How Many of You Hold Passports?

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:57 am

I'm just guessing, but I bet more folks from the UK, Canada and Australia have passports than Americans.

neffy · Post by **neffy** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:58 am

i have one lon

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:16 am

I have one, most people I know do, in fact at one stage I had an Irish and a British one (as I was born in the U.K.), there is a going to be a common EU one available at some stage, but I don't know when that is.

pinkchick · Post by **pinkchick** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:37 am

I just got a new one:D

littlemissgiggle · Post by **littlemissgiggle** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:37 am

I have a passport :-6

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:39 am

I have one but it is outdated.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:20 pm

I've had one since I was 3 months old.

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:34 pm

you just reminded me i need to get mine renewed, we are hoping to go abroad in early January and im sure its going to run out before then. :-5

minks · Post by **minks** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:02 pm

yep got me one too.

911 · Post by **911** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:08 pm

Nope, don't have one. But, Lon, I would agree that fewer Americans have one than those in the UK. Don't you have to have one to go just about anywhere over there?

There is too much here I haven't seen in my own country before I go anywhere else. And besides, we all speak the same language here! :wah:

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:57 pm

911;680621 wrote: Nope, don't have one. .

There is too much here I haven't seen in my own country before I go anywhere else. And besides, we all speak the same language here! :wah:

I hear this alot from my fellow Americans that have no interest in traveling abroad. Firstly, English is widely spoken throughout Europe. Secondly, it's not just seeing things, but interacting with other cultures that more often than not have a different way of thinking about many things. It tends to broaden ones thinking.:driving:

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:00 pm

I've got an Aussie one and a European one. Oz is a big country and of course I haven't seen all that much of it yet either, but the world's an even bigger place and I get itchy feet. :sneaky: Wish I had an American passport as well. Any Americans available for a marriage of convenience?

WonderWendy3 · Post by **WonderWendy3** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:07 pm

AussiePam;680643 wrote: I've got an Aussie one and a European one. Oz is a big country and of course I haven't seen all that much of it yet either, but the world's an even bigger place and I get itchy feet. Wish I had an American passport as well. Any Americans available for a marriage of convenience?

UMMM, I would but well....I don't think you had me in mind!!

wah::wah:

...and I am one of those Americans that don't have one, well I do...but was issued in 1985, so thinking it expired just a tad!!.....I'm not able to travel at the moment, but in the event I'm in a position to, I'd LOVE to travel all over the place...Australia and UK and Ireland are on the list....and so many more places...:driving:

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:16 pm

G'day WonderWendy - deeeeep thought - yeah, why not?!!! A marriage of convenience. I'm straight and I'm pretty sure you're straight, but these days, who'd care. I promise to keep strictly to my side of the house, and you could do the same. (The fact that we both probably have male husbands needn't get in the way). You could get an Aussie passport. I'd get an American one for my passport stable, and she'll be apples, Sport.

Pam kneels...

Wonder Wendy, will you marry me?

:sneaky:

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:20 pm

911;680621 wrote: Nope, don't have one. But, Lon, I would agree that fewer Americans have one than those in the UK. Don't you have to have one to go just about anywhere over there?

There is too much here I haven't seen in my own country before I go anywhere else. And besides, we all speak the same language here! :wah:

We need passports to open bank accounts and to show at job interviews now. Employers need to check that we have the right to work.

In answer to your question Lon, we all have a passport in this house, we tend to try and go away a couple of times a year. The kids used to be on mine, but they have had to have their own passport for a few years now.

Musiclover89 · Post by **Musiclover89** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:22 pm

I've got one but i need to renew it

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:34 pm

I never have had one, but probably will next year. You need one now to go to Mexico!:mad:

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:36 pm

does any one know for sure ,but i have heard if you are the parent of a child who is a us citizen when they become adult they can sponser you to live in the states

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:45 pm

jimbo;680660 wrote: does any one know for sure ,but i have heard if you are the parent of a child who is a us citizen when they become adult they can sponser you to live in the states

Daddy!:wah::wah: Come on over, ya hear.

