should show him that.

lastlaugh

You mean you didn't bring a valid form of ID with you when you tried to get the form stamped?

That's your fault.

Nothingbetter2d

yeah the cop is wrong.... how do 16 year olds get passports? they cant have a driving license.

MickySticks

You need photo ID OP, have you got any?

Blackdragon

Birth Cert is all you should really need no?

MickySticks

sugarman wrote: »

OP, you've 19 Posts in 13 Yrs, really?:pac:

There's a gap of 12 years between his/hers 6th and 7th post. :pac:

The King of Moo

You do need a photo ID, it's in Note 9 on the Passport application notes page, but it doesn't specify a driver's licence, it says a work photo ID (or presumably a college ID) would also be acceptable.

Do you have any other photo ID at all, OP?

EDIT: The form actually just says you should bring a photo ID in case the birth cert isn't considered enough.

Dunny

Should have hit the copper a headbutt.

token101

That's the incompetence of the Gardaí for you. They certify the photos and say it's you. That's it. You only need a birth cert.

Immaculate Pasta

I'm surprised you didn't get sent to prison for pulling a stunt like that OP :mad:

Grayson

sugarman wrote: »

OP, you've 19 Posts in 13 Yrs, really?:pac:

Jealous that I registered before you? :P

Actually, I used to post under a different name. then thought I'd use this instead.

lastlaugh wrote: »

You mean you didn't bring a valid form of ID with you when you tried to get the form stamped?

That's your fault.

The Form states "additional form of photo id, eg, Driving license, work id, student card, social club membership, passport from another country etc..

I had my work ID, college ID and original long form birth certificate. But she didn't look at them, she just said she wouldn't even look at the form without a drivers license or my last (Lost) passport.


I think I'm going to have to head to a different garda station. I didn't need a drivers license the last time I got a passport. So I'll just head there.

SeaFields

I went to get a passport form stamped awhile back and the Garda on the desk said "we don't know you here so I cant stamp that." I said "sure i thought that would be a good thing."

Had to go to the area where I used to live 2 years previously and they didn't even ask. Just stamped it. Strange.

lastlaugh

Grayson wrote: »

The Form states "additional form of photo id, eg, Driving license, work id, student card, social club membership, passport from another country etc..

I had my work ID, college ID and original long form birth certificate. But she didn't look at them, she just said she wouldn't even look at the form without a drivers license or my last (Lost) passport.

Is this a makey-up story?

The King of Moo

Grayson wrote: »

Jealous that I registered before you? :P

Actually, I used to post under a different name. then thought I'd use this instead.



The Form states "additional form of photo id, eg, Driving license, work id, student card, social club membership, passport from another country etc..

I had my work ID, college ID and original long form birth certificate. But she didn't look at them, she just said she wouldn't even look at the form without a drivers license or my last (Lost) passport.


I think I'm going to have to head to a different garda station. I didn't need a drivers license the last time I got a passport. So I'll just head there.

Just to update my earlier post: You don't strictly need a photo ID, but the form says you should bring one as the birth certificate might not be enough.
So that seems to be up to the discretion of the guards, but both ID's and the birth cert should have been more than enough, so the guard you dealt with was out of order, or simply hadn't a clue about what the regulations actually are.

You should have better luck at another station.

Nothingbetter2d

just ask one of your friends that knows a cop to get it stamped for ya :P

sunflower27

sugarman wrote: »

OP, you've 19 Posts in 13 Yrs, really?:pac:

And?

Grayson

The King of Moo wrote: »

Grayson wrote: »

Jealous that I registered before you? :P

Actually, I used to post under a different name. then thought I'd use this instead.



The Form states "additional form of photo id, eg, Driving license, work id, student card, social club membership, passport from another country etc..

I had my work ID, college ID and original long form birth certificate. But she didn't look at them, she just said she wouldn't even look at the form without a drivers license or my last (Lost) passport.


I think I'm going to have to head to a different garda station. I didn't need a drivers license the last time I got a passport. So I'll just head there.

Just to update my earlier post: You don't strictly need a photo ID, but the form says you should bring one as the birth certificate might not be enough.
So that seems to be up to the discretion of the guards, but both ID's and the birth cert should have been more than enough, so the guard you dealt with was out of order, or simply hadn't a clue about what the regulations actually are.

You should have better luck at another station.

I called my sister. It's her wedding I need the passport for. Apparently the guards refused to stamp her fiancees application last year. He had a driving licence. They said they wouldn't feel safe since they didn't know him. He ended up going to his hometown in Clare to get it stamped. Apparently its all at the decision of the guards you talk to.

I also learned that the maid of honor's husband and one of the bridesmaids are gardai. Problem solved. Once I get to mayo to see them.

beco2010

you an't gettng on no plane, i pitty the fool

DoesNotCompute

Blackdragon wrote: »

Birth Cert is all you should really need no?

