Here's an update on this post.
Yesterday, I met up with the folks at the passport office. I think that because every experience I've ever had at the DMV (or RMV) has been miserable and frustrating, even when things went well, I just assume the same will be true of other government agencies.
Not so!
The folks at the passport office were extremely nice and helpful. Since I didn't actually need my passport yesterday, they are going to have it ready for me Friday afternoon. No problems at all. As was explained over the phone, they looked at my passport, marriage license, and flight itinerary explaining that I'm flying out of the country on Saturday, and then they put the expedited application through, and that was that.
Today, though, I had to go to the RMV. I've been dreading it and putting it off a bit. Now, they told me over the phone that they could expedite drivers licenses if you could show them your flight itinerary. Stupid me forgot to bring the print-out the first time, and assumed they could just look at my phone, but after waiting 45 minutes to see someone, I was sent away with nothing. Off to FedEx I went to re-print my itinerary, then back to the RMV... for another hour-long wait. When I got to the counter, the girl working was actually really nice, if not the sharpest of tacks (she asked me where Copenhagen was, and looked utterly confused when I said "Denmark"... I assume she wasn't sure where that was either). Well, she took my itinerary away for a few minutes, only to return to tell me that they can't expedite licenses for international flights, as those require a passport. They only do it for domestic flights that don't require a passport. I do wish they'd mentioned that to me when I called and explained my situation.
I did my best to explain that I wouldn't even be at the address on my license after Saturday, and that I need my license to be updated in order to get a AAA International Driving Permit...
The compromise we came to was that, while they can't get me my license before I leave, and they can't mail the new one to Denmark (probably for the best, since they're not sure where it is), they can mail it to my parents. They, in turn, will mail it to Denmark.
Not ideal, but also not a horrible outcome.
So, everything will be updated eventually, and that's just fine by me.
Showing posts with label Expedite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Expedite. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Expediting and Carlton Dancing
The timing of this move is insane.
If we didn't have our honeymoon coming up, I could easily get everything done in time, but with the honeymoon, we have a week less to pack and get documentation in order.
But boy, do we need this honeymoon. If we can manage to take our minds off of the move, it'll do us both a lot of good. "If" being the operative word...
So, if you find yourself having to change your name on all of your identification (due to marriage, or whatever else), but are leaving the country within a few weeks, here are a few helpful things that I have learned:
1. The US Passport Agencies not only have the ability to expedite getting you your new passport by mail, but if you're really in a crunch you can make an appointment to talk to them in person at the passport agency. Keep in mind, though, you can't even make the appointment unless you are leaving the country within 14 days (or leaving within 30 days and need a visa as well). Once at the appointment, you and the agent will discuss options, one of which is actually having them issue a new passport with your updated information that very day.
2. The RMV (or DMV depending on your state) also has the ability to issue licenses the same day. Sort of. The woman I spoke to over the phone (after a good half hour on hold listening to music that made me want to do the Carlton dance) told me that, if you pay an extra fee for expediting, and go to another office, they also have a machine that can cut your new license that very day. Trouble is... she tells me the machine breaks a lot. So... there's that.
3. The folks at the Social Security office are surprisingly nice and helpful! I expected it to be a lot like waiting at the RMV. Depressing to sit there, and even more depressing to talk to the agents who obviously hate life and everyone who bothers to show up in theirs. But, no, the social security folks were lovely! Though, I didn't ask if they expedite, as my new card with my updated name should arrive well before we leave.
If we didn't have our honeymoon coming up, I could easily get everything done in time, but with the honeymoon, we have a week less to pack and get documentation in order.
But boy, do we need this honeymoon. If we can manage to take our minds off of the move, it'll do us both a lot of good. "If" being the operative word...
So, if you find yourself having to change your name on all of your identification (due to marriage, or whatever else), but are leaving the country within a few weeks, here are a few helpful things that I have learned:
1. The US Passport Agencies not only have the ability to expedite getting you your new passport by mail, but if you're really in a crunch you can make an appointment to talk to them in person at the passport agency. Keep in mind, though, you can't even make the appointment unless you are leaving the country within 14 days (or leaving within 30 days and need a visa as well). Once at the appointment, you and the agent will discuss options, one of which is actually having them issue a new passport with your updated information that very day.
2. The RMV (or DMV depending on your state) also has the ability to issue licenses the same day. Sort of. The woman I spoke to over the phone (after a good half hour on hold listening to music that made me want to do the Carlton dance) told me that, if you pay an extra fee for expediting, and go to another office, they also have a machine that can cut your new license that very day. Trouble is... she tells me the machine breaks a lot. So... there's that.
3. The folks at the Social Security office are surprisingly nice and helpful! I expected it to be a lot like waiting at the RMV. Depressing to sit there, and even more depressing to talk to the agents who obviously hate life and everyone who bothers to show up in theirs. But, no, the social security folks were lovely! Though, I didn't ask if they expedite, as my new card with my updated name should arrive well before we leave.
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