Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Yeah Baby She's Got It

I got my passport today, minutes ago to be exact and if you could see me now I'm actually doing a happy dance. Maybe I should turn on the webcam and record a YouTube moment for you all...yeah on second thought I don't think so.

Just when I was about to give up on the US government they managed to surprise me. I called the National Passport Information Center and informed them that they had been holding my passport hostage for almost 3 months and that I had an appointment to get my visa on August 20th. The kind woman on the other end of the line checked the status of my passport and told me that the paperwork had been processed but that it still needed to be printed. She told me that she would put a note on my application to have it printed and shipped to me by the end of the week. I was skeptical during the whole conversation because I kept hearing horror stories about people missing weddings, funerals and vacations because they didn't receive their passports in time, but I thanked her and then hung up the phone.

Last night I received an email from the agency saying that my passport had finished processing and that since I had paid for overnight delivery I would have it on or around 8/1. I checked the mail today and voila I now have my passport in hand and the photo isn't even that bad.

I guess I can now close the book on my morning ritual of checking the status of my passport at the US Department of State website. I'm sure I'll think up a new ritual to perform in its place.

5 comments:

Me-Ami said...

It's the little victories that make all the difference. Congrats on being one step closer ...

Luckily my passport expires in 2011. Phew! I might wanna look into translating my birth certificate sometime this century, though.

Anonymous said...

it's nice to find your blog, and that you are also older than the average age of 21-22 for assistants. (i'm 28) i am also placed in paris, in the 20th arrondisement. i've lived in paris before (as a student), on the ile st. louis...but that's not possible on an assistant's salary. i've also lived in small city germany, so i'm looking forward to big city life again.
send me an email sometime, that way we can both know more people in paris! ;)
emily
emilybetzATyahooDOTcom

Potted Farm said...

Passport down! Visa, Bank Account, Cell Phone, Apartment, Social Security Number, Carte de Sejour, and CAF to go. lol One day at a time, eh? (And congrats on the not-too-bad passport photo... that's a lot more than I can say for mine.)

The Un-Ashtangi said...

That's a very daunting list and I don't like it one bit and it hardly includes any of the things I have to do before leaving for France such as getting out of my lease 2 months early, selling my furniture, packing, etc.

J said...

Félicitations !

You'll be in France in no time!

Don't worry about the mound of paperwork to be done in France. You'll get through it!

Bon courage !