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percivalYesterday, I phoned the German consulate about my passport. First reaction: What, you applied for it on March 3rd? It takes at least ten weeks! (shock) Call again in fifteen minutes, then I'll get the lady from the Visa department for you. She's busy at the moment.
Called again fifteen minutes later. "The lady is at the counter now. I need to go and get her. Can you wait?" - YES! - "Erm, when did you apply for your passport again? I'll have a look to see whether it's there." (shuffling)
"No, sorry. Wait until we notify you or call again in early May. There's nothing we can do to speed up the process. We can't even tell you at which stage of the proceedings your passport is. And the preliminary passport we can give you will never get you to the States. "
I was devastated. The trip of a lifetime, the Big Pre-Baby Trip was suddenly endangered. I looked up cancellation policies, travel insurance, and bus trips from New York to Montana, figuring that maybe I might join Thomas later. And there was the small matter of my trip to Germany this weekend, to celebrate my Dad's sixtieth birthday. For that, I need a temporary passport.
This morning, I dutifully had some more photos made and walked to the German consulate in the posh West End of Edinburgh. After ten minutes, it was my turn. I'd barely given my name and what I wanted, when the lady at the counter interrupted me. "Wait a minute!" She went off and returned - with my passport. She was the one who'd reassured me I'd have it before Easter when I submitted the application. And she'd been right.
So,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dr_c and piperx, there's no way out now. We Shall Meet. Mwahahahaha ....
Next time they'll see me, I'll hopefully bring my husband and a beautiful new baby with me. All three of us will need to bring our birth certificates, the parents will need to bring their passports, and then we'll determine the name of the sproglet. S/he will get my husband's surname, I've kept my maiden name in marriage.
(No, I'm not pregnant. But, as my icon says, there is still hope ...)
Called again fifteen minutes later. "The lady is at the counter now. I need to go and get her. Can you wait?" - YES! - "Erm, when did you apply for your passport again? I'll have a look to see whether it's there." (shuffling)
"No, sorry. Wait until we notify you or call again in early May. There's nothing we can do to speed up the process. We can't even tell you at which stage of the proceedings your passport is. And the preliminary passport we can give you will never get you to the States. "
I was devastated. The trip of a lifetime, the Big Pre-Baby Trip was suddenly endangered. I looked up cancellation policies, travel insurance, and bus trips from New York to Montana, figuring that maybe I might join Thomas later. And there was the small matter of my trip to Germany this weekend, to celebrate my Dad's sixtieth birthday. For that, I need a temporary passport.
This morning, I dutifully had some more photos made and walked to the German consulate in the posh West End of Edinburgh. After ten minutes, it was my turn. I'd barely given my name and what I wanted, when the lady at the counter interrupted me. "Wait a minute!" She went off and returned - with my passport. She was the one who'd reassured me I'd have it before Easter when I submitted the application. And she'd been right.
So,
dr_c and piperx, there's no way out now. We Shall Meet. Mwahahahaha ....Next time they'll see me, I'll hopefully bring my husband and a beautiful new baby with me. All three of us will need to bring our birth certificates, the parents will need to bring their passports, and then we'll determine the name of the sproglet. S/he will get my husband's surname, I've kept my maiden name in marriage.
(No, I'm not pregnant. But, as my icon says, there is still hope ...)
