mplsbrit

i renewed a passport while in the uk and got a visa, but used a locally based visa consultant in london to expedite. This was a number of years ago but it on ly took a couple of weeks.

The_English_Bride

I am planning to go home this christmas for the first time in four years. From what I've read, even though I have over four months or so to get a new passport, I am concerned. I am applying for a renewal, but I also need to have my name changed, which may slow things down too. Any suggestions? Do you think i'll get it back by mid December if I apply now?

Jdatlas

Just got a call from the Passport Office in Washington! My passport is being sent out today and should be here on Monday! Phew! The whole process has taken about 5 weeks. I sent the application by registered mail on June 8, 2009 and I sent my credit card information rather than deal with a money order. It will be here on July 13, 2009. Less than the six weeks they predicted. I am so relieved.

I must admit when I first answered the phone I was worried that they were calling because there was a problem. That would have been terrible as we are flying in two weeks.

Hope this reassures those of you who have sent in your application recently.

Dalgety

My passport is at the Washington Embassy - sent a month ago - the credit cart payment was processed 23rd June, my mother passed away this morning in Canada and I am in Georgia, USA - does anyone know how to contact any emergency number so I can get my passport in a hurry.
Thanks.

Jdatlas

So sorry to hear about your mother.

It sounds like you sent your application in at the same time as me and processed your payment at the same time they processed mine. My passport is arriving Monday and I have a feeling you'll be getting a phone call that yours is arriving any day now too.

meauxna

I'm so sorry to see your news; what is your US immigration status?

If you are a US Permanent Resident (green card) you may be able to travel with just your green card if it comes to that.

I hope there are some answers for you in reviewing this thread; best wishes.

Dalgety

Thank you for your wishes and reply.May I ask how you found out you are getting your passport on Monday?
Thanks.

Dalgety

I have a green card but I understand you no longer can travel without a valid passport. Thanks.

meauxna

Well, being Canada and a land crossing it all that makes the difference.
I thought like you did, that the past June 1 WHTI change would not make this possible, but this answer has been updated since June 1. I'd still check further, and you need to see what the Canadians need (and be crossing a land border vs flying).
It's worth looking into if you can't find the passport.

Question
What documents, identification, paperwork does a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (LPR) need to travel internationally?
Answer


If you are traveling in the Western Hemisphere, (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America):

* ALL persons*, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.

* On June 1, 2009 all U.S. and Canadian citizens who are 16 and older traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), will be required to present a valid passport, passport card, Frequent Traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), Enhanced Driver's License (for residents in states that issue them) or Military ID with travel orders (see below). U.S. and Canadian citizens who are 15 years old or younger may travel with just a copy of their birth certificate, as may teens between the ages of 16-18 if they are part of an adult supervised school, religious, cultural or athletic group.

* Lawful Permanent Residents (Green card holder's) do NOT need a passport to enter the United States, however you may need a passport to enter another country. Please contact the embassy of the foreign country you will be traveling to for their requirements.

*Military personnel traveling under orders may present photo id and orders. Family members must present a passport (with the exception of children 15 and younger arriving by land or sea).

Lawful permanent residents (LPR's), refugees, and asylees will continue to be able to use their Alien Registration Card (Form I-551), issued by DHS, or the Travel Document issued to persons with refugee or asylee status to apply for entry to the United States. LPR's may still need to present a passport for entry into a foreign destination. For this reason airlines may deny boarding to LPR's traveling without a passport.

If traveling from outside the Western Hemisphere, all U.S. citizens MUST present a passport, including children and infants.

For information about what documents are required for a U.S. resident to enter a foreign country, we advise you to contact the embassy or consulate general of the country you intend to travel to in order to find out what documents they require you to have for entry. It is important to understand that some Western Hemisphere countries require you to have a passport for entry into their country, even though the U.S. does not require you to have one to re-enter the U.S.

Jdatlas

I actually got a phone call from the passport office on Friday. I was concerned at first that they were calling to say there was a problem but they wanted to give me a tracking number and told me to expect my passport to be delivered by UPS on Monday.

sirwatson1

wow, in the same boat as you all.
I live in the United States and I am an American citizen, but my father is a British citizen. I am eligible for a British passport and so I turned in all of the necessary paperwork to apply for a British passport on the 12th of May.

How long should it take for a first time passport?

I have sent letters of complaint to the consulate and production centre because no one has contacted me and I have no info on what is going on. Careline service has wasted my time and $50 with NO answers.

May 12: turned in application
May 30: they charged my credit card
Today is the 11th of July: I have no idea what is going on, no one will contact me and I cannot get through to anybody.

honey22

An update on my situation.... and a happy ending!! I got my passport on the 9th . Its been 8 weeks since I submitted my application. Now finally its over and I can get on with my life!

Good luck to every one else. Once again my thanks to Dean for all his help.

British Consul

So sorry to hear about your mother. If you haven't already done so, please complete an on-line enquiry form at http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/our-off...status-inquiry

You will receive an email saying that we're working on your enquiry, but you'll also receive a call once we've determined where your application is in the system. IF we can't get your passport to you soon, we will run through the options for obtaining an Emergency or Temporary Passport with you.

Hope this helps.

Dean

sirwatson1

glad to hear honey! happy for you.

and yes, Dean's help is invaluable. bless him

suesann

I have been trying to get information about the whereabouts of my childrens passport renewal for several weeks now. I live in Canada and Washington DC received their applications on May 26th and took their fees on June 10th. We have already missed 2 travel dates after the automated enquiry system had told me the passports would be back before our travel dates. I have made 4 calls to Abtran/Careline and although they are very polite they don't appear to have the authority or ability to actually find out anything. I eventually got a message from Washington last week telling me that the applications had been sent to Hong Kong for processing! Again, the lady I spoke to was very polite but completely unable to give me any real information other than the passports are somewhere between Hong Kong and Washington... It has been over 6 weeks now and I have appointments with Immigration Canada on July 21st to collect our PR cards and they won't issue those to us unless we present our passports. I have flights booked to visit my new grandchildren in the UK in 3 weeks and I have a really horible feeling that my kids passorts are not going to materialize in time. How can they send them to Hong Kong and then have no way of tracking them or getting up-to-date information on where exactly they are?? The woman I spoke to in Washington gave me the impression that she didnt know exactly where they were, and had no way of finging out and we should just wait... I'm so stressed out about it all and it's the lack of information that is the real killer.
Has anyone else heard of North American renewal applications being sent to Hong Kong???

Susan