New passport rules: – They will take from me a bit of my identity – VG

Inger and Anne-Stine born in countries Population Register do not trust. Therefore, police stroking towns were born from their next pass.

– I’ve really been very lucky and have never experienced anything discrimination. Then it’s a bit jarring that it is the police who for the first time makes me feel discriminated, says Inger Lineikro (21) VG.

She was born in the town of Bahir Dar northwest Ethiopia and was adopted to Norway when she was two and a half years. Though she was young when she got there, she has been back in the country several times afterwards – also in their home town.

After a rule change on June 2, she and thousands of other Norwegian citizens born in one of 31 countries losing origin in their passport.

– Although I am Norwegian, I have an Ethiopian identity that I never want to lose. Now some will take from me a part of it, says Lineikro.

Ethiopia listed there Population Registry believes it is impossible to determine exactly birthplace. Police Directorate is responsible for passports has therefore decided to remove this information.

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where it says “Birthplace: Bahir Dar” in information on passports today should see “Unknown” next time she renews his passport.

– I lived there until I was two and a half, and I’ve been there many times since. It’s amazing that there will be unknown when I know exactly where it is. I somehow gets deprived of my city in Ethiopia, and it is not okay at all, says Lineikro.

Having met massive resistance Directorate sent a statement Thursday afternoon where they informed that POD would review the guidelines again:

“Police Directorate has since seen that the change may have some undesirable consequences, and the Directorate will now consider whether the problems surrounding birthplace can be solved in a better way. Until any happening, continuing current practice. POD will also offer organizations that safeguard the interests involved a meeting to get their input and opinions. “

It is Lineikro happy:

UPSET: Police Directorate will iron birthplace her from crosses for Inger Lineikro.

Photo: Private

– I think it’s pretty amazing that this rule change has been executed in this way. They concerned, me included, have not got a remonstrance.

Until the press release came Thursday POD largely rejected the criticism.

– I think the biggest problem in this case is purely emotional, said chief of legal department in the Police Directorate, Steinar Talgø, told NRK.

Home number two

Anne-Stine Tveter Reid Arsenic (49) responds to the initiative to Talgø. She is also born in one of the 31 countries, but under slightly different circumstances.

In her passport says Kisumu, Kenya, where her parents worked as missionaries in the late 60s. Birth certificate, she still, even if it had not come in handy to prove where she was born. Fortunately there are a half years until she must swap passport next time.

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– If it will be “unknown” in my passport when it is very strange for me. Kisumu is my second home, and I know quite well how it is, she says to VG.

She is still three to four times a year in the country she grew up in. The hospital she was born has she moved past a number of times.

– This is not the dusty countryside where it can be difficult to get all the papers in order. We are talking about a of millions, she said.

Reid Arsenic has worked as a nurse and works with charitable work in birth country. Through organization Project Gatebarn she runs an infirmary in the slums.

– There are very many who are going to be affected by this here. Children who are adopted, the children of people who work with assistance, the UN, the diplomatic corps, or missionaries.

Does much

What are the consequences it will have for travelers to have “Unknown” in their passport is not yet clear, but to Dagsavisen confirms the US embassy that the missing information in the passport can cause problems if you apply for a visa to the United States.

– it’s incredibly boring if this will affect how you can travel – especially if you are depending on it. One thing is the United States, but if I meet the wrong official at the airport in Kenya can be difficult to explain why it says “unknown” in my passport, says Reid Arsen.

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– Besides it means a lot to me. Kisumu is where I was born, and it is natural to have it in my passport, she adds.

The press release emphasizes Police Directorate that native country will stand in the passport, although birthplace is introduced.

Got daughter abroad

Kim J. Lande and his wife lived in a little under two years in Manila in the Philippines when he worked as country manager for SN Power. While they lived there they had a daughter who is now almost seven years old:

– We issued birth certificate right away and immediately went with the Norwegian embassy to pass to our children. It went without problems and our daughter have since a few weeks after birth had a Norwegian passport stated birthplace Metro Manila, Phl, he says to VG.

unheard Kim J. Lande and his wife had a daughter while living in Manila, and believes it is part of her identity.

Photo: PRIVATE

Lande says they do not have problems with documenting his daughter is born at the hospital in Manila:

– It is unheard of that police directorate shall declare all births in all these countries as impossible to document. As long as Norwegian authorities have previously been convinced birthplace one can not reach with a stroke of the pen suddenly declare all these documents and surveys invalid, he says to VG.

He added that he believes that the birthplace is a part of her daughter’s identity:

– We think it’s funny that she was born in the Philippines, and see it as part of her history and identity. Though one may get to travel, I think it is important that it remains. She should not have to explain himself on this in all time to come, says Lande.

He points to several other major Norwegian companies are represented in both Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Kenya and Nigeria.

– If the Norwegian government is serious about encouraging Norwegians to work overseas, so they must also be able to have children during their stay abroad and get their child’s birthplace documented properly in their passports, he said.

law professor: – must be investigated

Professor Mads Andenæs at the Faculty of law at the University of Oslo said the consequences of the change must be studied before one can determine whether the holder to enter only country of birth in the passport:

– Police Directorate know with certainty before practice change if it is sufficient to state the country of birth. For example, the Russian or US Embassy will not approve a pass with only country of birth and place of birth as “unknown”, there is certainly no valid passports. This must Police Directorate investigate properly and look at practices in other countries, he says to VG.

– Should people born in these countries obtain the birthplace of the renewed passport today?

– Yes, they must have the right to pass on the information contained in the national register, and at least until the consequences of a change is clarified. A passport can not travel with is not a passport to pass the law and the Constitution gives the right to, say Andenæs.

Know to practice in Sweden

In an e-mail VG corresponding section chief Steinar Talgø in the Police Department that they know to practice in Sweden, where the next unknown birthplace entered country of birth:

This means that the country of birth be listed both in the “Birthplace” and “country of birth”. We do not know whether this has created problems.

Why is it problematic to document the birthplace of these people, but not country of birth?

– The information in passport will reflect the information in the National Register. To what extent birthplace is in the National Register of persons in “group 2 countries” is something people Registry will decide. Insofar National Registry has introduced the birthplace of people from “group 2 countries,” this will be mirrored in the passport and birthplace will also appear in the passport, he says.