Sophie had been planning a trip to Japan for months. One morning, while organizing her travel documents, she made a troubling discovery. Her passport had expired three months ago. 'How could I have missed this?' she thought to herself. Her flight to Tokyo was scheduled for next month. She needed to act quickly if she wanted to make the trip. Sophie immediately went to her computer to research the renewal process. The government website explained all the required documents. She would need her old passport, two recent photographs, and proof of identity. There was also an application form to fill out. The processing time was usually four to six weeks. 'That should be enough time,' Sophie thought with relief. However, she noticed an option for expedited processing. For an additional fee, she could receive her new passport within two weeks. Sophie decided to pay for the faster service, just to be safe. The next morning, she went to a photography studio for her passport photos. The photographer was a cheerful man named Marcus. 'Passport photos? I take hundreds of these every week,' he said with a smile. He explained the strict requirements for passport photographs. The background had to be white, and she couldn't smile or wear glasses. 'These regulations can seem strange, but they help with facial recognition,' Marcus explained. After taking several shots, Marcus showed Sophie the results on his computer screen. 'This one looks perfect. You'll have them printed in five minutes,' he said. Sophie paid for the photos and carefully placed them in her folder. Now she needed to download and complete the application form. The form asked for personal details, travel history, and emergency contact information. Sophie filled in each section carefully, double-checking her answers. Any mistakes could delay the process significantly. The following day, Sophie visited the passport office in the city center. The building was large and modern, with long queues visible through the glass doors. Sophie took a numbered ticket from the machine near the entrance. Her number was 247, and they were currently serving number 189. 'This is going to take a while,' she muttered, finding a seat in the waiting area. She pulled out her phone and began reading the news to pass the time. An hour and a half later, her number finally appeared on the screen. Sophie gathered her documents and walked to counter number six. A woman with short gray hair and reading glasses greeted her professionally. 'Good morning. How may I help you today?' she asked. 'I need to renew my passport. It expired recently,' Sophie explained. The clerk examined Sophie's expired passport and application form. She nodded approvingly as she reviewed each document. 'Everything seems to be in order. Your photos meet the requirements as well.' Sophie felt relieved that she had prepared everything correctly. 'I'd like the expedited service, please,' she added. 'Certainly. That will be an additional seventy-five euros on top of the standard fee.' Sophie handed over her credit card without hesitation. The trip to Japan was worth every penny of the extra cost. 'You'll need to provide your fingerprints now,' the clerk instructed. Sophie placed her fingers on the electronic scanner as directed. The machine captured clear images of all her fingerprints. 'Perfect. Now I need to take a digital photograph for the passport chip.' Sophie looked directly at the small camera mounted on the desk. The camera flashed, and her image appeared on the clerk's screen. 'Excellent. Your application is now complete,' the clerk said with a professional smile. Sophie received a receipt with a tracking number for her application. 'You can check the status online using this number,' the clerk explained. 'Your new passport should arrive within ten to twelve days.' Sophie thanked the clerk and left the passport office feeling much better. Over the next few days, she checked the tracking website obsessively. Each update filled her with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. 'Application received,' then 'Processing,' then 'Quality check' - each stage brought relief. Exactly eleven days later, Sophie received a notification that made her jump with joy. Her new passport was ready for collection at the local post office. Sophie rushed to the post office during her lunch break. She presented her identification and the collection notice. The postal worker disappeared into the back room and returned with a small envelope. Sophie opened the envelope carefully and held her new passport in her hands. The cover was a deep burgundy color with gold lettering. She opened it to the first page and examined her new photo and personal details. Everything looked correct, and the passport would be valid for the next ten years. Sophie smiled as she thought about all the places she could visit with this document. Japan would be just the beginning of her adventures. That evening, she set a reminder on her phone for nine years from now. 'Renew passport - don't wait until the last minute!' the reminder read. She had learned her lesson about keeping track of important document expiration dates. Three weeks later, Sophie boarded her flight to Tokyo. As she handed her passport to the immigration officer, she felt a sense of accomplishment. The officer stamped her passport with a satisfying thunk. 'Welcome to Japan,' he said, returning the document. Sophie smiled broadly and walked through the arrival gate. Her dream vacation had finally begun, all thanks to a renewed passport.
English Story (B1)Renewing Your Passport
This B1 English story is designed for intermediate learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Sophie discovers her passport has expired just a month before her planned trip to Japan. She quickly researches the renewal process, gets new passport photos, and visits the passport office with all required documents. After paying for expedited processing and completing the application, she anxiously tracks her passport's progress online. Eleven days later, she receives her new passport and eventually boards her flight to Tokyo, having learned an important lesson about tracking document expiration dates.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did Sophie need to renew her passport urgently?
2
What did Marcus explain about the passport photo requirements?
3
How long did Sophie wait at the passport office before being called?
4
