I was dreading the process of getting my passport renewed since the beginning of this year. I do not know if there are other countries where folks feel anxiety at getting such a task done because of the fear of the long wait. I suppose there might be, but judging the time in world history it should not be an issue. With mind-blowing advancements in technology getting a passport should not be an exhausting experience anywhere. So why is it that most of the time there is a crowd at the Central Passport and Immigration Office? It is not a recent development, for as long as I can remember it has always been that way. However over the last few months, rumours about increased passport fees would have contributed to the larger than usual crowds. But now, after those rumours have been dispelled the crowds remain. The man in the street thinks that everyone wants to try to get a U.S. visa before President Barack Obama leaves office. Many fear that if Donald Trump were to become president it would become difficult as it was in times past to obtain a U.S. visitor’s visa. I will not make any pronouncements on that.
In April I got the paperwork that I needed to get done and made my first attempt at the passport office. I went in the afternoon because the process moved quicker in the afternoon from past experiences. In 2012 when an application was made for my daughter who was seven months old at the time we went to the office about 15:30hrs and in less than half an hour we were done. Last year when I went to get my last daughter’s passport I realized that things had changed somewhat and it was not as easy as the last time I was there. Though we went in the afternoon we spent some two and a half hours.
