Post: #26

I have 2 passports, US and EU, and I should have a third sometime next year from a South American country. I got lucky with being born in the US while parents were born in Latin America, one from European parents, so "jus sanguinis" (right of blood) allows me to have these additional citizenships. I'd really recommend for people to look into these laws if their parents or grandparents came from another country, as many will give you a passport for being born to a citizen of that country. Easiest way for someone to get dual (or more) citizenship that a lot of Americans don't know about.

Post: #27

I thought a lot of diplomatic passports had to get 'diplomat visas' in many countries even if they have a visa waiver/on arrival program for normal passport holders. And they seriously look at people's hands to see what kind of passport they have?? There's lots of red passports out there.

(09-12-2011 08:50 PM)Jaz Wrote:  I have 3:

[1] Canadian - I use this one pretty much only when in the States.

[2] Diplomatic (Same as Canadian, but Red in color and special privileges) - I get this because my dad works for Foreign Affairs. You can skip all lines most of the time. I've been waiting in line with my diplomatic passport out and have a staff member pull me to the front or to another line they open just for me. I can often enter the First Class lounge or equivalent while being in economy. You will sometimes get an escort for no reason.

[3] EU - My grandfather's grandfather was Irish. I had him apply for an Irish passport and then I got one myself. The EU passport line is always shorter in Europe than their "other" line.

Post: #28

(09-12-2011 04:50 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Anyone know the deal with getting a Spanish Passport?

(My MOM was born there. However, I know her family did a lot of shifty stuff during the Franco era. Long story. A story that I even don't know all the details.)

If you have a Spanish parent, you can apply for a Spanish passport after one year living here. If your grandparents were Republican exiles, you can apply for it even without living here.

However, Spain only recognizes double citizenship with former colonies, Portugal, Andorra and Sephardic Jews. If you aren't one of them, you must relinquish your former nationality (but some countries like the UK don't recognize relinquishments; smart people).

If you guys want a EU passport, you must know the easiest (as far as I know) is Italy's. You can get it having a great-grandparent, even if you've never been to the country. This law was made by a PM who was going to lose the next elections; he thought hordes of foreigners would get the nationality and vote for him. He lost anyway. As a consequence, officially there are many Italians in Spain, but two thirds of them were born in Latin America.

It's curious how laws differ between countries. I have Portuguese, Puerto Rican and French ancestry and I can't apply for any of their passports (damn!).

Post: #29

(09-12-2011 09:25 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Jazz,
That's awesome man to have a diplomatic passport. That would be truly the ultimate in lifestyle. Getting into any country or getting past any immigration line without even a question asked other than "welcome Sir!". I wonder if there is a way to get a diplomatic passport without being a diplomat. Anyone has any ideas on that?

I´ve been thinking about this for years also. If i can ever backmail my country into a diplomatic pasport ( no country can put criminal charges on you) and a 10000 euro a month life time allowance, i will do it even if i have to kill for it.

Post: #30

(09-13-2011 02:22 AM)ersatz Wrote:  I thought a lot of diplomatic passports had to get 'diplomat visas' in many countries even if they have a visa waiver/on arrival program for normal passport holders. And they seriously look at people's hands to see what kind of passport they have?? There's lots of red passports out there.

Yeah, a lot of countries, especially in Africa, have harsher entry for diplomats.

People who work in airports generally can identify most common passports at a glance. The diplomatic one is not very common, so it stands out.

As to how to get one, if you live in Canada, get a job at Foreign Affairs. The lowest level position that offers one is secretary / vice-consul. This is not a hard job to get, you just have to speak English and French, have any university degree or speak a third language. Work there for 1 year, get your diplomatic passport that lasts 5.

Post: #31

(09-13-2011 01:49 PM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  

(09-12-2011 09:25 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Jazz,
That's awesome man to have a diplomatic passport. That would be truly the ultimate in lifestyle. Getting into any country or getting past any immigration line without even a question asked other than "welcome Sir!". I wonder if there is a way to get a diplomatic passport without being a diplomat. Anyone has any ideas on that?

I´ve been thinking about this for years also. If i can ever backmail my country into a diplomatic pasport ( no country can put criminal charges on you) and a 10000 euro a month life time allowance, i will do it even if i have to kill for it.

Yes they can. That only applies to a few top officials, with conditions on top of that too, to the country they have been sent on for official business. Not for normal staff. And the country you work for could possibly put charges on you as a respect to the other.

Post: #32

(09-12-2011 04:03 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Out of curiosity, how many people on here have a Second Passport?

