We did it! In and out in less than 90 minutes… read on for more.

Amazingly, we were able to get our Teudei Zehut in less than an hour and a half today– this on the second day after 98 days of strikes by the Interior Ministry (and others). We arrived at 8:10 (they opened at 8:00), because we couldn’t go to the one in Beit Shemesh– we had to travel to Yerushalayim.
When we arrived, the crowds were somewhat pushy at the reception desk (where you get forms and a number), but once we got upstairs, we were #726, and they started at 700 (they were on 710 whew we got upstairs). The wait was about 15 minutes, then they took our documentation, and gave us new numbers (31, 32, and 33). They were on 10, but didn’t seem to be going sequentially (a lot of people were being called back a second time (or third)), plus, a family of 5 often had 5 numbers.
It took about 50 minutes, and then our number was called. We gave the woman our photos as well, plus our marriage certificate (to change Chaya Tova’s last name), and she stamped everything. Luckily, the ishur from R’ Teitz was sufficient, and we didn’t have to go through the whole process we went through in America to prove she’s a MOTT.
Once that was done, we were able to go straight to the printing desk, without having to wait in line, and 5 minutes later, we were heading out the door.
I still have to go to Misrad Haklita (Absorbtion/ Immigration) to straighten out our Sal Klita payments and get our ulpan vouchers, but this is a major step towards being able to do anything in the country!