Passport Palaver

After getting our Aussie citizenship last September, we have just about gotton around to applying for our passports - but keep getting rejected at the first hurdle.


Attempt 1 - using the passport website, which seemed utterly confusing, even to an IT professional, so I took the easy option and clicked the box saying 'please send me the proper forms please'


Attempt 2 - got the forms, but filled in the email address wrong, so had to get replacement forms from the post office.

Attempt 3 - We filled out the forms, not that difficult only 3 pages, and went along for a 2nd visit to the post office to get photos done. These had to be redone too, as my (Dino's) pic had part of the head missing and a reddy orange blotch in the corner. I said this was my aura, but had to have the pics redone anyway. Also had to have the photos witnessed/authorised by a friend. We took the completed forms back to the post office (3rd visit), but were told it was all WRONG WRONG WRONG. The witness declaration was done in blue pen, not black. The parts done in black pen were in the wrong type of black pen, it had to be ballpoint not ink pen as that didn't scan as well at the passport office. One box was circled 'male' instead of an X next to male. And the signature was 0.2mm outside the allowed box printed in an ink colour so pale it was only visible under an electron microscope. The biggest sin was putting '2 years' instead of '02 years'.... of course, how obvious.

Attempt 4 - After being issued 2 (oops, sorry, 02) new forms we filled them in again, also completing the witness part so that it could just be signed again. Then back to the post office for Ms Pedant to check the forms again. And they were ok - well nearly. She signed them off and we paid our $350 quietly celebrating in our heads and were just about to walk out the door when she came around the counter to ask one last question. Was the witness section filled out by us? (She had quickly run off a handwriting analysis test over her morning coffee. We daren't lie, she probably had a lie detection machine out the back too) 'Yes, but the witness did sign and date it' Oops, not good enough, rejected again. New forms and photos required please

The saga continues, watch this space for progress