I need advice on passports and what to expect in general

magnum · Post by **magnum** » July 19th, 2012, 2:52 pm

I've never had a passport, I don't know the process and I don't know anyone I could ask about it, so I thought this might be the best place to ask what I might run in to or what unforeseen problems I might have attempting to get one, I'm going to come off as vary ignorant and inexperienced with this entire thing so please don't troll me too hard here.

how long will the process take, I'm under the impression it takes about 2 weeks to physically hold it in your hand, and costs around 200$ but I'm unsure if that holds true still, and if that's been the normal experience some of you have had

The first one that came to mind was martial art, you get what 20 legal hours of allowed work a week, and a decent stay.

I'm not sure what type would allow me the longest stay with a decent allowed amount of hours, my attempt is to try and SAVE money while abroad and live VARY thrifty, I'm a minimalist if I need to be, all I care about is staying fit, a blanket to sleep on, and a woman to date, as I'm moral, I wont need to take her back to my place so its irrelevant how trash the place I stay in is.

I've seen hostels are VARY inexpensive in japan, and with the cultures crime rates, and my ability to kill most people in person, I don't think I'd have much of a problem, but how long they let you stay ect I'm unsure of.

I'm vary exited about this, as now the closer I get to my cut off date, the more eager i am to experience it, admittedly this underlying fear is here, but not the fear you'd expect... its fear of having blown all my savings on a empty venture, or being unable to cope with the language or being unable to get to work on time due to getting lost ect, but that'll ware off in time in the country Im sure.

I know a lot of you don't have experience with japan, but you do have experience with unplugging from the matrix of the U.S.A, what culture shock should I expect, and hardships should I be ready for.

My budget before even getting my passport is literally 3k$ even, I might be able to squeeze a extra 100$ or so, but that's not going to help much in the grand picture.

Thanks guys, and of course I'll continue researching on my own, I just think insight some of you can offer is more valuable than something to read on "ask" or "about" .com or even in some travel books.

zboy1 · Post by **zboy1** » July 19th, 2012, 10:41 pm

magnum wrote:I've never had a passport, I don't know the process and I don't know anyone I could ask about it, so I thought this might be the best place to ask what I might run in to or what unforeseen problems I might have attempting to get one, I'm going to come off as vary ignorant and inexperienced with this entire thing so please don't troll me too hard here.

how long will the process take, I'm under the impression it takes about 2 weeks to physically hold it in your hand, and costs around 200$ but I'm unsure if that holds true still, and if that's been the normal experience some of you have had

The first one that came to mind was martial art, you get what 20 legal hours of allowed work a week, and a decent stay.

I'm not sure what type would allow me the longest stay with a decent allowed amount of hours, my attempt is to try and SAVE money while abroad and live VARY thrifty, I'm a minimalist if I need to be, all I care about is staying fit, a blanket to sleep on, and a woman to date, as I'm moral, I wont need to take her back to my place so its irrelevant how trash the place I stay in is.

I've seen hostels are VARY inexpensive in japan, and with the cultures crime rates, and my ability to kill most people in person, I don't think I'd have much of a problem, but how long they let you stay ect I'm unsure of.

I'm vary exited about this, as now the closer I get to my cut off date, the more eager i am to experience it, admittedly this underlying fear is here, but not the fear you'd expect... its fear of having blown all my savings on a empty venture, or being unable to cope with the language or being unable to get to work on time due to getting lost ect, but that'll ware off in time in the country Im sure.

I know a lot of you don't have experience with japan, but you do have experience with unplugging from the matrix of the U.S.A, what culture shock should I expect, and hardships should I be ready for.

My budget before even getting my passport is literally 3k$ even, I might be able to squeeze a extra 100$ or so, but that's not going to help much in the grand picture.

Thanks guys, and of course I'll continue researching on my own, I just think insight some of you can offer is more valuable than something to read on "ask" or "about" .com or even in some travel books.

Use this link to print up the application form you will need to send to the U.S. State Department: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79955.pdf

Once you filled out the form, you will need to get your photo taken for the passport. Go to any Rite Aid, Walmart, store to get your photo taken. Here's a helpful guide on how to apply for a passport:
http://studenttravel.about.com/od/plany ... ssport.htm

magnum · Post by **magnum** » July 19th, 2012, 10:49 pm

Thanks zBoy

momopi · Post by **momopi** » July 19th, 2012, 10:58 pm

magnum wrote:I've never had a passport, I don't know the process and I don't know anyone I could ask about it, so I thought this might be the best place to ask what I might run in to or what unforeseen problems I might have attempting to get one, I'm going to come off as vary ignorant and inexperienced with this entire thing so please don't troll me too hard here.

Go to your local post office and ask. You can all ahead to verify passport services and hours.

xiongmao · Post by **xiongmao** » July 20th, 2012, 2:26 am

Are you going to Japan? Japan is stupendously safe. I've been there 4 times and all crime-wise I saw was umbrella theft.

I kid you not, but in Asakusa district of central downtown Tokyo folk don't even lock their bicycles up.

$3k won't last long in Japan, maybe you should go to China instead? The women are hotter as well.

Are dorms cheap in Japan? Not really. You can get a whole apartment in China for $200 a month.

While you can eat Cup Noodles in Japan all day, let it be known that to wine and dine a woman for one evening will cost you around 5000 yen. Hmm, come to think of it, that woman only had one cake and two coffees, and no wine.

My only hardship in Japan was the rain and trying to work the vending machines to pay for my meals at Shinagawa station.

Start by learning the Katakana, that allows you to read a bit (especially food menus).

magnum · Post by **magnum** » July 21st, 2012, 8:33 am

I honestly would try china if I wasn't in a hurry, I'm forcing my hand, if I don't make the leap, I'll end up having lost all my youth hit 30, and still be stuck in the usa making no real money with no prospect of a woman.

I'm not sure what waits for me in japan, maybe nothing but a really expensive vacation, but at least at the vary minimum I'll have experienced something outside of the usa.

Just the thought makes me happy, though you are correct china would be more beneficial.

I live around a LARGE population of chinese and I've never got any attention from them....they tend to be even more up tight that people from the us.....the women more so.

budget wise...yeah I'd be magic how much farther my money would go, heck, I even have a guy I know from china who said I could stay in his home I met last year.

Jester · Post by **Jester** » July 21st, 2012, 3:42 pm

Magnum, we are rooting for you. Go for it.

Japan will be totally alien and disorienting. Go with the flow and enjoy it.

You give us hope.

I need advice on passports and what to expect in general

I need advice on passports and what to expect in general

Re: I need advice on passports and what to expect in general

Re: I need advice on passports and what to expect in general