windsong

BritinParis, are you saying I have to send a photocopy of my US passport when I apply to renew my UK passport - as well as my birth certificate, that is?

BritInParis

Yes, and include a note saying that you need to retain your original US passport for travel.

windsong

Thank you so much for help in this. I didn't know about the US passport. You've just saved me a delay in getting my passport back.

windsong

I understand I have to send my birth certificate with my passport renewal application. (It expired in 1999.) I have a certified copy of my birth certificate - roughly an 8 x 14 sheet. Is this sufficient?

Do I send the original certified birth certificate or a photocopy of it?

windsong

The US companies that typically process passports are no longer allowed to process them for the UK. It all has to be done by the consulate in Washington DC.

I asked if they knew of another company that could do it and they told me none of them do it any more.

windsong

Is it possible to send a cashier's check/certified check in US dollars with the passport renewal application rather than using a credit card? This is how I was planning to do it. Then there's no problem with the credit card here not being charged prior to departure. I'd far rather pay cash anyway.

In the USA, the consulate is in DC but can I send the application (with cashier's/certified check, copy of US passport and original of the certified copy of birth certificate) directly to the UK to save time (overnight mail - actually takes two days)?

Jerseygirl

I doubt they will accept US currency...as the PP are issued from the UK.

windsong

I could always have the bank give me a bank draft in UK pounds, I believe - if that is acceptable to the passport office in the UK.

Jerseygirl

What does it state for method of payment?

I very much doubt that will be acceptable. Sending a foreign check incurs extra fees for the Embassy...plus there is the issue of fluctuating exchange rates. Use your credit card.

BritInParis

It needs to the original Certified Copy of an Entry in the Register as issued by the GRO and it will need to show your parents' details. A photocopy won't be accepted.

You send your application directly to the UK now. The consulate in Washington no longer has responsibility for passport applications. As the application is going to the UK then they won't accept foreign currency in any form.

Again it'll be going to the UK but I suspect they will still only accept payment by credit/debit card. A cheque/banker's draft drawn from a foreign bank, even in Pound Sterling, is unlikely to be accepted.

Karma_Babe

No explanation that makes sense! what part of me being an ex officer with my fingerprints in the british system makes sense to you? (ie.and therefore proving I am me is not hard to do)

no choice anymore -DURHAM -the fact that the consulate and embassy in the Netherlands didn't know this was also frustrating I still can't believe this crap and I have my old nhs cards, my last one and my british driving licence ... but I'm still not who I say I am :-/ great landing in England because they are too incompetant to sort this with sense :-))
Good news is that I'll be unemployed upon landing! guess I can concentrate on passing the habitual resident test and go on job seekers allowance.

Pollyana

Your prints may not be held any longer - even though they are taken as a matter of routine when you join the UK police, they are only held by the Force concerned, and not usually held after you resign as they were only taken for elimination purposes. Besides, serving as a pollice officer is nothing to do with passport appications, they are competely different areas.

winston_1

If you are British and can prove it you don't need a passport to enter the UK. An expired British passport should be enough proof.

durham_lad

Just talked to our daughter today in California and she was very impressed at the speed of renewing her UK passport. Her old passport had expired 11 years ago and the photograph in it was taken when she was a teenager so she had someone write on the back of her new photo that he verified that it was a true likeness. She also included her marriage certificate as proof of name change.

She sent the documents Fedex to Durham and got the new passport via DHL exactly 2 weeks later. A separate DHL package had her supporting documents.

windsong

Gosh, that's very encouraging indeed.

My passport expired in 1999, so I am in a similar situation. I wonder if I should have someone sign the back of my photos, too.

Did you have the photo notarized? (Not that there's enough room.)

I also have a copy of my mother's full birth certificate. I was thinking of including it, too - just in case. All of us were U.K. born.