Okay, I wasn't going to tell anyone about this. But, after confessing to my colleagues here at Abroadco why I had to take the morning off (and listening to them laugh at me), I decided to share this with the world.
I let my passport expire. Yes, I am an international educator and yes, I tell students to make sure to apply for their passports early. But as many of you (at least those of you in the position to give advice to others) know, we don't always practice what we preach.
I am leaving for Europe in two and half weeks to visit our programs in Germany and Italy. I knew I needed to renew my passport and just kept forgetting about it. So finally today I went to do it. I thought it would be quick and easy - go to the passport acceptance office (in this case, Arizona State University) with all my documentation and payment and they would send it in. I neglected to realize that even an expedited passport will take three weeks.
The nice woman at the office referred me to a passport expediting service. I went there, filled out more forms, paid all the expediting fees, and was told I had to go back to the ASU office to sign my documents, etc. So, I go back there, pay those fees and get all the documents made official and put in a sealed envelope. Then, I had to go back to the expediting service to turn in the envelope so they can send it off. What was supposed to be a 20 minute process turned into two hours.
What is the lesson here?
- Don't neglect to renew your passport!
- If you are planning to study abroad and will need a visa, make sure you apply for your passport as far in advance as possible!
- Don't procrastinate!
So, after paying an additional $175 I will get my passport next week. I can breathe a sigh of relief that I will be able to go on my trip. But I won't forget to renew my passport early 10 years from now!
- Ann