My passport expires mid-December 2020. I was reminded by a friendly airline attendant the last time I traveled. (Seems like ages ago.) With added security measures, one cannot travel with less than six months left on a passport. You do the math, July! And somehow July is already here.
Leaving myself lots of time, I had an appointment for March 18 at the US Consulate in Playa del Carmen, about a two hour drive toward Cancun. New photos, check, directions to the Consulate, check, application filled out, check, prepaid return envelope from FedEx, check, renewal fee, check. I was all ready.
While giving up my passport always makes me nervous, my research told me that it was a relatively painless process and that I would have my new passport fairly quickly.
Then it happened, Covid and the quarantine. An email arrived the night before my appointment. The Consulate would be closed until further notice.
I have called several times for a status update. Still closed. They will issue emergency passports only. I once had my passport stolen, in Greece. I was issued a temporary passport to get me home to the US. That wouldn’t be bad if I absolutely needed to leave Mexico. The trouble is that the US is not renewing passports either. That means that I could be stranded in the States for who knows how long. Not what I want for sure.
I will keep calling but with the cases of Covid going up in both Mexico and the US, things are not looking good. What would it mean if I were living in Mexico on an expired passport? I have no idea. As with so many other things in our lives, I’ll say a prayer and take it one day at a time.
DOS TORTAS
the adventures of dos tortas 
Stela looks like a fine editor! I doubt that the status of your passport matters much to the Mexican authorities as long as your residence status is in order. Good luck with your renewal!
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I’m not so sure about that although we have only been asked to produce our passports once in seven years in a random stop. The bank asks every time although I don’t know if they actually look at expiration date.
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We were asked many times to produce our US passports in Mexico, even though we had residency cards. Mostly at the banks, but a few other times as well (real estate transactions, and certainly for any travel). I hope you can get your passport renewed before it expires, just in case! Mine expired shortly after we returned to the US this spring. Fortunately we have no plans to leave the country any time soon, with COVID, since it sounds like I wouldn’t be able to renew it now even if I tried. Sigh….
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How complex. I don’t think you’re going to have a problem as long as you’re in Mexico. Mexican authorities do understand what’s going on. I’ve had a few other friends who are stuck and they haven’t had any problems. And you might even be able to get back out of the US since you have Mexican residency. Buena suerte!
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A worrying time. I’m sure the authorities will apply some common sense. I’m guessing you’re not the only one in this situation.
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Fingers crossed. Common sense is in short supply these days.
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