BZ. employee Birka Reinitz with her expired passport Photo: Christian Lohse
By Birka Reinitz
Last Christmas I spontaneously decided with my girlfriends: We’re going to London!
I checked my passport and – oh my – it expires at the end of January. The start of an appointment odyssey.
I immediately looked online at my citizen’s office for an appointment to extend my passport. Only two months were released – and of course all days were taken.
I kept checking online throughout the day. Throughout Berlin, of course. Every now and then the current day lit up blue. That means appointments became available spontaneously. But as soon as I wanted to book one, it was gone again.
You have to be quick. The spontaneous appointments are usually within a time window of a few hours from NOW.
For a few weeks my everyday life has looked like this: The first thing I do in bed in the morning is to look for an appointment. The second time then right on the dog round. Several times during the day and the last time just before going to bed. Even a friend watches for me.
My current low point: I dreamed about it!
Then my girlfriend actually got hold of an appointment for me: on May 3rd. Too late! Our flight is on May 9th and will take six weeks to process. I have little hope.