After traveling many times over the years to Texas and Mexico, the @papa-pepper tribe had been planning for some time to return. Out of nowhere, we wound up with an opportunity, so to the bottom of the country we rushed. (For the record, when we rush we do not always get all of our ducks in a row first.)
EXPIRED!
Until we were heading down here, we did not realize that something unfortunate had happened. Thirteen days ago, our passport cards for Pinkie Pepper and Red Pepper expired.
The passport cards we have are supposed to be valid for land and sea travel between the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the islands in the Caribbean. Passport cards issued for adults are good for 10 years, while those issued for children are only good for five years. It had just been over five years since we had gotten ours.
The Blessing of Mistakes
Thankfully, they messed up on the passport card for Monster Truck the Pepper. They had his birth year wrong on the original card, which recorded him as being just a few months younger than his next oldest sister, Red Pepper. We are pretty sure that you can’t really have children that are just a few months apart, at least not with the same mother, so we decided to fix that error after having to answer some interesting questions a few years ago about it.
When it was time to get a passport card for Sweet Pepper, we sent in the one for Monster Truck to get it fixed too. Those two cards were issued more recently and are still valid, but the ones for Pinkie Pepper and Red Pepper have expired.
ON NO, WE CAN'T GO!
So, we figured that it meant only two of older four @little-peppers could leave the country. Since our newest boy Buddy Pepper still didn't get his birth certificate mailed back, @mama-pepper was already planning on staying in Texas while @papa-pepper took some of the @little-peppers to Mexico.
Thankfully, I learned yesterday that the expiration dates don't really matter!
HOORAY!
Now, all of the older four @little-peppers are cleared to not only leave the country, but to come back as well. I'll be leaving in a few minutes with Sweet Pepper and Pinkie Pepper, and I'll take Monster Truck and Red Pepper next time. We kind of thought that we had missed out on an opportunity here, but thankfully such is not the case.
I'll have to go pick up my steemit presents at high noon, so I've got to get going, but I'll keep you posted!
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-passport-card
Until next time…
Don’t waste your time online, invest it with steemit.com
YAY mexico -Glad the whole gange got to go. Mexico is my next place to visit I think. I liked your 50cents border crossing post... so I made you into a spicy beer last night.
very cool, I don't drink anymore but I might have one of those!
I hope you like your beers description - I tried to go over some of your posts to get the flavour right haha https://steemit.com/steemit/@artwatch/taking-drink-requests-a-steemit-drinking-game-what-is-papa-pepper-wild-man-a-spicy-craft-beer
I don't believe that that's you. I'm going to need more proof.
Yes, I agree. Where is the beard???
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....
Still suspicious about this papa pepper identity
I mean, he looks WAY younger in the picture.
seriously!
Look at the last photo with the ID.
When was that taken... high school? :)
But good job on managing to get on the road anyway despite the expiration!
I recently ran into someone in Bangkok who was in much worse trouble... he didn't even have any money left.
I will post the story (and his simple but ingenious solution) to the @traveladdict blog soon...
Awesome
What I truly love about you and your family, is your sheer and fearless enjoyment of life, and your willingness to share it. You are encouraging us to walk out the front door and LIVE!
WoW! Cool, I am glad that you think so!
We all have the human right to travel without hinderence. Passports violate our human rights. Freeman for life.
Have a great time in Mexico @papa-pepper! Be safe at the border crossing, they're no fun...especially when coming back. Looking forward to pics.
A bit of a relief that they can come back also!
Yeah, I was happy about that one too!
Good to know that you're still able to travel with the fam!
My passport expires next year, so I'm cleared for Steemfest! That's what matters most.
My 15 year old son on the other hand does not have a passport so that's definitely something I want to get for him this summer.
I was thinking of taking him to Barcelona in Dec for his birthday, I found really inexpensive airfare on travelpirates.com
Yeah, I think next time we might just get regular passports too so we can travel abroad.
The kind of exposure that comes through travel is truly the best. So glad that the older four @little-peppers get to travel! Woo-hoo! They look so happy! :) Best wishes to them for a fantabulous time. :)
So far so good!
Awesome Papa, glad to know that the trip is still on for Mexico! Have a great time with the little ones, be safe and keep us all posted as always!
