May 1st, 2014. I finally applied for my passport.
I've always wanted my own passport because I knew that I was going to travel one day out of the USA. I just knew it in my bones. But, my gosh, was it troublesome for us in LA to send the paperwork.
My appointment was at 11:30 at a post office and we left our home at 11:20. It was only a few minutes away, but you never know what the traffic is going to be like in LA. We rushed over with a few laughs about how they were going to reject us with hard faces and death threats. Well, they were....somewhat accomodating.
Visit 1
We waited in line and talked with one postal worker that checked our appointment time and our documentation. We were missing something! I read all of the paperwork and thought I had everything. My husband wasn't happy. But we were rushed off by the worker saying that we didn't have to wait in line the next time.
I was missing a photocopy of my driver's license and my social security card, front and back. How did I miss this? Well, we rushed home and made the copies.
Visit 2
We ran in and had to wait for a different postal worker. They took their time, as usual. I was frantically nervous, but Miguel remained calm. (I love my strong man.) He held my hand and I felt better. I was worried that they might reject my application somehow!
The worker looked over everything and said we were fine....but he said, "You had a name change."
I said, "Yes, sir. I was married in July."
"You'll need your marriage license to prove you are who you are to the government," said the postal worker.
I thought that the government should have everything on file with my social, but I guess you need documentation for everything. I checked my ziplog bag full of documents. I didn't have my marriage license! No!!!
We rushed back home again. The postal worker assured us that they remember us and we would be fine. "Just come back with that paperwork." We looked all over in the house and finally found it. It was in the original letter amongst our important files.
Visit 3
This had to be our last visit, I thought. I was right. We submitted my papers and it is being processed via expedited service. Thank goodness this is over! It did hurt our pockets, though. That's the price you pay when you procrastinate, but, hey, it's done.
I'm excited to finally have my passport and travel with the most wonderful person in my life. Such an adventure!
I've always wanted my own passport because I knew that I was going to travel one day out of the USA. I just knew it in my bones. But, my gosh, was it troublesome for us in LA to send the paperwork.
My appointment was at 11:30 at a post office and we left our home at 11:20. It was only a few minutes away, but you never know what the traffic is going to be like in LA. We rushed over with a few laughs about how they were going to reject us with hard faces and death threats. Well, they were....somewhat accomodating.
Visit 1
We waited in line and talked with one postal worker that checked our appointment time and our documentation. We were missing something! I read all of the paperwork and thought I had everything. My husband wasn't happy. But we were rushed off by the worker saying that we didn't have to wait in line the next time.
I was missing a photocopy of my driver's license and my social security card, front and back. How did I miss this? Well, we rushed home and made the copies.
Visit 2
We ran in and had to wait for a different postal worker. They took their time, as usual. I was frantically nervous, but Miguel remained calm. (I love my strong man.) He held my hand and I felt better. I was worried that they might reject my application somehow!
The worker looked over everything and said we were fine....but he said, "You had a name change."
I said, "Yes, sir. I was married in July."
"You'll need your marriage license to prove you are who you are to the government," said the postal worker.
I thought that the government should have everything on file with my social, but I guess you need documentation for everything. I checked my ziplog bag full of documents. I didn't have my marriage license! No!!!
We rushed back home again. The postal worker assured us that they remember us and we would be fine. "Just come back with that paperwork." We looked all over in the house and finally found it. It was in the original letter amongst our important files.
Visit 3
This had to be our last visit, I thought. I was right. We submitted my papers and it is being processed via expedited service. Thank goodness this is over! It did hurt our pockets, though. That's the price you pay when you procrastinate, but, hey, it's done.
I'm excited to finally have my passport and travel with the most wonderful person in my life. Such an adventure!