Seriously, you may ask your Passport Office about that.

G-man · Post by **G-man** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:54 pm

I've got mine... and I'm about to use it in a few weeks, too!

I'm planning on making my nearly annual trip to China.

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:12 pm

Announcement: The forthcoming nuptials mooted below will not now take place. The party of the first part has learnt that the party of the second part is completely incompetent when it comes to Arcade matters. No flowers please. Monetary tributes may be forwarded to the AussiePam Arcadia Fund.

:sneaky:

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:31 pm

I always have my passport updated because I never know when I have to travel to my family's home in Ireland for an emergency. Not that long ago, I had 2 days to pack my bags and book a flight to Ireland. Thank goodness I had my passport updated.

It's also smart to have a passport because it identifies you as a citizen of your country.

I think it's important to have an updated passport, will, and resume. Those are only some things to be updated, there are so many more.:-5

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:34 pm

Scrat;680787 wrote: I had one until I sent it in for more pages May 20th and the US government "misplaced" the damn thing. The center in Michigan can't find it and they keep track of every passport in the system.

Maybe they stored it with some morons laptop in the back seat of a car and a theif got it. Some terrorist or druglord is now walking around America using my name.

Ouch!! I just sent my in Scrat, for additional pages. Hope I don't have a similar problem.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:52 pm

I have had one since the 70's its about to expire. After reading Scats problem I may just hold for a while. :-3

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:00 pm

Scrat,

What do you mean that you sent it in for more pages? Were you travelling so much that they posted visas all over the place? That's what they do to mine. They post the visa stamp in the craziest places.

Hope you get your passport back soon. That's scary for them to have lost or misplaced it.

nvalleyvee · Post by **nvalleyvee** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:22 pm

Yes I has a passport that is 8 years old. DANG..I don't have the same last name which makes it null I'm sure.

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:24 am

Actually talking about that marraige of convienience thing, I nearly married an American girl once, (who was the best friend of my English girlfriend of the time) so that she could get a European passport and I could get a U.S. one, then my girlfriend was also going to marry my future pseudo-wife's real boyfriend as well at the same time so that she could get a passport too, and he could also get a U.K. one, then we were all going to share a house in London and pretend to be happily married to each other (well you know we were actually two couples, but just the other people so maybe we could have pulled it off), (confused are you?) but then I got cold feet because I realized it was a flipping crazy idea! :wah:

Or was it?

Yeah, it was mental.

Carl44 · Post by **Carl44** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:28 am

Galbally;680888 wrote: Actually talking about that marraige of convienience thing, I nearly married an American girl once, (who was the best friend of my English girlfriend of the time) so that she could get a European passport and I could get a U.S. one, then my girlfriend was also going to marry my future pseudo-wife's real boyfriend as well at the same time so that she could get a passport too, and he could also get a U.K. one, then we were all going to share a house in London and pretend to be happily married to each other (well you know we were actually two couples, but just the other people so maybe we could have pulled it off), (confused are you?) but then I got cold feet because I realized it was a flipping crazy idea! :wah:

Or was it?

Yeah, it was mental.

DR G to even consider marrying an american woman is crazy :wah::wah:....oops

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:11 am

jimbo;680891 wrote: DR G to even consider marrying an american woman is crazy :wah::wah:....oops

Indeed sir, why these colonial women are quite devilish are they not, good lord! :wah:

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:45 am

There you go again, Galbers.. you see why I've always hated you.. we must be meant for eachother and all that yada yada... geesch

:sneaky:

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:40 pm

I am an American woman who had a passport in the 70's and used it to live in Germany a couple times. The passport has since expired.

The Germans had been talking to Jimbo and Gall and sent me back to the States where I belong.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:11 am

Out of curiosity how many weeks holiday does the average american get? Here most people will go abroad at least once a year. Very seldom do you meet someone that has never left the country. Although a surprising number don't know their own country.

Average annual holiday time is four weeks paid not including bank holidays etc.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:50 am

Scrat;686553 wrote: The average is probably 1 to 2 weeks + holidays GMC. I have been working for my employer for 10 plus years so I get 3 weeks + holidays.

