Two year agonising wait for Zimbabwe passport seekers

[TCB NewsBot]

Published: Friday, 23 June 2006, 14:11:56 SAST

Harare (AND) Zimbabweans seeking passports will have to wait longer than expected. It now takes two years for the travel document to be processed, officials have confirmed.

Read More Here. (http://www.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/0/Feed/story&sp=l40750)

[RustyBear]

oh no i couldnt wait two years to leave there.

[Kirsty]

Anyone have any ideas how one gets a Zim passport?

Mine expires Oct 2008. And I went to Washington DC Zim embassy with my application and photos etc in hand to get a new Zim passport. And basically they told me I had to have someone in Zim got stand in line in that shit hole and pay for my passport and get my passport etc.

Firstly, is that true? Do I need to have someone in Zim to do all that for me?

Secondly, I have no family left in Zim. I just have mates. Does anyone know anyone who does this as a business that I could pay to do the whole passport thing on the Zim end?

Help is NEEDED and very much appreciated.

:)

[FerrariSucks]

Mine is due in April 2008, so I too will be very interested in hearing nore about this.

[barto11]

cant help kirst...am on an SA pasport...but all i know is that they arent any facilties to make passports, plastic ids etc...

[Shayne]

I got my passport in about 8 weeks. You have to have your finger prints done in front of an offical unfortunately. Which meant i had to go all the way to Canberra.

[Kirsty]

I got my passport in about 8 weeks. You have to have your finger prints done in front of an offical unfortunately. Which meant i had to go all the way to Canberra.

Shit 8 weeks, thats pretty bloddy excellent.

I don't mind going to Washington DC to get fingerprints etc done infront of an official. I am ok with that.

But my problem is that Washington DC won't even take your application.

I am told by the Washington DC Zimbabwe embassy that you have to have someone in ZImbabwe who will take your application to the Harare passport office and hand it in. And then you have to have someone in Zim to pick up your passport when & if it's done.

So what the hell do I do, I have no more family in Zim who can do that for me.

So do I ask a friend? Or is there not someone who is taking advantage of this situation that I'm sure a lot of Zimbos are in who does this for a living whom I can pay to be my body in Zim for me?

I mean seriously what do you do?

[Chick]

I'm sure a lot of Zimbos are in who does this for a living whom I can pay to be my body in Zim for me? I mean seriously what do you do?

There are guys in Harare to whom you pay vasts amounts of money who queue for you. They also have a deal going with the Passport Office workers who will deal with your paperwork quicker if it's handed in by the 'Passport workers'.

I am wondering if this advice they are giving you is actually legal. I am wondering if they are waiting for you to pay 'extra' to them to process your forms. Would it be a good idea to contact a solictor in the USA who deals with immigration and ask them for advice??

Would you like me to phone the Zim Embassy in London to ask if they will process a passport here to see if they give the same answer?

[Shayne]

I got my fingerprints done and DHL'ed all the documents to my dad. Luckily the official in Canberra gave me a name so all my dad has toi do was deilver them to her and she processed. Once complete, someone collected.
I dont think anyone in particular has to hand them in or collect as long as they are complete.

Another option is once your fingerprints and applications are complete, the embassy will send them back to Zim, process and send back all via diplomatic post.I think this takes between 4 and 6 months if i remember correctly. I needed my passport urgently hence sent it back to Zim myself.

[Kirsty]

I'm sure a lot of Zimbos are in who does this for a living whom I can pay to be my body in Zim for me? I mean seriously what do you do?

There are guys in Harare to whom you pay vasts amounts of money who queue for you. They also have a deal going with the Passport Office workers who will deal with your paperwork quicker if it's handed in by the 'Passport workers'.

I am wondering if this advice they are giving you is actually legal. I am wondering if they are waiting for you to pay 'extra' to them to process your forms. Would it be a good idea to contact a solictor in the USA who deals with immigration and ask them for advice??

Would you like me to phone the Zim Embassy in London to ask if they will process a passport here to see if they give the same answer?


Oh my gosh I don't want to impose, but if you wouldn't mind phoning the London Zim embassy that would be great.

What Shayne was saying about the finger prints, geez they didn't even say anything to me at all about finger prints.

This is really annoying. You would think there would be one process to get a passport, you would think it wouldn't vary from country to country depending on where you are applying from, but it really seems to vary a lot.

I also think there is a tonne of coruption going on. I think they saw a white girl and thought, hmmm we can charge this girl a shit load. Where as I real feel if a black guy walked in they would charge him less and give him better information with less run around.

They couldn't even tell me at the Washington DC Zim Embassy how much passports cost anymore. They said the last time they had contact with the Harare Passport office was 6 weeks ago and at that time passports cost US$200. But Due to inflation etc it could cost anywhere up to US$300. Come on what is up with that vagueness.

[Kirsty]

I got my fingerprints done and DHL'ed all the documents to my dad. Luckily the official in Canberra gave me a name so all my dad has toi do was deilver them to her and she processed. Once complete, someone collected.
I dont think anyone in particular has to hand them in or collect as long as they are complete.

Another option is once your fingerprints and applications are complete, the embassy will send them back to Zim, process and send back all via diplomatic post.I think this takes between 4 and 6 months if i remember correctly. I needed my passport urgently hence sent it back to Zim myself.



