So today I officially applied for my United States passport. After what felt like jumping through the million fiery hoops of death that the United States loves so much I realized something: The internet lies to you.
I did my research on passports before today. I talked to people who have them, googled "passport application" like 42 times, looked into the possibility of an enhanced drivers license (which they do not yet offer in Illinois), and any other thing that seemed wise when researching something you need but know nothing about.
The website that is the "official" place for all of your passport information needs is terribly confusing and it makes me wonder why I know so many unemployed writers. Let me share something with all of you in the blog-o-sphere... Lawyers do not know how to speak anything but legalese.
If someone tells me all I need is a proof of citizenship (birth certificate), and a valid ID (license) then that's all I need. Why then did I have to spend $5 on a cab ride to the grocery store, after spending $2.25 on the bus to make photocopies of my drivers license and acquire my photos for my passport when the Post office that I went to a. probably has both of these things, and b. no one told me I needed photocopies of my ID!?
I will tell you why. Because who ever wrote the website for passport information is a moron and doesn't know how to explain things to the population of American's that speak English in a way that they can understand it.
So my advice to anyone looking to obtain a US passport is simply this: bring everything you could ever need to identify yourself. And photocopies of it.
The good news is instead of paying $15 at the post office for my photos I only paid like $8 at the grocery store for my photos and my photocopies.
In any event I am now one step closer to my Mexican travels. Once I get my passport in the mail all I have to do is horde my money and wait for December.
Viva Mexico!
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