Getting a passport - fun and games

[suenicorn]

Today I got my tax done and went to the local post office to have my passport photos taken. While I was there, I chatted with the lady at the counter and asked her some questions. See, my birth certificate - and the naturalisation certificate under my parents' names has the name Zelda on it. When I was starting kinder, or maybe school, they were told that Susan was the translation of Zelda and that they should make my life easier in those days before multiculturalism was big.

The last time I was questioned about this - when I wanted a public service job, not for a passport - I just had to sign a statutory declaration. That's what the Department of Immigration said (before it became Border Protection - yeesh, I'd love to see the politicians with weapons in hand defending us personally from all those refugees...). I assumed that was all I had to do this time, but no. The lady said that the only thing they would accept was a change of name document - what on earth is that? I don't HAVE one, never even heard of it. 

And I must have that passport. They won't give me my superannuation without one. Never mind the fact that I've worked for umpteen years and paid my super contributions - without it, they might think I'm someone else, maybe Bette Davis taking her twin sister's place after murdering her...? 

A bizarre situation. I tried ringing the passport office and, after a lot of automated messages, got piped music. I could have been waiting for hours on my mobile phone and I had to take Mum out for lunch. I did send an email, but it says on the web site you have to wait five days for a reply. 

I know how I'm spending this evening. Sigh! And I am promising myself not to yell at whichever poor sod picks up finally. Not their fault. If I find myself getting angry I will hang up and wait for the email reply. In my email I explained and aaked, not what should I do, but what would you do if you were in my position. I hope that gets someone thinking. 

Comments

[ozdragonlady]

You get a change of name certificate from your registrar of births deaths and marriages ... but you would probably need photo id and a whole load of other linking documents as well ...
It might be worth making the effort to get everything in one name if you can manage it - it may save a lot of issues further down the track when you are least able to deal with it.

[suenicorn]

If there is no other choice, that's what I will do, not sure how as I wasn't born here. However, last night I rang the Passport info office and the lady there said that as I had already had a passport in this name, it should be fine and I was to tell the PO folk to ring their direct number to confirm that.

[ozdragonlady]

A change of name certificate is just that - registers that you use a different name (and pay the $$). You would have to provide ID docs ...passport :), a marriage certificate, etc ... not sure how they go with overseas docs, you would have to ask ..
Once changed, you use the certificate to bring everything else into line - drivers licence, electoral roll, passport, bank accounts, insurance, etc ...

[suenicorn]

I don't actually have to do that. It's already there. The only difference is in my birth certificate and my naturalisation papers. Every other document has my current name on it. But having that slight issue led to a lot of problems!

[ozdragonlady]

And to prevent carrying your passport around ... even if you have a drivers licence, a proof of age card is always useful - or a keypass in Vic. For some reason the Vic govt hasnt gone with the photocard that WA has ... which was meant to be a federal initiative .. the keypass looks like the photocard we produce.
Of course, you will still need to find your passport ...:P

[suenicorn]

Well, I found my passport. It was right where it was supposed to be, in the top drawer of my bedside table. I'm taking it tomorrow to be cancelled, along with my other stuff required. I had a long chat today with a lady at a different PO and thanks to her, there should be no shocks tomorrow. For example, I thought my work ID would do for a photo ID. Nope. But she said I could just get a second guarantor to sign my photo and form instead, and my friend Bart - who himself had to do a change of name document because his birth certificate name was different from the name he had used most of his life - dropped in and did the extra signature. She said I needed to bring both my translated birth certificate AND the original. Well, I have both.
My mother has a keycard, and I might get one once I have the passport - it's almost as complicated as the passport! But as you say, it will save me carrying the passport around.