gembers

I renewed my passport in February and found the process vague. I sent my old passport, 2 photos (doesn't matter who signs them - nobody's going to check them) and the credit card authorization form. the passport took 4 weeks to come back and i'm yet to be billed a month later. I found the whole process brilliantly British - poorly thought out (the USA isn't even in the commonwealth!), poorly executed and as clear as mud. i bet it cost a fortune to implement to. for further reading on this British methodology - Wembley Stadium, the Millenium Dome, Assylum Seeker detention centres, the 2012 Olympics....the list goes on. Good luck!

JAJ

No! To reduce the number of small offices everywhere producing passports.

Other countries have done the same thing. For example, Australia now has only two overseas passport offices - Washington DC and London.

mikeyj

I renewed my passports last month and the process was very easy. Basically fill in the forms and send them to Washington together with the expired passports and you should get the new passports within two weeks. Provided you have the old passport to send back there is no need to send any other documents.

mrmarkfr

I am about to send in my paperwork(existing unexpired passport, photos, fee form, etc, but no birth certificate), but I need to get clarification on question 1B. It asks " Were you naturalized or registered as a British subject, citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, British Citizen, British Dependant / Overseas Territories citizen, British Overseas citizen, or British protected person?"

I have an existing British passport, I was born in the UK in 1970, and I just need clarification on this question before sending it in. I know I was registered( at birth), and I have it listed right now as "NO" on the form because I don't have any documents stating that I am, but I don't want to send it down and have it refused.

What have other people done?

JAJ

If you acquired your British nationality automatically when you were born then you were not "naturalised or registered."

Registration of birth is not the same as acquiring citizenship by registration.

jempee

We have just renewed our passports via Washington DC. Husbands ran out July 08 mine was due to run out this April. Only sent off passports and pictures (one countersigned) - no birth certificates sent off - and just received them back with a turn around of 30 days. so i would say no birth certificate needed.

bombards

I have just renewed my girls passports, they were both born before 2002, so I didn't need to send their birth certs. I sent off the forms, 2 passport photos and the credit card form. The new passports were returned last Friday, 5 weeks later and the total fee was $330 for the 2, including shipping costs.

The Lees

Hi - can I ask if you needed one photo countersigned? My daughter is 12 and recognisable from her previous passport and I'm not sure if a countersignature is required?

Thanks