I'm not international playboy, but I've got two, and can get the third (via my wife) quite easily, but it it not really worth it.
My kids have three citizenships, and will have three passports.

Post: #33

(09-13-2011 01:49 PM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  I´ve been thinking about this for years also. If i can ever backmail my country into a diplomatic pasport ( no country can put criminal charges on you) and a 10000 euro a month life time allowance, i will do it even if i have to kill for it.

The diplomatic status gives you immunity from the prosecution, not just passport. It is very different. For this to work you have to be admitted into that foreign country as a diplomat. This is typically more time-consuming than just buying a ticket and fly there - and if you're not admitted as diplomat, you do not have any immunity as you're not considered doing official business.

Post: #34

Damn this threads a bummer for those of with not shot of getting a 2nd book.

Best chance is looking like Polish based on great-grandparents or getting my paper up to a level for investment-status.

Post: #35

(09-13-2011 07:16 PM)oldnemesis Wrote:  

(09-13-2011 01:49 PM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  I´ve been thinking about this for years also. If i can ever backmail my country into a diplomatic pasport ( no country can put criminal charges on you) and a 10000 euro a month life time allowance, i will do it even if i have to kill for it.

The diplomatic status gives you immunity from the prosecution, not just passport. It is very different. For this to work you have to be admitted into that foreign country as a diplomat. This is typically more time-consuming than just buying a ticket and fly there - and if you're not admitted as diplomat, you do not have any immunity as you're not considered doing official business.

This is correct. There's no real protection just in having the passport. All it can do is delay proceedings if you're arrested. Most countries don't want to risk their relations with other countries by insisting on immunity for someone who is suspected of a crime.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn must have a diplomatic passport. It didn't do him any good.

How do diplomatic pouches work? I hear a lot of smuggling stories related to these. I expect they're only available to working diplomats on official business?

Edit - here's some info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_bag

Post: #36

(09-13-2011 04:36 AM)Hawk Wrote:  If you guys want a EU passport, you must know the easiest (as far as I know) is Italy's. You can get it having a great-grandparent, even if you've never been to the country. This law was made by a PM who was going to lose the next elections; he thought hordes of foreigners would get the nationality and vote for him. He lost anyway. As a consequence, officially there are many Italians in Spain, but two thirds of them were born in Latin America.

I've been looking into this for myself. My grandfather was born in Italy and came to the United States when he was younger, became a citizen, and then had kids. I think I am SOL because the qualifications say that he must not have renounced his Italian citizenship for me to qualify. I think when he became an American citizen he was forced to renounce his Italian citizenship.

But damn, I would love an Italian passport.

Post: #37

This seems useless to me since I hear America doesnt recognize dual citizen ship between America and German.

I can always marry a Turkish chick and get one of those passports though,right?

They might make it to the EU...or are they out of there chance for startin shit with israel?

Post: #38

Lucked out got a second citizenship to Germany awhile back because my dad is still a citizen, it's definitely nice knowing you have it. Is pretty rough the amount of money you'd have to spend to buy one.

Post: #39

I am having just one - an Indian passport.
This makes me cry on my fate, as no one among my predecessors, like grand-parents, went to another country and so on.
For numerous countries - You got to get official Invitation letter and apply for Visa like 2-3 months prior to your travel!

An Indian passport allows you Visa-free entry to which countries? Bhutan! Nepal! OMFG!
I was seriously considering working as a Diplomat, but a better choice may be to renounce my citizenship and take an EU or US one. At least I can have a pretty Visa -free (read: stress-free) travel.

Post: #40

(09-13-2011 08:08 PM)nmmoooreland20 Wrote:  Damn this threads a bummer for those of with not shot of getting a 2nd book.

Best chance is looking like Polish based on great-grandparents or getting my paper up to a level for investment-status.

I don't know the specifics of Poland's rules, but I think if you're going to try you should do it soon because the more integrated the country becomes in the EU the more the possibility the passport will become harder to get.

Post: #41

(09-13-2011 08:14 PM)Caligula Wrote:  This is correct. There's no real protection just in having the passport. All it can do is delay proceedings if you're arrested. Most countries don't want to risk their relations with other countries by insisting on immunity for someone who is suspected of a crime.

From what I know if they arrest someone with a diplomatic status, they must release him immediately upon learning his status. Then they can make him persona non grata, meaning he has to leave the country in 24-48 hours and will not be admitted back in diplomatic status (or at all).

Having just the passport is indeed meaningless.

