Yes, I get to go to Sydney again tomorrow. This time to apply for Ashley's US passport and to submit the "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" for my little Aussie girl. We never thought we'd be going back this soon, so we haven't processed any of this stuff. We looked into it weeks ago, but on the website and in the paperwork it's really vague. It says something about obtaining "travel papers" for children born while in Australia, but does not specify they MUST have a US passport. So I was unsure until I asked them last Thursday and that's when I found out I had to come back with her to get her US passport. Ugh. It's killing me is that she has to go WITH me. I can't just go myself to apply for her, and I can't submit the papers via mail. Are they trying to squeeze every last dollar out of us or what? Don't they care that I just went there last week and that Jared will have to go again in a few more weeks? I guess not.
Coincidentally, Katherine is going down to Sydney tomorrow to pick up her new car (to replace the smashed car, see post below). She is getting the same thing again but diesel. It's a Toyota Prado here but I think it's the Lexus GX in the States. (Not a car you want to flip upside down and smash into pieces). Anyway, Jared's other sister, Susan, is also flying out tomorrow to go to Melbourne to visit Lauren, the third sister. Weird, huh? It will be amusing if all three of us end up at the airport at the same time.
I don't know how the plane ride with Ashley will go. I guess it's good practice for our upcoming flight to the States, right? Only difference is this flight is a mere 1 hour and 20 minutes. To the US we're looking at about 12 hours, if it's direct. Anyway, hopefully it will all go smoothly with Ashley and I can get some idea of how long this passport will take. On the website, it says "up to 4 weeks" to process a passport. I hope this is true b/c we are working on that timeline now. We have put a hold on some plane tickets for November 9th! How good is that?! Wish me luck!
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4 comments:
Wow, November 9th! That seems so close. But what a bummer there is so much to do. Especially the flying with a 1 yr old part. Hope it goes well tomorrow. I am not a fan of government red tape.
The thing that worked best with Ewan on our recent flight was snacks... lots and lots of snacks.
Hope it all works out! That is an awful lot of effort to move. All worth it though. I will miss all your Australia pics but it will be fun to see you in Utah with your family.
Jamie, she ate snacks the whole time! I don't know how I will have 12 hours worth of snacks to keep her occupied. At least on the Int'l flights they give you lots of food!
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