How does the Garda know that the Birth Cert relates to you? How does he/she know that you haven't just robbed someone else's birth cert and are trying to commit identity fraud?

If the Garda is not satisfied as to your identity, then (s)he is entitled to challenge you to prove you are who you say you are.

The King of Moo

Grayson wrote: »

I called my sister. It's her wedding I need the passport for. Apparently the guards refused to stamp her fiancees application last year. He had a driving licence. They said they wouldn't feel safe since they didn't know him. He ended up going to his hometown in Clare to get it stamped. Apparently its all at the decision of the guards you talk to.

I also learned that the maid of honor's husband and one of the bridesmaids are gardai. Problem solved. Once I get to mayo to see them.

Hopefully you can get it sorted.

I don't get this idea that the guards have to you know you personally. I don't know any guards, and live in Galway where there's two big stations serving the entire city, so they can't know everyone.
Even if I did know some guards personally, I'd be fairly lucky to get to the station while they were also there.

Also, what happens if it's a small town but a person keeps to himself: surely there's a good chance the guards won't know him.

I didn't have any problem getting my form stamped when I got my first passport when I was 18.
It does indeed sound like some guards are just craving a little power fix, or just don't understand the regulations.
Hopefully I won't have any hassle when I try to get the stamp.

Grayson

The King of Moo wrote: »

Hopefully you can get it sorted.

I don't get this idea that the guards have to you know you personally. I don't know any guards, and live in Galway where there's two big stations serving the entire city, so they can't know everyone.
Even if I did know some guards personally, I'd be fairly lucky to get to the station while they were also there.

Also, what happens if it's a small town but a person keeps to himself: surely there's a good chance the guards won't know him.

I didn't have any problem getting my form stamped when I got my first passport when I was 18.
It does indeed sound like some guards are just craving a little power fix, or just don't understand the regulations.
Hopefully I won't have any hassle when I try to get the stamp.

That's the thing. I'm from the countryside and knew no guards there. When i got my last passport i went to the garda station next to the college I was in.

I guess what annoyed me about this is that she didn't look at the stuff I'd brought. If she looked at it and decided it was inadequate, that's one thing. But to dismiss it before I'd even presented just seemed nasty.

Nodin

Grayson wrote: »

That's the thing. I'm from the countryside and knew no guards there. When i got my last passport i went to the garda station next to the college I was in.

I guess what annoyed me about this is that she didn't look at the stuff I'd brought. If she looked at it and decided it was inadequate, that's one thing. But to dismiss it before I'd even presented just seemed nasty.

....try another day and see if there's a different garda on. I got mine done recently, and there was no question of a driving licence (which was good, because I don't have one).

minidazzler

Grayson wrote: »

I called my sister. It's her wedding I need the passport for. Apparently the guards refused to stamp her fiancees application last year. He had a driving licence. They said they wouldn't feel safe since they didn't know him. He ended up going to his hometown in Clare to get it stamped. Apparently its all at the decision of the guards you talk to.

I also learned that the maid of honor's husband and one of the bridesmaids are gardai. Problem solved. Once I get to mayo to see them.

Easy Peasy, act the scumbag, get arrested a few times in your local area. Then a few of the cops will know you!

This "I don't know you" thing is completely irrelevant and stupid when stations now deal with area's containing upwards of 10,000 people. Of course they don't know a person, that person isn't being arrested all the time.

I-Shot-Jr

Slightly off topic but I once had to get mine stamped by a priest when I was living in France. Is there not a provision that states you can get it stamped by the headmaster of a school or also a priest?

Maybe its different for people who live abroad but I went to Paris, got some Irish priest out there to stamp it and then the embassy gave me a new passport.

starviewadams

I had to go back to my local station 4 times with different info at the request of 3 different Gardai who were working in the public office each time I went in when I was applying for a new passport after I lost my old one.

First guard wanted a utility bill,so I went back home and got one,when I came back he was gone and the second guard wanted a more up to date utility bill,so I went home and trawled through the house til I finally found one,returned to the station and he was also gone,and the third guard now wanted a bank statement in my name.Went home got one,back into the station and she was gone,but a sergeant behind the desk just stamped it straight away,no questions asked.

A very frustrating experience!

df1985

had similar experiences, i dont think its down to being an arse, think they all just genuinely think they are follwoing the right procedure (whatever that might be)

Pearse st wouldnt stamp mine, i had to go my local station only apparently.....walked to store st-stamped no questions asked.

Grayson

minidazzler wrote: »

Easy Peasy, act the scumbag, get arrested a few times in your local area. Then a few of the cops will know you!

This "I don't know you" thing is completely irrelevant and stupid when stations now deal with area's containing upwards of 10,000 people. Of course they don't know a person, that person isn't being arrested all the time.

