MIA Passport
My passport seems to be stuck in the black hole of the Bangladeshi embassy in Washington DC. This is a problem. I have a ticket to leave for Bangladesh on Monday. Yes, Monday.
Can you hear the panic rising in my voice?
The embassy seems to have an unusual number of holidays--both American and Bangladeshi. And embassy personnel seem to take off days around those holidays as well, which occur about once a week. This week's holiday was yesterday--a day off "on the occasion of National Revolution & Solidarity Day." I've tried to call repeatedly, but no one ever picks up or returns calls, and I've listened to The Yellow Rose of Texas, their tinny boppy telephone waiting music all too often.
Maybe I won't be doing the quick turnabout I expected...flying home on Friday and to Bangladesh on Monday.
posted by Lucia @ 7:24 PM
13 Comments:
Yikes! Good luck!
It's no better with the Lao embassy. JP's passport was held up there until the last possible minute and finally someone had to go there personally to extract it. Same with Peru. Thankfully, we live in DC.
Worse case scenario: could you drive there personally prior to flying back home? (And you can stop by and say hi!)
Oy.. Yep and Bangladesh has a lot more holidays than us folks in the US of A.
As KC suggested getting to DC from Baltimore/MD (if you are still there that is) is easy. You could drive or hop on the MARC train to DC. Driving can be a real pain around the beltway.
Good luck though.
kc & sanjay: Thanks. I'm going to see if a contact from DC can go in today, and if not, it'll be a quick trip there tomorrow morning before my flight leaves. But...you know how they have hours during which they release these? Unfortunately, the hours are in the afternoon, so I'd really need to pull the sweet talkin' flattering powers of persuasion out of my back pocket. (I'm a wreck. No sleep last night.)
I don't know how you get through stresses like that. I hate traveling between Canada and the U.S. now with border crossings and that's nothing! Have a cup of something hot. I'm sure your charms will win you a passport!
Lucia sorry about the stress. I am sure your powers of persuasion are considerable. Good luck pal!
Somehow I'm sure you'll work this out but, yes, it is definitely a royal PITA.
:)
Peace,
TG
The three weeks my wife and I spent in India some years back was the most enjoyable ever. If you keep an open mind about everything you will enjoy yourself.
You may have to get used to feeling like a celebrity, though. You'll see what I mean when you get there. ;)
Enjoy!
Our exchange student needed to register with the Swiss consulate and they asked us to send his passport to DC. I opted for the trip into Chicago to have it done in person. Now I know we made the right choice. I hope find the passport quickly.
Dan,
That is a mean tease! :) I know exactly what you're talking about and Lucia should be warned. G'wan. Tell her. LOL
Peace,
Thailand Gal
~*~*~
Dan & TG: Been to both India and Bangladesh before, so I don't think there will be any surprises! (Although I guess it depends what you're talking about.)
All: Thanks for your moral support!
Lordy, that would panic me as well... Red tape makes me crazy.
I send good embassy vibes, and wish you safe travel---hopefully soon!
FIngers crossed!
And have a good trip....
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