passport problems - china travel - an update

Big passport problem today in the U.S. My previous blog talked about my own problems with getting a new U.S. Passport. Well...I got the damnable thing. So this blog is really a continuation of my last blog. I finally got my "appointment" with the San Francisco Passport office on Hawthorn Street in the city on March 12. I went down there and everything worked out great.

OK...HERE IS THE DEAL! ADVICE TO PASSPORT APPLICANTS

At this time it is nearly impossible to get a new passport through the normal channels. The problem is that the new requirements to have a passport for going and comming from Mexico and Canada has totally overwhelmed the system. The Passport people at www.state.gov all mean well but there is no way that anybody is going to get a passport through the normal procedure. DON'T BOTHER APPLYING unless you have about 3 months before your trip. Wait until you qualify to use the 'emergency' 14 days or less provission. JUST WAIT!!! as soon as you have 13-14 days before your trip RUN DON'T WALK to the regional passport office nearest you.
First try to get an appointment through the telephone system. Push buttons and listen to the taped messages. It will take awhile, but don't give up. Get that appointment. If you live 1-2 days drive away...do it and make a day or two out of it. Go to an opera or fine dining...whatever. Just get thee to the city closest to you with a regional passport office. Email won't help much either. There is another thing you can do if you give up on the telephone. Just go down with no appointment. They will put you in a line and you will have to wait for quite awhile for other people who are as desperate as you. BTW Zanax might help. Once you get that appointment, your problems are most likely over. If you get in in the morning you will have a passport that afternoon. Or you can choose to come back in the morning. In my case I elected to come back in the morning. I got my passport and drove immediatelly to the Chinese Consulate and did my PRC visa application. I will pick up my passport and visa this morning. My flight is on Monday March 19. I went through a lot of anxiety so I could prepare this blog for you. I hope that somebody will profit from my experience......Happy Trails