We decided on Saturday of the memorial day weekend that we will apply for Aryan's passport. So I got the application ready on Friday and on Saturday morning went to post office close to our home. The passport official said that they cannot take passport photo of babies so we went to Walgreen. They also refused and asked us to go to special photo place like Wolf camera/Ritz camera. We went to Ritz camera in Old Orchard Mall. The guy at Ritz Camera agreed to take Aryan's photo but said the cost would be $15 per copy. We needed 2 copies, so we thought that he is asking for outrageous amount as usually it is 7.99 for 2 copies at Walgreen.
Anyways we decided to try Jewel Osco near our place. There an Indian lady was at the photo counter and agreed to do a photo but said she does not guarantee a good photo as it is difficult to take perfect passport photo of a baby. So we decided to give it a try and she asked another guy to come over and take photos. Well the first couple of sets did not come out good. They were using regular canon digital camera. So she herself tried few times. But the photos just didn't come out right. Kushal said that we can go home and take a picture ourselves. So we went home, put a white bedsheet on the wall with push pins and propped Aryan on a dining chair. I was feeling so sorry for him. He was looking at us with pitiful eyes. Finally we thought we have a good photo and Kushal took the camera card to Jewel, got the photos printed and again we headed back to the Post office. You can see his photo shoot at http://picasaweb.google.com/aryanjn
Well, things weren't going to be that easy. The lady at the passport counter looked at the photo and said that Aryan's face is too big in the photo and does not conform with the 1 inch rule for passport photo. She recommended us to try Kinko's. So again with poor Aryan ( he was totally exhausted with the photo session at Jewel and at home) we went to Kinko's. Well on our way to Kinko's , Aryan decided to go to sleep. So when we reached Kinko's we had to wake him up and he was not happy about it. But finally, Kinko's person was more professional with better equipment and the photos came out to be good.
By this time it was only 5 minutes to closing time for the passport window at the Post office. We rushed to the post office, and barely made it. The lady looked at the photo and said it will work. Phew! what a relief. We submitted the application and made it to our home 3 1/2 hours from the time we started. Well the ordeal wasn't finished yet. When we got home, I remembered that the lady didnot ask us to sign the application. Well, you need to take an oath that the information provided is correct and then you need to sign the application. we decided to feed Aryan and then call the post office, knowing that the passport window was already closed. But before we could call we received a call from them asking us to come back and sign the application. So we went back and took the oath and signed the application. So hopefully we will get his passport in 8-10 weeks.
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2 comments:
okie ... aryan .... hell of a job that you have done .... you will be officially the youngest pasport holder of the family ..... that too an american one ...cheers !!!! looking at the pics , i can imagine what a hell of a job have the elders their doen by continously holdig both ur arms and must be saying continously ..look here ..smile aryan //// u must be thinking ..what the hell , why are they being so nice to me today .... anywayz // enjoy ur day dude ... bbye
Aryan,
I feel so sory for what these folks made you go through. Poor chap.. Anyways Jab hum log wahan pe aayenge then we will pamper you a lot. Your pics are so cute.
Chalo bye and tk.
chachu and chachi
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