On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 20:41:42 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:

> On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 12:26:05 -0400, blake murphy wrote:
>
>> amazingly enough, i have my original 'certificate of live birth,'
>> original social security card (typed on a typewriter), and had to be
>> fingerprinted when i was hired by arlington co., virginia. i'm not sure
>> whether or not that means they're in 'the system,' though.
>
> Dunno either - but I suppose they just needed to make sure you *hadn't*
> been convicted for a criminal offense before offering you the job...
>>
>> accept no cheap imitations!
>
> I don't intend to <grin>
>
> FWIW, in my neck of the woods all newborn infants are allocated a national
> identity number which appears on their birth certificates once issued -
> which also has their parents' full names and identity numbers thereon.
> Once said individuals reach the age of 18 y/o and wish to apply for such
> things as a drivers license, a passport, or open a normal bank account for
> example, they have to apply for an "ID Book" which also reflects their
> identity number, their full names, date of birth and a photograph of
> themselves - and none of the aforementioned items are possible to obtain
> without one.
>
> Applying for an ID Book involves providing one's identity number listed on
> one's birth certificate, having one's photos taken, filling in a bunch of
> forms (of course) and handing them in at the relevant authority's offices.
> While at said offices, a *full* set of finger prints is also taken from
> the applicant before the application will be accepted for processing -
> which go on record (for ever and ever, amen) for any of our law
> enforcement agencies to access if and when deemed necessary.
>
> Even if one has an ID Book another set of finger prints is taken by our
> equivalent of the DMV when one applies for a drivers license and a
> thumbprint as well as a photo of the applicant appears on the license card
> once issued. Even if one is not a citizen, and merely a "permanent
> resident" (who is allowed to live and work here and pay taxes), one has to
> apply for an identity number/ID Book once permanent residence has been
> granted.
>
> I have to add that living without an ID Book in this country would be
> somewhat inconvenient; if one wants to join a local library, one's ID Book
> has to be produced. Purchasing a life insurance policy, or getting some
> medical insurance - an ID Book is required for doing so. Need treatment in
> an ER - an ID number of the patient is required for the paperwork
> involved. Want to hire a few DVDs from a video store? Nothing doing unless
> one produces said ID Book first time one does so. And don't even think
> about buying a SIM card for a mobile phone, renting an apartment, getting
> a personal loan, a loan to buy a car, or applying for a mortgage to buy a
> home without one either. There's a whole bunch of other stuff here that
> requires producing an ID Book, but I think you get my drift.
>
> Heh. To date we can still fart in our bathrooms without an ID Book, but
> one just never knows...

the republic of south africa has always been a little, um, different.

your pal,
blake