African friends, I know you all have tales of woe of your dealings of bureaucracy in your home countries, but allow me to quickly share with you my struggles to be paid for my forthcoming US publishing deal.
The US internal revenue service (IRS) requires me to get a tax number as an individual, so that I might then register my little company for tax purposes. I had no idea what a hassle this was going to be.
To apply for my tax number, using application form W7, I have to do so by mail (and this from the people who invented the internet and online shopping). In order to do so I need to prove my identity. So, I need a copy of my passport and, not unreasonably, this needs to be certified.
But will the American government be satisfied with me going to a justice of the peace (as we do in Australia), or the local police station (as we do in South Arica) to have my copy certified? No.
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