uk2us93

you might be right but that's where the email came from st this point its not goin to hurt anyone to try....its not gonna got them anything and they may get there passport expedited as I did ....

ian-mstm

You don't seem to understand. Email addresses usually consist of the format <name>@<domain>. All you included was the domain... and I think even that was incorrect.

Ian

ExPatinIndiana

Ohh.. yes ... The passport office called me, informing me that my card kept declining. My bank at the same time, kept calling to verify the last transactions on my account. It finally went through, but my bank could only guarantee approval of the charge until Midnight that night. Arrghh! By the time I had told the bank it was a legitimate charge, it was the next day before the passport office tried to make the charge again. It finally went through, but after 3 days of this saga.

I was panicking, because they said after 3 declines, on their website, it would be returned to me. We have since had other problems and still haven't received it - application sent February 18, 2011. Charged March 23, 2011. Passport office informed us May 2, 2011 that although we sent my son's long form birth certificate, we sent MY short form. I guess it says somewhere that we should have sent my long form ... we were very careful to make sure we sent HIS long form .. it is his passport application! I guess, I missed that we should send MY long form ????~ They make this application very difficult!

My son is entitled to a passport from another country too, as a result of my dual nationality. The country is irrelevant, but I got my renewal in 5 weeks last year, even though I had to send additional info. The communication. was great. No long phone menus to go through and you can talk to a LIVE person at anytime, if you prefer. That is so nice, because when you are stressed a automated phone doesn't cut it.

I know hindsight is 20/20, but oh do I wish we had just applied for that one instead. I am proud to be British, but it seems like many of us are having a lot of trouble getting a passport. My son is over in the UK right now on an ER passport. We had to amend his trip, because it expires on May 15, 2011 and he was not due to return until May 18th.

This whole process has been very stressful. Like I said, we applied Feb 18. Charged March 23. The embassy informed us May 2 that there was a problem ... Careline weren't even able to help in mid April ~ we got an ER passport May 12 for travel to London May 13. When the embassy called me the other day to tell me they could not issue his full passport, they didn't even know that he was already over there on an emergency passport ???? Yet, the guy in Washington, DC said, "We are so much more thorough than the USA... we don't just give anyone a passport. We make sure that the person is entitled. Yes we are living in the USA (have for past 26 years), but we are not US citizens. I am not sure what prompted that statement; I guess I just showed dismay that it was the fact they didn't have his mother's LONG form birth certificate ???? I have asked quite a few people, "DO you have easy access to your mother's long form birth certificate?" Not one person said, "YES." ~ It is only required if the person applying was born after 1982.

Now, we will just wait for his passport. I am sending my long form birth certificate I just received. My son will be on his way home May 15th.

I wish all of you the best in getting your passports on time

ian-mstm

This is interesting, and something I didn't know. Generally speaking, people are entitled to a passport as a result of their own dual nationality... not as a result of the dual nationality of a parent.

Ian

ExPatinIndiana

It is Ireland ... I was born there and my father is Irish, too. My mother is English. I hold both passports. My son has always been entitled to an Irish passport. We just haven't done it ... Right now, kind of wish we had. It will all work out, though.

I just empathize with all of those on here right now. This passport stuff has been very stressful; more so, because we make phone calls and rarely get answers. In the mean time, our hair gets more grey by the minute!

JAJ

Given your passport problems, you may wish to reconsider your decision not to become US citizens.

British Consul

For info: The Emergency Travel Document can also state that you are "Also known as".

Dean

ExPatinIndiana

I have thought about it ... For me it is no big deal. My husband is American & I have never really had any issue not being. My son as young as he is, probably yes ... Might not be a bad idea. Then, the USA want to take your UK passport away, though ... We can always reapply, but that isn't the point!

DCErin

My mum didn't lose her British passport when she became an American citizen. I doubt they even asked her for it. Maybe things have changed since then; she became a citizen in the late 90's, when things were very loose as far as US citizenship was concerned (according to a DHS immigration prosecutor I know).

mick65

Has anyone done the send your passport renewal to a relative in the UK. My passport expires in August and i was wondering if this way works and what the time line is, plus i believe it saves some money too

Marocco

That's nonsense. You don't lose your British citizenship by becoming a US citizen.

pTeronaut

Correct, during my PR interview in Indianapolis, the agent said whilst the oath states that you renounce all allegiance to any previous nation, they don't require you to physically do anything about it.

Except fight against them should the US go to war against them.

British Consul

Good point Erin. From what I understand, the new design will only be issued in the UK, the older design will continue to be issued overseas until stocks are exhausted and passport printing is repatriated to the UK.

Dean

British Consul

It's a bit confusing. The Identity and Passport Service "owns" the full validity passport function but has "sub-contracted" the processing of passports overseas to the Foreign Office pending repatriation of services back to the UK. The Foreign Office now only owns the Emergency Travel Document function.

The Foreign Office websites are, however, the portal for all UK government services offered overseas.

Dean

British Consul

No problem. Just to be clear though, although my own region covers the services offered out of our offices in Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Miami, and Orlando, I also monitor comments on behalf of my two colleagues covering the remainder of North America. If there's a problem, I can either answer it or direct you towards others for assistance.

Dean