Could explain why so few americans travel abroad-not enough time. At least some of the holiday most people have to visit family but christmas and new year many are off over here anyway. 2 weeks for the rest of the year is pretty low.

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:00 pm

gmc;686993 wrote: Could explain why so few americans travel abroad-not enough time. At least some of the holiday most people have to visit family but christmas and new year many are off over here anyway. 2 weeks for the rest of the year is pretty low.

Average Canuck 2 weeks holidays paid, depending on their employer after 3 years of service it can jump to 3 weeks, after like 90 years of service you get about 5 weeks hehehe We get single day holidays what you lot call bank holidays, I know in Canada we have one a month except for 2 months and I think the USA gets less.

I can make and educated guess why many people from here do not travel abroad, it's a long trip, and it is costly. Over there you people can travel shorter distances to hit up more countries. An example here for me to get to another country (USA) it is a 3 hour drive south. I am lucky I live that close to the boarder.

To drive east to west across Canada coast to coast with sleeps along the way could take a week.

Make sense?

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:24 pm

[quote=minks;.

"I can make and educated guess why many people from here do not travel abroad, it's a long trip, and it is costly."

I disagree Minks. Look at how small an isolated New Zealand is, and the fact that their incomes in no way match the U.S. & Canada, and yet, the population as a whole is well traveled. The population of NZ is four million and at any given time one million are out of the country. I think it's all about curiosity and motivation. If you are curious and motivated, you will travel.

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:27 pm

Lon;687016 wrote: [quote=minks;.

I can make and educated guess why many people from here do not travel abroad, it's a long trip, and it is costly.

I disagree Minks. Look at how small an isolated New Zealand is, and the fact that their incomes in no way match the U.S. & Canada, and yet, the population as a whole is well traveled. The population of NZ is four million and at any given time one million are out of the country. I think it's all about curiosity and motivation. If you are curious and motivated, you will travel.

Interesting. Hmmm well I stand corrected then. Heck I am with you on the curiosity and motivation, I would love to be able to afford more travel to farther away places. It makes me sad to hear of people without that drive.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:52 pm

I'm wondering why some people feel that Americans don't travel abroad. I think that we do. Almost everyone in my circle of friends, neighborhood, community are always talikng about the trips they've made abroad.

Although, most of the people I speak with or read about in our local papers usually travel to parts of Europe, especially Ireland, British Isles, Italy, France, Greece, Spain/Portgual, and Germany. Some visit their family in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Islands, Phillipines and Cuba.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:59 pm

Lon;687016 wrote: [quote=minks;.

I can make and educated guess why many people from here do not travel abroad, it's a long trip, and it is costly.

I disagree Minks. Look at how small an isolated New Zealand is, and the fact that their incomes in no way match the U.S. & Canada, and yet, the population as a whole is well traveled. The population of NZ is four million and at any given time one million are out of the country. I think it's all about curiosity and motivation. If you are curious and motivated, you will travel.

It's not just about "curiousity and motivation"....it's also about funds.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:05 pm

along-for-the-ride;687161 wrote: [quote=Lon;687016]

It's not just about "curiousity and motivation"....it's also about funds.

I already mentioned that Kiwi's make less money than Americans and yet still travel. It's a choice of how people use their funds, not a lack of funds.

Many people travel abroad that would not be considered affluent by a long shot, and yet they come up with the money to travel. Until just recently, their dollars, euros etc, bought much less when traveling to the U.S.

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:09 pm

along-for-the-ride;687161 wrote: [QUOTE=Lon;687016]

It's not just about "curiousity and motivation"....it's also about funds.

I would guess it's a lot of reasons, I know many people who fear flying, I know people who have no desire to travel. I also think it's a matter of priority some folks pour their money into their homes over travel.

To each their own I guess.

Chookie · Post by **Chookie** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:27 pm

For some of us Europeans it's about work. For instance, if I (being speculative, here) lived in say, Seattle and I applied for - and got - a job in Balitmore, no problem just go.