I actually thought that when i was in the station. If they arrested me and found the info I had on me, they'd take that as my name

krb1979

Just from my experience:
Guards here are extremely inconsistent. I got naturalised last year and went to the Garda station in Limerick for getting forms stamped for PP application. The first time I went in I had absolutely no problem. The Garda didn't even blink and stamped the papers.
The 2nd time I went in the same place, the Garda was really obnoxious & rudely told me that on top of my driving license (which had an old address) I also had to provide proof of address that I was living in Limerick.
So a few day later I go back, armed to the teeth with all kinds of documents to prove my identity and this time again no body asked me any thing.

My personal opinion is that some of the Guards just don't want to be helpful or will make life difficult for you.

chuckliddell

did your lost passport smell like chicken? or a kebab?

I've found that a lot of guards can make the simplist of tasks into an energy sapping torturous experience. I was asked for a drivers license once when getting a passport form stamped, when I told the guard I didn't have one as I don't drive he told me that there was nothing he could go for me. I even had an old out if date passport with me but he wouldn't accept it as the picture was of a clean shaven 13 or 14 year old me and not the bearded 25 year old I was at the time. I also had a student ID with me but he wouldn't so much as look at it. He also used the I don't know who you are line and when I said surely that's a good thing he told me that if I continued to be smart I'd spend the night in the cells. At this stage I just left as I was afraid of what I'd call him. Headed in the next day and it took 5 seconds to get the form stamped. The guard I spoke to that day could not have been more helpful and when I mentioned my experience the night before he told me "every job has more than its fair share of dickheads".

As frustrating as that experience was I had an even worse one with a female guard in Galway who refused to even make note of my complaint about a theft from my house and the threatening messages I was receiving from the individual in question. She could not have cared less and actually told me I should settle it like an adult. I asked her how one settles a situation where an individual is sending you messages about how next time he sees you he will cave your skull in. Ended up making an official complaint about her conduct.

The King of Moo

Got my passport application sorted earlier.
I was renewing it so the guard just asked to see the old one, which he could see I had with me.
Everything then went smoothly.
(I didn't need my birth cert as I was renewing an existing passport)

The guy in front of me also had an application and it seemed to go fine.
The woman directly behind me in the queue also had a passport application and I could hear the guard asking for an ID from her as I was leaving.

So I'd say it's a good idea to have some photo ID with you, but it needn't be a driver's licence.

rgmmg

krb1979 wrote: »

Just from my experience:
Guards here are extremely inconsistent. I got naturalised last year and went to the Garda station in Limerick for getting forms stamped for PP application. The first time I went in I had absolutely no problem. The Garda didn't even blink and stamped the papers.
The 2nd time I went in the same place, the Garda was really obnoxious & rudely told me that on top of my driving license (which had an old address) I also had to provide proof of address that I was living in Limerick.
So a few day later I go back, armed to the teeth with all kinds of documents to prove my identity and this time again no body asked me any thing.

My personal opinion is that some of the Guards just don't want to be helpful or will make life difficult for you.

That's for sure.

I needed a Garda clearance certificate a few years back as I was moving to South Africa. I was based in London at the time and up gainst it in terms of time, so asked my Dad to ask his drinking buddy (some sort of detective in special branch, although the only thing he ever seemed to detect was a late pint) to sort it out. A few days later my Dad called and said the letter was in the post. Sure enough, it arrived but said "We confirm that Jo Bloggs lived at the following address in Ireland for x years and did commit a crime during that period."

Needless to say I hadn't done anything so I rang my Dad. The first thing he asked was "What did you do?" :rolleyes: When I finally allayed his suspicions, he got onto the cop he put it down to a copy and paste error "at HQ."

Accused of a crime I didn't commit!

Grayson

I just went back to the same station. I'd gone to the one where I used to live. But the garda there said he's sign it, but since I got it stamped in a different area, I'd probably be called in for interview.

So I went back to the original station. A different girl was there. She stamped it no problem. She couldn't believe I'd brought so much information with me.

She was also quite hot.

kelle

I-Shot-Jr wrote: »

Slightly off topic but I once had to get mine stamped by a priest when I was living in France. Is there not a provision that states you can get it stamped by the headmaster of a school or also a priest?

Maybe its different for people who live abroad but I went to Paris, got some Irish priest out there to stamp it and then the embassy gave me a new passport.

My first passport application was stamped by my GP.

Run_to_da_hills

sugarman wrote: »

OP, you've 19 Posts in 13 Yrs, really?:pac:

He should be made an honorary Mod.

jonsnow

Grayson wrote: »

. Apparently its all at the decision of the guards you talk to.

I also learned that the maid of honor's husband and one of the bridesmaids are gardai. Problem solved. Once I get to mayo to see them.

This just sums up Irelands public services.Could we not just get the same consistent procedure no matter who we are.Why do we always have to resort to "knowing someone" in order to cut through the layers of disinterest, incompetence and contradictory advice.I have to deal with public bodies every day and if I,m on to 5 different people in the same department I get 5 different bloody answers.