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Feb 13, 2022
the Americans can learn from the Israelis
I know everyone likes to complain about Israeli bureaucracy, and it can really be bad sometimes, but all governments have it. And sometimes the Israelis even get it more right than others and, yes I am going to say something shocking, the Americans can even learn from the Israelis.
One of my kids recently had to renew a passport - both the American passport at the US Embassy (or consulate - it was in Tel Aviv but I dont think they downgraded the status to consulate) and the Israeli passport at the Misrad Hapnim.
I wont even take into account how messed up everything is because of Covid, with the US Embassy in Israel (and all over the world) only offering a minimal number of appointments and having a tremendous backlog of expired passports and births abroad to register.
In today's digital age, at least most of these processes should be possible to be done online. The Ministry of the Interior in Israel does this. And they encourage people to use the online service by offering a discounted rate. You fill out the basic form online, you pay online (if you want to - if you do not, you can choose to pay in the office), you schedule a date from the available appointments, and that's it. We went to the office on the date of the appointment, got a number based on our appointment, waited two minutes, sat with the clerk who asked a couple of questions and took a digital fingerprint impression or two, take a digital picture and we were on our way. We were not even in the Misrad Hapnim for ten minutes and everything was completed.
The American Embassy was not bad. While it was difficult and took time to get an appointment, I wont complain about that. They are a bit paranoid and have limited availability because of that but so be it. We had to download and fill out forms to bring in to the embassy. We had to print out the appointment information to bring in. We had to go somewhere to take pictures according to the specs of the State Department. We had to go in and wait to be called. You show the clerk the forms, the clerk sends you to another window to pay, then you wait to be called again and sign and stamp and then you are on your way. The US Embassy took significantly longer than the Israeli Misrad Hapnim.
Neither was bad, not even the US Embassy, but the Israeli Misrad Hapnim process was significantly simpler and quicker. Yes, on somethings the Americans can learn from the Israelis.
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I don't think it's fair to make a comparison between a government ministry in its own country and a consulate abroad. You should compare renewing a passport at the US consulate with renewing an Israeli passport at a consulate in the USA.
ReplyDeletethat is a fair point but I think the only difference should be the amount of time it takes to get back. and I didnt even mention that because I realize that this aspect is not a fair comparison. doing it online and efficiently should not matter whether it is a home country or not.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who just renewed and got new passports in the US. The US is terrible. You have to schedule an appointment at the post office (gag) and then you hope you have someone nice. This time we did, last time did not. The requirements listed on the website are not accurate. For instance, we scheduled an appointment that specifically said they will take pictures, when we get there the comment is, oh we haven't taken pictures in years and how could you not know that. Luckily there was a place down the block and the lady let us finish the paperwork and then come back with the pictures and not wait in line. They also required copies of all documents for kids passports (separate for each kid). This is nowhere indicated in any of the paperwork or online. Luckily we knew from last time renewing this would be required. But, overall the process is horrible and inconvenient.
ReplyDeleteThe U.S. Government infrastructure puts third world countries to shame.
ReplyDeleteI come from a country which no longer has an in-person Passport Office. Unless it is urgent or there is an unusual circumstances, the only way to apply to renew a passport is online. You fill in the form online, if necessary scan required documentation, take a selfie from a smart phone for the picture (they give very strict guidelines and instructions), pay the fee, and 2 weeks later a passport shows up by registered mail.
ReplyDeleteThe process is exactly the same whether you are in the country or not (except you need to pay a higher shipping fee if outside the country), and has been this way since well before Covid.