So it's 6:55pm on December 29th right now and at this moment I should be boarding a plane to BALI with my wife and friend for a fun filled week of sun, fun and ringing in the New year in Indonesia.
But I am at home, not on the plane. Why?
Turns out my Canadian Passport expires... IN SIX MONTHS... so they wont let me on the plane.
Yes, that's right, it is valid... for another 165 days or so but in Singapore, that means it's invalid. If it's less than six months to go on your passport, they won't let you fly.
Crazy.
So Michelle and Chad are off to Bali (against their wishes mind you, they wanted to stay but I wouldn't let them - no point in three vacations being ruined instead of one - the need of the many outweigh the need of the few or the one) to meet a bunch of our friends while I deal with the Canadian Consulate tomorrow morning.
Hopefully I will be there in 24-48 hours to ring in the new year with my wife and friends, otherwise this will be one lonely New Years Eve.
Will keep you posted.
DEC 30th UPDATE: So I went to the High Commission of Canada in Singapore this morning. According to the nice lady who helped me, a "Emergency Rush Passport" takes 4-5 Business Days (it takes under 24 hours if we were in Canada) and since I would have been back from my Bali trip before the 4-5 Business Days had come and gone, my Bali Vacation is not happening. No Vacation, No Refund, No Passport. Shitty end to the year for me and it will be a lonely start to the new one since virtually all my Sing friends are either in Taiwan or Bali or home for the holidays. Ah well, as they said in the BATMAN BEGINS... "why do we fall? So we might learn to pick ourselves up". The new passport has been applied for and paid for and hopefully will arrive in 15 business days or so. Live & Learn!
5 comments:
Dude that is so BRUTAL ! There's still 6 months left on your passport !?!?! Why won't they let you fly !??!! That doesn't make any sense.
I'm angry now too.
your pal,
Beadle
This is not uncommon, but not something one thinks about when one has a valid passport. It's also relatively new. I'm pretty sure a Canadian can't cross the American border if their passport is due to expire within 6 months.
I think the fear is you'd go to another country, and then not return to your country of origin... or something.
My beef is that they let me buy the ticket knowing what dates I am booking the flight for and knowing when my passport expires yet they let you spend the money on the ticket. They just dont let you collect the ticket... or refund you.
All this while my passport is still valid.
I have an idea what Hulk would do in this situation.
Well, if there was ever a time to catch up on your reading/gaming/porning, this is it.
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