update
First, my new goal in life is to wake up at least once per week feeling
exactly like this guy in Uganda. (Sound on for maximum effect!)
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Second, last week I got my new passport. My old passport still had 5 years of validity but it was completely full. And since the current waiting time for a US passport is 7-9 weeks for expedited service, I decided to make use of one other, lesser used method.
- I called the US Passport Agency general phone number and told them I was traveling within 2 weeks.
- They gave me an appointment 10 days later at the closest Passport Agency (for me it was in Washington DC but there are 26 offices around the country).
- I drove to DC the night before, showed up at my 9:30am appointment and 20 minutes later I handed over my paperwork. They told me to return at 2pm.
- At 2pm I returned and 30 minutes later they handed me my new passport.
*When I handed in my paperwork, I checked the box for a "Large book" (50 pages) instead of a standard one (26 pages). The staff confirmed all was well. But when I picked up my new passport, it was a small one. So I waited 2.5 more hours for a thicker one to be printed. Without that issue, it would've been shockingly smooth, but even with this hiccup it was a remarkably fast experience.
*In order to use this 'passport in one day' service, you need to have either:
- proof of a flight ticket within 2 weeks of your appointment date or
- a need to obtain a visa within the next 30 days
In the end though, the staff didn't seem to check my printed flight confirmation at all but I wouldn't show up without one.
I know that in some countries it's possible to get a passport quite quickly through the normal methods. In other countries, the process can take many, many months. In the US, the above is definitely the fastest option.
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On another note, Bhutan (see below), Tonga and Papua New Guinea are all destinations that came up in conversation this week...all of which led to extreme excitement and perhaps some flight searches :)