I didn't know you could get passport cards for babies! Good to know!
huh..
last time I went to mexico or canada no passport was required.
last time I had a passport it wasn't a card it was something like a checkbook.
the system wasn't broke so they fixed it till it was?
Yes, they did. They fixed 'er good too.
And there is still many places along the border where there is a check point and nobody there.
But, the paperwork must flow.
The US Passport Card is NOT a replacement for a Passport book.
It is only valid for land travel in North America.
It is NOT valid for air travel.
See https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/FAQs.html
Correct. Land or sea in North America only.
I see..well that makes it much simpler doesn't it?
Enjoy your time there man, the family the, sun and the beach. Feels good to go on vacation :)
I can't wait to find out what the presents are!
I love your picture on your ID papa-pepper. :D I had to do a double take to be sure it was you. :D
I've had some different looks in this life.
Haven't we all my friend, haven't we all? :D
I think that is why I don't go in front of the camera. :D
It is a terrifying thought, that you go to mexico.
But then....
you stay too long, and your passport expires and you can never return to The US.
Excellent idea, much cheaper than buying your freedom through the expat process.
It;s great that the kids are seeing more of the world. What part of Mexico are you going to?
Progresso Nuevo, across the border from Weslaco, TX or so about.
Guys follow me i will vote back lets be friends.
thankyou
Very nice @papa-pepper You live a wild life and its amazing that you share everything that your learn with us. I used to live in San Diego and head into T.J. a lot. I bet it is nicer further up at the Texas border though.
That what I need. VACATION!!! Hope I can freely do that lol Enjoy man! Upvoted!
OMG -talk about a "sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach" feeling? (or better yet, a lead weight...)
How did you figure out that your children WOULD be able to travel?
Yay and congrats and have lots of fun!
I asked at the border yesterday.
Pink peppers and sweet peppers. Wow! Sweet names
It does look like a driver's license indeed! Baby driver's license!
They could come up with some more creativity at least!
Oh, You! Almost screwed up=)) LOL
Funny stuff ^_^^
haha
Beautiful photo of your passport!😆
Yours post rules! Congratulations!
Your passport pic resembles someone but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Great to hear everything is going well!
I love your hair in your passport photo! Your babies are beautiful 🤗
I've had a variety of dreadlocks five times this life.
Hi @papa-pepper,
Congratulations! You have been chosen to appear on another amazing edition of "Who to Follow Daily". Thank you for adding so much value to the Steemit community. Steem on!
Would you believe something similar happened to me. 5 days before we were to fly out, as I went to check in online I noticed my youngest childs passport was out of date. In Ireland if they are issued under the age of 3 then it lasts for 3 years and 5 years for under 16 and 10 years for an adult.
The difference for me was that it did make a difference and I had to get an emergency apt with the passport office. Only got the passport 4 hours before our flight....
hey @papa-pepper !!
nice post ......... ireally like it . upvoted you.
i've posted my first blog .....plzz cheak
Came accross a bloke a few years ago, he was born on the boat heading to NZ, when they attived the new employer was waiting on the dock, hurried them into the horse drawn cart and off to the backblocks.
He grew up, went to WW2, returned, saved up enough to go for a trip to England and see where his parents came from.
Applied for a pasport, oops, no birth certificate. That took about 6 months to provehe was even alive, much less get a pasport.
Enjoy your break.
So your taking the little-peppers to Mexico? I'm from Mexico in I know you all will have a good time, and yes, the baby´s passport looks like a driver's license, maybe he can drive you back home ;) hehehe
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Beautiful post ! Thank you so much for your effort !!
Upvoted !
Hi @papa-pepper can I translate this article into Afrikaans?
Almost six years ago, I had to return to Holland from Ireland, for a day in court. On the day before I was supposed to leave, I discovered that my passport had ran out by two weeks. My lawyer told me that I didn't need to be present at the hearing and everything went smoothly. Now I think it had to be that way, nasty things could have been brought back again if I had been there. But I'm glad your kids got to go :)
The paperwork mandates for travel and commerce and everything else are always onerous for those of us who desire to live freer lives.
Glad to see my family isn't the only one caught up in hurried "planning" and government red tape. Sorry to hear only part of the family got to to Mexico. Bummer.