this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2026

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It feels like a trap to send your only proof of citizenship to the government to get a passport (USA)... like you'd have no real physical document to prove your citizenship during those few weeks... (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 day ago by DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world

36 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Cuz it takes like a few weeks to process and get your passport and documents back...

If the government wanted to, theoretically, they could "accidentally lose" the documents...

👀

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[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 29 points 1 day ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

This is actually a very real issue that is fucking me over hard now. For context, I'm a naturalized trans immigrant who fled the US. Unfortunately, my US passport is set to expire really soon and I am effectively unable to renew it. The US has been deliberately holding on to trans people's passports by effectively dropping us into bureaucratic limbo as a way to deny us freedom of movement. It's not even worth trying to renew for me since at best (if I'm lucky) I'd have a passport that misrepresents me, and at worst I'd be effectively stateless. The cruety is the point

Thankfully my OG birth country is coming in clutch right now. The consulate has been helping me get my non-US papers in order, but not everyone is so lucky

Edit: and the salt on the wound is that I still have to pay US taxes

[–] sparky@lemmy.federate.cc 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Has something changed in your home country in the time since you left? I guess so if you want their passport?

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

I haven't had documents from them in 30 years so it's a process. I hadn't updated my info there either.

[–] shneancy@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

if i was in their shoes and had the choice between -

no passport, can't leave anywhere in a normal way
a passport that is incorrect, can't move comfortably because details that don't match can and will trigger alarms and put eyes on you
a passport from a place that isn't ideal, but matches my details, and allows me to travel without drawing attention to myself

i'd pick 3 as well regardless if i liked my country of origin or not

[–] Signtist@bookwyr.me 37 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I've always had multiple copies of my birth certificate. If I'd only had one, I'd have gotten a copy before sending it in with my passport application.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oh... I just googled it... didn't even know birth certificated are that cheap...

Cuz people who do not have birthright citizenship have to pay $500 to file for a replacement Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship...

kinda expensive ngl

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why would you lie about that

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

idk Gen Z slang has infected my brain...

(send help... I'm Gen Z 👀)

[–] swab148@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Nah, it's lit fam

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"Why would you light your passport on fire?"

-u/ripcord@lemmy.world

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

thank you that is an important question

[–] elephantium@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

We didn't start the fire...

[–] JustJack23@slrpnk.net 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is that an American thing I am too European to understand or am I just still sleeping

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 day ago (2 children)

In the US, you go to a post office, and you have to hand over the physical, original copy of your proof of citizenship when apply for the first time so the postal worker can attach to the packet of stuff they send to the US Department of State... and they only give it back after they finished processing your passport application...

So while waiting... (takes a few weeks to process) you have:

-No Passport -No Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization or Birth Certificate...

Meaning no proof of Citizenship...

Which means its kinda awkward if you get approached by government agents during this time... and have no proof of your claim to be a US Citizen...

Apparantly for people with birthright citizens, they can just get a birth certificate for like $10-$30, which I didn't know before... TIL

But since I'm foreign-born and naturalized (or technically speaking, it's Citizenship via Derivation under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, but its too complicated and I don't wanna write a paragraph on that), I would need to file a N-565 to get a replacement copy of my proof of citizenship...

And it's $500 for the filing fee...

Yea I don't think people are gonna really wanna spend $500 just for an extra "backup copy" they statiscally don't need, unless it actually gets lost in the system and then they'd have no choice but to pay $500...

And that also takes time to process...

(And before you ask: Yes it is night time here, but I don't really feel like sleeping right now lol)

[–] MissJinx@lemmy.world 4 points 23 hours ago

wtf! here we just go to a place, the person takes my picture, looks at my documents (most are already online anyways) and I just go get it in the same place a week later. Wouldn't be easier and safer for citzens to have those little kiosks?

[–] JustJack23@slrpnk.net 9 points 1 day ago

Best of luck with your passport application. Hope things go smoothly.

[–] JennyLaFae@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If the government wanted to, theoretically, they could "accidentally lose" the documents...

Already happened to more than a few. The solid water people have also reportedly been losing/damaging documents of people they've detained.

Everything is russian roulette on which person is handling your paperwork that day.

[–] nullify3112@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

The solid water people 👏

[–] GeekyOnion@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I mean, I like that you're attempting to troll, but it kind of falls apart with a simple internet search for "state certified birth certificate copy," if that's the "physical document to prove your citizenship," you're talking about.

[–] showmeyourkizinti@startrek.website 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Its not even trolling. If you are a foreign born American Citizen getting a new birth certificate isn’t exactly easy. This why I always have kept two copies of my Birth Certificate.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Your foreign birth certificate does not prove citizenship btw.

A replacement for Certificate of Naturalization/Certificate of Citizenship is $500

[–] showmeyourkizinti@startrek.website 4 points 1 day ago

Ouch that’s an expensive backup.

[–] GeekyOnion@lemmy.world -4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Saying "it feels like a trap" is what prompts the comments about trolling. "This is dumb," or "this is regressive and adds a tax on poor people who want to get a passport, requiring them to spend money to get copies," are legit complaints. Some kind of nefarious plot? Unlikely in the extreme.

[–] rockerface@lemmy.cafe 7 points 1 day ago

American government making things more difficult and expensive for minorities on purpose? Surely that can't happen!

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Thanks, Captain Literal.

[–] GeekyOnion@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Always welcome!

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oh yes. Let me get a copy of my birth certificate from the government to give to the government. No problem with that process. Very efficient.

[–] myplacedk@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Yeah, here the main certificate is digital, and it's with the government.

Why would they ask for my birth certificate - they already have it.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I have derivative citizenship...

N-565 costs $500 to file

not exactly cheap

[–] GeekyOnion@lemmy.world -2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Exactly. "This sux," is not the same as "it's a TRAP," hence the accusation of trolling.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

I'm not saying its an literal actual trap, its more of a colloquial/casual way of saying things that some people apparantly didn't get... 🤷‍♂️

Its like you know people say "the cat showing the belly is a trap" thing? Even tho not every cat would scratch you.

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Isn't it an option to apply in person at a post office? Does your physical proof (birth or naturalization certificate) still need to leave your hands if you do it that way?

[–] GeekyOnion@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yes. You need to send in a packet of information. The issuance of a passport isn't done locally.

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

TIL, thanks.

[–] GeekyOnion@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Happy to help! I've been through the process several times for myself, and family members, and it's never been very clear or easy to navigate the process. For example, the initial issuance of a passport does start with an in-person visit, but you basically need a federal employee to say, "yes, this is the right packet of information," then it's shipped off to central processing. Subsequent issuance can be done with out the in-person visit, but requires you to send in the old passport, along with any supporting forms/documents.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago

Yeah, but they took the original copy to be mailed to the department of state, for Online Renewals it doesn't need to leave your hands, but I'm not eligible for a renew cuz my last one was issued in 2016/2017 when I was under 16 (valid only for 5 years), and I don't even have it anymore.

I have a printed-copy of the Certificate and digitized versions stored on my phone... but my point is, it feels "less legit" to present it compared to the physical original copy.