Passport blues
Did I really mention yesterday that I thought getting new passports for the kids would be easier, getting it done locally, rather than having to fly to London to do it as we used to have to do? Silly me. Government processes are not designed to be easy, whatever the circumstances.
First of all we got photos taken. We used the PictureMe Photo Studio inside Walmart on Peach Street, where they have notices up about how they will make sure the photos meet the regulations. It came as something of a surprise, therefore, when the Post Office person rejected one set of photos as unacceptable. It rapidly became clear as the process progressed that much of it is based on ‘make it up as you go along’ rules. The paperwork requires the child’s birth certificate. We provided them. The Post Office, however, didn’t like them because they were Isle of Man birth certificates. Nowhere on the forms does it demand that the birth certificates be US issued - indeed, you cannot get a US birth certificate if a child is not born here. You can get a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, but that is not a birth certificate. Somehow the fact that they were still official, long form birth certificates with all the necessary details on them did not sink in. Eventually a compromise arrangement was reached whereby the applications were sent off, with us being told “they may well send them back”. As the Post Office charges a fee for this processing I struggle to see what value they have added if in the end they shrug and send things off with a “we’ll see” attitude.
So, $206 and a couple of hours later we may, or may not, have arranged new passports for the kids. We have to wait and see what happens. After all the progress of recent weeks this particular task has been quite frustrating.
A return visit to the PictureMe Photo Studio at Walmart to get a refund was unsuccessful, as there was simply a sign up saying they were out for the next 40 minutes, and Walmart Customer Service denied all responsibility for franchise operations within the store. That will have to be sorted out at a later date.
Tomorrow the house hunt continues with 6 house viewings booked. Still no news on any of the job applications.
Tags: passports, pictureme, post office, walmart
July 3rd, 2008 at 17:28
Here’s my two cents:
1) Skip the open house circuit. Instead work with one Realtor who can assist you. http://www.howardhanna.com A good agent will guide you through the options that will help you reach your ultimate goal.
2) Research real estate as a career: http://www.alankells.com
I thought about real estate as a career for more than 10 years before I ran out of excuses for not trying it. So I took the classes in 1986 and I have not regretted my decision for one minute. After 20+ years in real estate sales, management, recruiting and training agents, I teach real estate classes and love every minute.
July 3rd, 2008 at 17:45
Thanks for the comments. We already have a Buyer’s Agent signed up and, coincidentally, it is someone at Howard Hanna. We think we have a good one!
As for a switch of career, for now I think there’s enough change in our lives without a career change too, but we won’t rule it out for the future. It is early days on the job hunting and we remain optimistic - only time will tell whether that is correct or foolish.