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Flying High out of JFK
Not my exact flight, but close enough. I've often joked to my managers that I always have a 'go-bag' ready. If there's any literal truth to the statement, it's that my full suitcase often sits on the floor for weeks after a trip because I'm as much of a procrastinator at un-packing as I am at packing, but mostly I say this to imply that I'm always up to travel for an assignment, whether across the state or across the world. Naturally, when a last-minute request for a instructor in Oman landed in my in-box, I jumped at the opportunity. One Skype call later and I was told to book a flight; I was going to be spending the next month or so abroad.
And that's when I remembered my passport had expired. Oh $%!#.
Back in August, I verified that I had just barely six months of validity left, enough for our trip to Mexico, and made a semi-mental note of that fact, but you know how it goes - you get busy. I also decided I wanted to get a hair-cut before getting new passport photos, but then we had family in town, then the washing machine broke, then we had more family in
Gratuitous NYC Photo
Taken during one of my/our not-as-short visits to NYC from the Top of the Rock town and when I finally got around to making an appointment at the salon my hair-dresser was on maternity leave. She hadn't even announced she was pregnant the last time I saw her. So anyway, if you're wondering "How could you let it expire?" - that's how.
So I did what any reasonable person would do in this situation: I booked an non-refundable $2500 international ticket for a departure less than two weeks away and starting working on a plan to sort this whole mess out, which began with getting two new passport photos at the university copy center, haircut or not.
Expediting through the US mail wasn't a viable option. No, this required a trip to a US passport center, the closest of which was an 8 hour drive away in Chicago. That's when I had an idea - the most brilliant idea I've ever had as it pertains to travel. I had to have a connecting flight between Lexington and any international destination regardless, so why not have that connection occur in a place with a US Passport Agency? Like, say, New York City? What a productive way to spend a layover. I called the NYC
US Dept of State Passport Services
The BEST government office around! No ridiculous red-tape bureaucracy here - just expedite, efficient service. Passport Agency to make an appointment.
"There are no available appointments on your date requested."
"How can all the appointments within the next two weeks be booked, if you have to have international travel departing within the next two weeks to make an appointment?"
"All I can tell you is that there are no appointments available. I must advise you not to show up without an appointment."
I asked about walk-in appointments; I'd read somewhere that this agency did that. What will happen if I do show up without an appointment? Will I be turned away?
"I must advise you not to show up without an appointment."
Fine. I made an appointment for mid-April and received a confirmation code. If asked if I have an appointment, I would technically not be lying if I said yes. The thing is, though, I
had read on Yelp that there was a line for walk-ins, and that was good enough for me. Ticket booked. The plan was to depart Lexington for NYC on Monday morning, go straight to the passport office, get my documents processed in 24 hours and then depart for Muscat on Tuesday night. And
you know what? There is
absolutely a line for walk-in appointments. It's rather long, but if you have all day to stand around in a federal building with a bunch of other stressed-out travelers you'll be just fine. After waiting in line at security, I waited in line another hour or so before getting to the first window. I had all my documents ready to go.
"And when are you traveling?"
"Well, I suppose that's really up to you now isn't it (cue the nervous laughter), but I'd
like to make my flight tomorrow...."
"Oh tomorrow! Let's see what we can do then." Type. Type. Type. Print. Staple. Stamp. "Just take this into the next room and wait for your number to be called."
Folks, this is the
friendliest and
most efficient government office in perhaps the entire world. It's like a giant DMV that
wants to help you, with a smile. There's even a placard on the wall that says, "Our goal is to help you get where you need to go!" I waited for another half an hour or so before handing over all my documents to the man at the next window. My
Waiting My Turn
It's going to work! This is actually going to work! passport would be ready that evening. They'd call out my name.
Same. Day. Service.
I milled around for another couple of hours, waiting, hoping that every time the clerk went on the intercom I'd hear my name but eventually had to leave to make a meeting. I arrived back at the office promptly at opening Tuesday morning, and my new passport (along with my old one) was waiting for me in a little plastic pouch. I'd pulled it off! I was heading for Oman!
Later that evening at JFK, weaving through the security lines, I handed over my passport and boarding pass to the TSA agent, smug in my self-satisfaction at having been so clever and appreciative of the immense privilege it takes to pull something like that off.
As he flipped through it, his eyebrows furrowed; he closed it and handed it back to me.
"This isn't a valid passport ma'am."
I could feel the blood drained from my face in that instant as I stared back at him in shock. But before I could stammer anything in response...
"You haven't signed it. Here's a pen."
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Jo Trouble
Jo McCarthy
Enjoy Oman!
The close calls make good travel stories! (Yours reminded me of a sprint from the NZ embassy in Paris out to the airport a few years ago :-) ) "....what else are you going to do...?" I thought you'd gone to calm your nerves with a drink!