But, in Europe that would be like moving from Portugal to the Ukraine or from Scotland to Romania. This would require crossing many national boundaries.

It also has the effect of introducing us to other cultures.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:39 pm

Chookie;687199 wrote: For some of us Europeans it's about work. For instance, if I (being speculative, here) lived in say, Seattle and I applied for - and got - a job in Balitmore, no problem just go.

But, in Europe that would be like moving from Portugal to the Ukraine or from Scotland to Romania. This would require crossing many national boundaries.

It also has the effect of introducing us to other cultures.

Chookie,

Good point. I agree..... It's like asking an American why don't they speak 7 languages. I honestly believe that if you want to learn a language fluently, you have to use this language everyday or quite often. We are trying to promote foreign languages in our grade schools. The children are taught Spanish in the Kindergarten classes up until the 6 grade (5 yr. olds to 12 yr. olds) and then they are exposed to French, German and Chinese in grades 7 to 9. But, once you learn those languages you have no one to speak with to reinforce your skills, except Spanish. And, that's great!!!

In Europe, you can travel easily between countries and are exposed to so many more cultures than we are. It would take me the same amount of time to visit Minx as it would to visit my rellys in Ireland.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:53 pm

Chookie;687199 wrote: For some of us Europeans it's about work. For instance, if I (being speculative, here) lived in say, Seattle and I applied for - and got - a job in Balitmore, no problem just go.

But, in Europe that would be like moving from Portugal to the Ukraine or from Scotland to Romania. This would require crossing many national boundaries.

It also has the effect of introducing us to other cultures.

Sorry Chookie,

I misread your last post because I'm too busy not reading properly, thinking or communicating. I was painting all day and think the fumes went to my head:-5.

You made a good point about why Europeans have more passports than US citizens. But, I still think that Americans are great travellers to Europe and so many people that I know have passports. Geeze, especially since September 11th. Having a passport is like having a piece of gold when going through customs.

el guapo · Post by **el guapo** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:59 pm

i have had one for ten yr

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:06 pm

I've had my passport for years - traveled to Paris had a great time and met several Americans traveling thru Europe - the 12 hour flight, well you tried to sleep thru that.

We travel to Hawaii every year its 5 hours verses 12. We hope to make it back to Paris enjoyed our trip very much.

Now I'll need my passport just to cross over into Mexico, which we visit Mexico at least 3 times @ year.

I feel American are leary about traveling abroad due to 9-11

Patsy

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:11 am

for most people in smaller countries, if there is something specific they want to do they have to go someplace else to do it.

As for us, we have it all in our own country. If we want to go to the beach (any time of year) or go skiing or spend some time in a huge city or a quaint historical town or do something tourist-y, etc. we have all that right here.

Plus when you have children you tend to lean towards family type vacations. I know I'd rather take the kids to DisneyWorld for example than sit on a plane with them for 10 hours and spend 10 thousand dollars to spend a week in some other country. And I know I prefer it because my husband is from Ireland and the kids have already been to Ireland and England a few times. LOL!

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:52 pm

I live in a big country too, which has varied scenery and climate and vacation resorts of all kinds. You even get enclaves of different nationalities to wander in. But it's not the same as immersing yourself in another culture, in another language, in a land where the lifestyle is non-Aussie, the worldview is eyeopening and just soaking up different flavours, atmospheres. I think that seeing how others live makes us less insular, gives us an appreciation that our way is not the only way, and also allows us to see our own country through the eyes of our fellow humans.

But - of course family and work responsibilities and financial considerations mean we can't all go gadding about the globe all the time. Still, having an occasional wander outside one's comfort zone has got to be a good thing, and may even benefit world understanding.

One personal example. I was bowled over by a veiled Iranian PhD medical student I had the job of looking after a few years ago. She'd never been outside her country before and had the view that all foreigners were satanic. She told me just before she left Australia, that she had learnt much more than she ever thought possible - people are basically the same everywhere. She told me too, that she could also see that modesty was possible without external coverings. Just one example. But travel did this.