US Passports

Carolina066 · #1 06-01-2002, 10:38 PM

I lived in the Dominican Republic for many years and am currently working in the USA for The US Department of State in Passport Services. I would like to be a resource for any and all ex-pats on passport questions. Please email me at Secretagent066@MSN.com

jessica__78 · #2 06-01-2002, 10:54 PM

forgive my stupidity, but what is an "ex-pat"

Carolina066 · #3 06-01-2002, 11:01 PM

Jessica: an ex-pat is an "ex-patriot." That is the name given to someone who is living outside of their own country of origin. It is NOT a stupid question. The only stupid question is one that we have and don't ask. Are you in the Dominican Republic now? If so what are you doing there and how long have you been there. I am back in the USA but go to the DR frequently. Carolina

jessica__78 · #4 06-01-2002, 11:50 PM

well on this board if you ask the wrong question or mispell a word
you are askin for it! No i am in us now i live in ny, we (hubby baby and me) plan to go in sept!

Carolina066 · #5 06-02-2002, 12:12 AM

Have you ever been there before? It is not just another country, it is more like a whole other WORLD. What will you be doing there and how long will you be staying? I was there last weekend, and I had 2 job offers. I just have to decide which one to take. I lived there from 1992 to 1997. I would love to share some of my experiences with you, good and bad.
You can email me directly at: Secretagent066@MSN.com

AmbiorixPaulino · #6 06-02-2002, 05:20 AM

I have a question. I' been in the U.S. for a long time but I'm still a Dominican citizen. My question is: Do both the U.S. and the D.R. recognize dual citizenship or will I have to give one up for the other one?

Criss Colon · #7 06-02-2002, 11:47 AM

Get a "LIFE",and some sleep"A.P."!CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC"Grow UP"!

ricktoronto · #8 06-03-2002, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Carolina066
Jessica: an ex-pat is an "ex-patriot." That is the name given to someone who is living outside of their own country of origin. It is NOT a stupid question. The only stupid question is one that we have and don't ask. Are you in the Dominican Republic now? If so what are you doing there and how long have you been there. I am back in the USA but go to the DR frequently. Carolina

Actually they are expatriates meaning they are living in a country other than their birth country. Ex-patriots has an implication they are no longer patriots and I doubt many Americans (especially) or Canadians in DR or other countries are such.

Carolina066 · #9 06-03-2002, 12:38 AM

Of course you are absolutely correct. It is unusual for someone to get the chance to correct my spelling, and that is all it was, a spelling error. But I do thank you for setting the record straight!
Also, perhaps my "patriotism" has been dimmed somewhat by living in the Dominican Republic. A slogan of the American Garment Workers Union is "buy American, so that Americans have work." I say, "buy Dominican so those poor souls can get the measly $50 US or so, that they make in US factories, working 6 1/2 days a week." Thank God so much stuff is now made in the Dom. Rep.: Hanes, Levis, you name it. If they were paid union wages, who could afford the merchandise? And if all of the US companies in the Zona Franca pulled out, half the island would starve. I hope that whether or not you agree with my thoughts, that at least you found this little response to be gramatically correct, and spelling error free.

Jim Hinsch · #10 06-03-2002, 03:01 AM

What's the fastest one can obtain a replacement passport, what is the procedure and requirements, and how does this change depending on where one is (in the USA, in a foreign country on a Sunday, etc.)?

What's the fastest one can get pages added to a passport, what is the procedure and requirements for this fast method?

Does having a copy of a lost or stolen passport help in getting a replacement faster and why?

If a passport is damaged and a replacement required, what can be done about getting the various visas it might contain put into the replacement?

Passports expire, but obviously the owner is still the same person. Why do they expire? Wouldn't just a photo update work?

How can one spot a fake from the real thing when customers present them as ID at a store or other business? Are there any special characteristics that are difficult to duplicate that a layman can use for spotting fakes?

If one enters Cuba and ends up with a stamp in their passport and later tears out that page, does the passport become invalid?

Why do they sometimes stamp my passport when entering the USA and other times not?

When one gets a new passport, the number of pages are very limited. Is there a way to get the original to come with extra pagers so that frequent international travellers are not so inconvienenced?

If one loses their passort and gets it replaced, and then later finds the original passport, can the original still be used or will it show up as reported lost when checked by immigration upon entry into the USA?

At what age should a child have their own passport?

Is there a limit to the number of times a passport can be replaced, either due to being stolen, lost, or mutilated?

Many foreign businesses require people to leave their passports with the business as a security deposit and police in foreign countries have been known to confiscate passports to prevent the person from leaving the country. What is the guideline for getting it replaced when there is a dispute and the business and/or police will not return the passport, or perhaps the person who has it cannot be found (it's Friday night, the business where the passport was left is closed until Monday morning but your
flight leaves on Sunday)?

Suppose one got a Cuba stamp in their passport and then tore the page out to avoid detection. Do missing pages affect the validity of the passport?

Other than looking like the photo, is there any way to make sure the passport belongs to the person showing it?

When you show your passport at immigration in the USA, does their computer show your travel history?