My friends make fun of me because I’m so organized. I honestly have to do things just so or my anxiety is through the roof. When it comes to traveling I kick my organizational skills into high gear. I never in a million years would have thought I would discover my expired passport.
When getting ready for a trip to Quebec, I was super organized. I had researched all the restaurants we were going to eat at, made reservations for dinner, printed out tickets for attractions, had all my confirmations written down, designed specific outfits for each day, and I was packed two days before we had to leave.
On the day before we were leaving, I got up in the morning and started packing the last bit of stuff I could. With great excitement it was time to unlock my passports from our safe, the excitement I was feeling quickly turned to complete horror.
MY PASSPORT WAS EXPIRED
OMG, this was a nightmare!!! When I realized that my passport was expired I flew into panic mode. I started crying and quickly got online to find out what I could do, if anything.
If you are in the same boat right now looking at your expired passport and are reading this in a complete panic I will save you the details and get right to the point.
DO THE FOLLOWING ASAP
- Call the National Passport Information Center and make an Appointment a National Passport Agency. If you have the option between one in a more or less populated area pick the less populated area.
- Print out all of your travel documents with the dates and location of travel. IT HAS TO BE PRINTED. Don’t try to use your phone as proof.
- Print out the passport renewal form from ONLINE.
- Fill it out with black ink.
- Go right away to the nearest location that does passport photos like Walmart or Walgreens and get your passport photos taken.
- Bring your old passport, your travel documents, your filled out passport renewal form, your photos, and a check for the payment.
- Don’t wait for your appointment time get in the car and go right there. You can’t afford to miss your appointment or you will for sure not get a passport.
- Have all your paper ready to go. Be nice. Be patient and pray they grant you a passport.
I was successful in getting a passport. The whole process from the moment I discovered my expired passport until I had one in my hand was about seven hours. I had to drove two and a half hours away but I got one!
I hope you never find yourself in this situation but it good to know what to do if you do!
Be sure to check out all of my travel tip and ideas on my travel page!
Happy Travels
