passport application

27-03-2012 04:43AM

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 · 27-03-2012 04:22PM

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 · 27-03-2012 04:39PM

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 · 13-04-2012 07:47PM

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 · 13-04-2012 08:07PM

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 · 13-04-2012 08:23PM

sugarman wrote: »

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

He should be made an honorary Mod.

jonsnow · 13-04-2012 08:42PM

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.

passport application

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