After a lot more fruitless calls and research, I found my way to the WalMart at the Cerritos Towne Center, less than 5 miles away from work. I called, they were all set up, I flew down there, and got my photos taken and processed instantly. The lady was very nice. She showed me the digital photo and asked if I liked it. I didn’t, and she took another one, which I was happy to accept. In the next 7 minutes, I was out of there with photos in hand and on the way to the post office. I splurged on mail tracking (+$0.55), priority mail, and cushioned envelope, got the stuff out and am back at work. All I gave up was one lunch! It’s quite a relief.
(Hint hint, Jen S., you better get cracking on your passport renewal up there.)
I got my passport renewal forms all filled out, old passport ready to go. All I need are the 2 current passport photos.
I got online and did a search for locations around me, since I have to do this at lunchtime and mail out the forms today (I’m only giving myself 7 weeks for processing that they say usually takes 6 weeks). The store I was referred to online said they don’t actually have the camera equipment yet, and referred me to the local post office. The post office said they had just run out of film. I checked the local Walgreens; they’re just a pharmacy and had no photo studio. I jumped thru hoops to obtain the number for the local WalMart; the person who picked up didn’t know if they did passport photos and referred me to their photo studio. No one picked up the phone at the studio. I called the local Target; they don’t do passport photos. I called the local Rite Aid next to the post office; their passport photo camera equipment has been broken for the past month.
Is there some reason why I’m not meant to travel out of the country?