Quote:
How do diplomatic pouches work? I hear a lot of smuggling stories related to these. I expect they're only available to working diplomats on official business?

Yes, there were some. Recently a Finnish consul "smuggled" the kid of a Finnish father and Russian mother (there was some custody dispute) from Russia to Finland in a trunk of his car. Got kicked out of country, but cannot be prosecuted in Russia.

Post: #42

(09-14-2011 01:12 AM)Ami5 Wrote:  I am having just one - an Indian passport.
This makes me cry on my fate, as no one among my predecessors, like grand-parents, went to another country and so on.

There is something wrong with some Indian guys, you have like persecution complex or what? Why do you need to feel like you're in the worst position to do anything?

Quote:An Indian passport allows you Visa-free entry to which countries? Bhutan! Nepal! OMFG!

Actually it allows you visa-free entry to 53 countries. Which is still better than China, Vietnam, Egypt and Nepal.

Post: #43

(09-14-2011 01:12 AM)Ami5 Wrote:  An Indian passport allows you Visa-free entry to which countries? Bhutan! Nepal! OMFG!

Nepal charges Americans like $200. Actually there are lots of countries that charge Americans what is essentially an entry tax of somewhere around $130 to $200. Indians usually pay much less for these places, for example Uzbekistan and Brazil.

Then there's India itself. As an American, I paid something like $250 for my visa to India.

But yeah, going to a fully developed country, having only an Indian passport is certainly a hassle.

Post: #44

Three...US, Australian and Canadian

I got all three through my husband collecting mom. go mom.

Post: #45

Haha! Oldnemesis - I guess I definitely have a persecution complex, though not because of Indian passport but because I'd love some other one as well ;-)

Indians have the privilege of going without Visa to 53 countries.
Ukrainians: 76
Americans: 169!

Most of the mentioned Visa-free countries have typical set of laws, rules and regulations, making it harder for Indians to travel smoothly like Americans do or the way Ukrainians can spend their summers in Turkey.
Nonetheless, Cameroon and Bhutan really don't excite me.

Though, possessing Indian passport leads to a lesser political vulnerability - sometimes it helps.

Post: #46

(09-13-2011 08:18 PM)username Wrote:  

(09-13-2011 04:36 AM)Hawk Wrote:  If you guys want a EU passport, you must know the easiest (as far as I know) is Italy's. You can get it having a great-grandparent, even if you've never been to the country. This law was made by a PM who was going to lose the next elections; he thought hordes of foreigners would get the nationality and vote for him. He lost anyway. As a consequence, officially there are many Italians in Spain, but two thirds of them were born in Latin America.

I've been looking into this for myself. My grandfather was born in Italy and came to the United States when he was younger, became a citizen, and then had kids. I think I am SOL because the qualifications say that he must not have renounced his Italian citizenship for me to qualify. I think when he became an American citizen he was forced to renounce his Italian citizenship.

But damn, I would love an Italian passport.

But your great-grandparents didn't renounce, did they? Maybe you still have the possibility to swear loyalty to Berlusconi.

Post: #47

How is a Canadian Visa for travelling?

Post: #48

(09-15-2011 02:00 AM)Ami5 Wrote:  Haha! Oldnemesis - I guess I definitely have a persecution complex, though not because of Indian passport but because I'd love some other one as well ;-)

Well, I have something to tell you. There is a lot of Indians here in Bay Area, who came from India, got their green card and now got the US citizenship. So it is possible, and has been done by pretty ordinary people. However they didn't do it by whining in Internet forums.

Quote:Indians have the privilege of going without Visa to 53 countries.

And China has only 40. However I haven't seen a lot of Chinese complaining about it. This is why I mentioned "persecution complex". Thing is, nobody gives any shit about how disadvantaged you think you are, and nobody gonna give you any handicaps because of that. Not to mention you apparently have a computer and Internet access, and I assume you have food, water and the roof - you're doing better than roughly 90% of the world population.

But, as we say in Russia, there are two kind of people. Those who look for possibilities to do the thing, and those who look for excuses not to do it.

Post: #49

(09-15-2011 12:41 AM)Viralata Wrote:  Three...US, Australian and Canadian

I got all three through my husband collecting mom. go mom.

What is your indigenous citzenship then? Yourself and your mum?

Post: #50

I'm new here, but I still keep one passport for each hand.

I've used one passport upon departure from the US, and used the other upon arrival in England. Upon returning to the US, flip the cards. It's neat how people on both ends will say "welcome home."