I wasn't even told that I needed fingerprints. This is waht I was told I needed:

Renewal of Passport Requirements



1.

a) All applications to be submitted and collected in person

b) P1 and P34 Forms

c) Current passport

d) Emergency Travel document, where applicable.



2.

a) (Original documents, plus two photocopies of the last page and visa page of the new Machine readable passports; and first five pages plus visa page of the old Zimbabwean passport.

b) E.T.D. photocopy, where applicable.



3.

a) Original (long birth certificate) to be produced by all applicants, save those on Adoption Order.

b) Zimbabwe National Identify Card (plastic, metal or green paper card). ID without a picture not acceptable, and where details are faint, the Mission will ascertain.

c) The order of names should be as they appear on the Identity Card, Birth Certificate and/or marriage certificate. Spellings have to be consistent throughout.



N.B. If the names are not in the order as they appear on the Birth Certificate, Identity Card, the applicant has to regularize by either changing the order of names on the Birth Certificate or Identity Card.

Identity Cards are only issued in Zimbabwe.



d) Two identical colour photographs (size 3.5 x 4.5 cm), background to be white. No instant photos or with shadows. Applicant to wear a dark top/shirt/dress.

e) No artificial hair, braids and hair additions.

f) Citizenship Certificate (for citizens by registration).



4. Section 3 of the P1 must bear details of a next of kin who resides in Zimbabwe.



5. Applicant’s signature on page 2 and 3 must be in BOLD BLACK INK by Cruiser Pen (only available at the Mission).



6. Fingerprints are taken by Mission Staff and the prints should not touch any lines on spaces provided (fingerprint boxes P1, Page 4).



7. Collection of New Passport:

All new passports should be collected in person and the Mission will only release the new Passport upon production of original receipt, old passport/ETD.




You see no fingerprint requirement and see the #4 thing, next of Kin address and must reside in Zimbabwe. I have no family at all in Zim, so how the hell do I get this taken care of ?

[Kirsty]

Oh and this one doesn't even mention what forms you ahve to complete:

APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS



Requirements for Adults Applying for a Passport
a) Long Birth Certificate

b) National Identity Card

c) Two Passport Photographs

d) Copies of the first five pages of valid but full or expired passport i.e. for old type passport or copy of last page of old passport i.e. for new type passport (this requirement only applies to applicants living outside Zimbabwe).



Requirements for Married Women Applying for a Passport
a) Long Birth Certificate

b) National Identity Card in married name

c) Marriage Certificate

d) Copies of first five pages of valid but full or expired passport i.e. for old type passport or copy of the last page of passport i.e. for new type passport (This requirement only applies to applicants living outside Zimbabwe).

e) Two passport photographs

[Kirsty]

I'm at the end of my rope I tell you.

About ready to let me passport expire and Live off Temporary Zim passports which I can get only once per year in Washington DC, till I get an American passport.

I just don't understand how Australia, England and Washington DC can be so different in the way hey handle this stuff.

[Cez]

You have my sympathies! I had a nightmare two years ago... I had to travel back to Zim on an emergency travel document... which was just a piece of paper with my photo and it looked really dodgy! Then spent 6 weeks in and out of queues because I had to swear my allegiance coz I had to renounce my Zambian citizenship! It's a nightmare even getting information from the Zim passport office because one person says this and then another says that! Nightmare I tell you!
I wish you luck Kirsty - if you need any help just shout!

[Shayne]

They didnt tell you about finger prints? Thats the only bloody reason i had to go all the way to Canberra!! They wouldnt accept fingerprints done at a local police station in NZ even when signed and stamped.

I'd suggest calling the Zim Embassy there as they were clued up when i went and ask the questions. Let me know if i can help further.

+61 2 6286 2281, 6286 2303, 6286 2700

[Chick]

About ready to let me passport expire and Live off Temporary Zim passports, till I get an American passport.

Thats a good solution.

I spoke to a friend in Byo about passports. She said they can't issue any because they have no paper or ink?

If you pm Chidakwa, who's in Harare, he may know a bit more about the situation or have a contact. He won't mind a pm. In the meantime, I will telephone the Embassy in London and see what they say.

[Patson]

knows a guy that can get in a week but will have to pay but in zim bucks is really nothin

[Chick]

thinks if Patson can arrang this - he will be the hero of the whole wide world

[Patson]

we just hired a guy but he needed a new zim passport so we called the dude and he is doin the guys and his brothers in 2 weeks one week each if that.... but will come back to u with the results.... its the same guy that got me mine plus my resident stamp in my brit in like 4 days......

[Chick]

Can you pm Kirsty and let her know. Patson is most impressed, this is a contact of note.

[Patson]

will do no worries,....

[sally]

Mmmm, patson, do you have a name of someone who can sorgt out my driving licence disc? Mine was stolen here in dubai, so need another one!!

[Kirsty]

Cez thanks for the sympathy, I love my Zim passport but geez what a pain.

Shayne, thansk fro the phone number, I'll give it a call, but my mates in London called the London Embassy and said its a disaster over there too, but no fingerprints are needed. So I have no idea why Aussie is different. Who knows.

Chick, thanks for telling Patson to get in contact with me. No ink, my goodness whatever next.

Patson - You are the Bomb!!!! If you can help me out with your contact I would owe you a huge one. You may have to start charging for the referal of your guy. He could be seeing a lot of business after this :)