In Bisaya (my first spoken language), there is a word apiki. Like many foreign words, it cannot accurately be translated into English. Usually used to describe being stuck in an almost inescapable situation, the closest descriptive english words include – cramped, stuck, hectic, highly-pressured, tight, running out of time, or trying to squeeze out of a very sticky situation. Then there is pinaka-apiki – the most apiki. Ah wait, here’s an example…
WTF have you done Mon?
Last Saturday, David had taken the kids to tennis and swimming. I was at home and just finished handing over to the weekend team via phone as I was on-call overnight. The next order of business was sorting out our ESTAs as we had 12 days til Disney World. I had sorted the kids first then it was my turn. I reviewed the website and I didn’t need one as I also hold an American passport. I looked at my passport and lo behold…
Expiration Date: 18 August 2026
By my count… that was 2 months ago! By my count… I have 12 days to sort things out.
That’s okay, I will just enter the US with my English passport. NO. This is not okay. I looked on the website and for dual nationalities, ‘it is illegal to enter the US with the other passport!’
You know those moments when your life flashes before your eyes? Yea this was one of them. The cogs of the panic machine in my head started to crank up a notch. I panic-read the whole of the internet looking for any way out.
David comes home and with my well-polished breaking bad news skills, I told him and he lovingly responded with a very supportive ‘WTF have you done Mon?! You’re stuffed! I guess it’s gonna be me and kids at Disney World.’ Well, the thought of a 10-day staycation briefly crossed my mind, it wouldn’t be so bad… but the kids will never forgive me.
I read on the US Embassy website that an emergency passport can be granted for life/death or illness situations, Disney World may struggle to fall under either category. I immediately called the embassy to see if I can get an urgent appointment. ‘Please call back on Tuesday 0830 as it is Columbus Day on Monday.’ You can also book into an appointment either London, Belfast, or Edinburgh. All of which are full and no dates beyond next week. ‘You need to sort this out Mon.’
If in the US, I would have been able to get an expedited passport renewal face to face. My friend also said I can potentially use a third party to expedite it for me – this would entail sending my application and passport to the US, the 3rd party does the work for me, and sends back the new passport – for a little over £1000! I then found out that this was not allowed from the UK.
The whole weekend, I went back to the booking system again and again to look for availabilities. And at 9 pm on Monday, a slot in Belfast magically appeared for Thursday the 15th at 1400. Without hesitation, I booked it! Belfast?! ‘Hey David, I have a crazy idea… I don’t know if it is going to work. Yes, Belfast, as in Northern Ireland.’ I had already had my US passport photos done and my passport renewal form was filled in. I printed out my itinerary to show that I was imminently leaving in 5 business days from the appointment.
2 conflicts – our boiler broke (a pipe had burst) and needs emergent repair (story for later) AND I had already booked us an appointment with a Notary Public for our Australian paperwork on Thursday the 15th at 1300!
Further emails between the Belfast Consulate and London Embassy – London offered an appointment for the 19th-21st. (We leave the 22nd). I emailed London… ‘I have decided to keep my Belfast appointment.’
24 hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland
I found out that there were flights out of Southampton to Belfast (win) – ticket booked, only an hour and a bit. I rescheduled the notarisation to Wednesday, David kept the Thursday appointment. (Obviously the cost of this just doubled). Wednesday evening, David and I ran through the checklist two times! I even brought my Filipino birth certificate, American naturalisation certificate, and British naturalisation certificate (a bit overly indulgent with the citizenships, if you ask me).
0545 Thursday morning, grey and early, I drove to Southampton and parked at my colleague’s house and took an Uber to the airport (avoided £66 short stay parking). Small airports are the best, you get in and there is no fuzz. I sat and read a book (The Empire of Tea – excellent book if you are into tea).
1015 Got to Belfast, grey and early. I bought a bus day pass – only to find the bus was cancelled so would have to wait another 30 mins. Uber it is. Went straight to Easyhotel and I had requested for early check in (cannot bring backpacks/laptops to the Consulate).
1115 It is Thursday and I also have the MSc course online. While waiting for the room to be ready, I logged in and joined the course. I made sure that I was there for the group work for an upcoming presentation. Done.
1230 I’m in my room, freshened up, formal clothes laid out, teeth brushed. Paperwork rechecked. And I’m off.
1300 Bus delayed again! Called Uber again. Practising my spiel and pleas for an emergency passport. “It’s not life or death, nobody died. But it’s life or death for my family…” Something like that…
1330 Arrived 30 minutes early. Security checks. My steps within the Consulate were not logged as my Garmin went into a lock box.
1345 Face to Face with one of the agents, I was armed and ready with my spiel.
“I was hoping I could get an emergency passport.”
“Oh is yours expired? When are you traveling?”
“Next Thursday. I have my itinerary…”
“No need. Please have a seat.”
What?! That was it?!!! I handed over all my paperwork (UK and US passport, marriage cert for the name change), also included a receipt that I already paid for the passport. I signed the form. I sat down and read my book.
1415
I walked out and the sun had briefly made an appearance. I went to go claim my Garmin to log my steps again. I didn’t really know whether to laugh or cry. I didn’t know if this was a victory or I had just briefly failed at life. I didn’t know whether this was a Near Miss or an actual Never Event (in medical error speak).
1430 Finally manage to get on a bus! I wanted to go for a run or for a drink to celebrate or go to the Ulster Museum, but went back to the hotel to re-join the lectures instead.
1700 I went to see family and we went to a Filipino restaurant. Sooo good and belly sooo full.
2100
2130 Back to the hotel and packing. Cab pre-booked for the morning.
0530 Off to Belfast City airport
0630 See you later Belfast. And thank you. I’ll be back for the Belfast Marathon in 2028.
0900 Back in Southampton General Hospital – logged in on to the Gynae Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting.
5 Days til Disney World
So here I am, a week after finding out about a passport Never Event. There was a time when I had to pay for a visa application twice because something was missing. David then says “Yea but this is the worst.”
Mao na jud ni ang pinaka-apiki.
