British Passport Renewals Online?
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
British Passport Renewals Online?
Help!
I know this is a fast-moving forum and I'm sure many posters here have applied recently for passports so I hope you can help me!
I'm an expat in the US and need to arrange flights for my daughter who is a student in London to come over for Christmas.
Just realised that her passport isn't machine readable...she won't be allowed into the US on her current passport and has to come in on a visa-waiver....so if she doesn't get a new passport she won't be allowed to get on the plane!
I've just looked at the UK passport website and it seems that one can renew online; they print the form and mail it to you to sign and return.
My daughter's current passport was issued two years ago at the British High Commission in New Delhi, India - which is why it isn't machine readable (she lost her original passport there). Does anyone know if these can be renewed online or only UK agency issued passports renewed online?
It also seems to appear that new photos are not necessary if renewed online...is this correct?
I don't want to make an expensive phone call to the UK and be put in a holding queue for hours....can't get hold of my daughter grrrrrr!
Thanks in advance for any advice!
PS: If my daughter goes to the Post Office and uses their "Check and Send" service, is there an extra fee or is it just the 42 pounds renewal fee on a cheque payable to the "Post Office"?
I know this is a fast-moving forum and I'm sure many posters here have applied recently for passports so I hope you can help me!
I'm an expat in the US and need to arrange flights for my daughter who is a student in London to come over for Christmas.
Just realised that her passport isn't machine readable...she won't be allowed into the US on her current passport and has to come in on a visa-waiver....so if she doesn't get a new passport she won't be allowed to get on the plane!
I've just looked at the UK passport website and it seems that one can renew online; they print the form and mail it to you to sign and return.
My daughter's current passport was issued two years ago at the British High Commission in New Delhi, India - which is why it isn't machine readable (she lost her original passport there). Does anyone know if these can be renewed online or only UK agency issued passports renewed online?
It also seems to appear that new photos are not necessary if renewed online...is this correct?
I don't want to make an expensive phone call to the UK and be put in a holding queue for hours....can't get hold of my daughter grrrrrr!
Thanks in advance for any advice!
PS: If my daughter goes to the Post Office and uses their "Check and Send" service, is there an extra fee or is it just the 42 pounds renewal fee on a cheque payable to the "Post Office"?
Last edited by Englishmum; Nov 4th 2005 at 2:09 pm.
#2
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Originally Posted by Englishmum
Help!
I know this is a fast-moving forum and I'm sure many posters here have applied recently for passports so I hope you can help me!
I'm an expat in the US and need to arrange flights for my daughter who is a student in London to come over for Christmas.
Just realised that her passport isn't machine readable...she won't be allowed into the US on her current passport and has to come in on a visa-waiver....so if she doesn't get a new passport she won't be allowed to get on the plane!
I've just looked at the UK passport website and it seems that one can renew online; they print the form and mail it to you to sign and return.
My daughter's current passport was issued two years ago at the British High Commission in New Delhi, India - which is why it isn't machine readable (she lost her original passport there). Does anyone know if these can be renewed online or only UK agency issued passports renewed online?
It also seems to appear that new photos are not necessary if renewed online...is this correct?
I don't want to make an expensive phone call to the UK and be put in a holding queue for hours....can't get hold of my daughter grrrrrr!
Thanks in advance for any advice!
PS: If my daughter goes to the Post Office and uses their "Check and Send" service, is there an extra fee or is it just the 42 pounds renewal fee on a cheque payable to the "Post Office"?
I know this is a fast-moving forum and I'm sure many posters here have applied recently for passports so I hope you can help me!
I'm an expat in the US and need to arrange flights for my daughter who is a student in London to come over for Christmas.
Just realised that her passport isn't machine readable...she won't be allowed into the US on her current passport and has to come in on a visa-waiver....so if she doesn't get a new passport she won't be allowed to get on the plane!
I've just looked at the UK passport website and it seems that one can renew online; they print the form and mail it to you to sign and return.
My daughter's current passport was issued two years ago at the British High Commission in New Delhi, India - which is why it isn't machine readable (she lost her original passport there). Does anyone know if these can be renewed online or only UK agency issued passports renewed online?
It also seems to appear that new photos are not necessary if renewed online...is this correct?
I don't want to make an expensive phone call to the UK and be put in a holding queue for hours....can't get hold of my daughter grrrrrr!
Thanks in advance for any advice!
PS: If my daughter goes to the Post Office and uses their "Check and Send" service, is there an extra fee or is it just the 42 pounds renewal fee on a cheque payable to the "Post Office"?
its a while since we've chatted.
My son thought he'd lost his passport this July, whilst on Gap yr in NZ -he was going on to USA so it was machine readable etc. He went online printed off a new form sent an old out of date passport (to prove his indentity) some photos,paid a whopping $200 NZ and 3 days later they - the British High Com in Wellington- sent a new readable passport- next day the mislaid passport turned up
Hope your daughter finds the OL forms and gets that passport sorted out
Helen
#3
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Originally Posted by helinuk
Hi there,
its a while since we've chatted.
My son thought he'd lost his passport this July, whilst on Gap yr in NZ -he was going on to USA so it was machine readable etc. He went online printed off a new form sent an old out of date passport (to prove his indentity) some photos,paid a whopping $200 NZ and 3 days later they - the British High Com in Wellington- sent a new readable passport- next day the mislaid passport turned up
Hope your daughter finds the OL forms and gets that passport sorted out
Helen
its a while since we've chatted.
My son thought he'd lost his passport this July, whilst on Gap yr in NZ -he was going on to USA so it was machine readable etc. He went online printed off a new form sent an old out of date passport (to prove his indentity) some photos,paid a whopping $200 NZ and 3 days later they - the British High Com in Wellington- sent a new readable passport- next day the mislaid passport turned up
Hope your daughter finds the OL forms and gets that passport sorted out
Helen
When my daughter lost her passport in India on her Gap Year she was on a train on the way to the Himalayas. Got off the train and as it pulled out of the station realised she'd left it on the back of the toilet door.....never to be seen again!
She had to fly back to Delhi and had to wait for six days to get her new passport....the original one had been issued in Singapore so there was a lot of communication between Singapore, Delhi and London....of course they all work v. short hours at the High Comms and the time differences between all three countries were a huge problem...
Still planning to move to Melbourne then?
(Daughter looks so young that she wants to retain her passport for ID for getting into pubs and doesn't want to send it off for three weeks LOL!)
#4
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
We renewed our passports last year via the British Embassy in Washington. It was very easy and quick - much easier than going via the Passport Office in the UK. This is what we did:
- printed off renewal form and instructions from British Embassy website
- filled it in (easy-peasy)
- had photos taken at Longs Drugs (I do think she'll need photos - they scan it and it goes in the new passport)
- I think we may have included a copy of our birth certificates - not sure about that, but it's all in the instructions
- sent it to the Embassy with a credit card authorization thingy
- new passports for all 5 of us arrived within a week.
HTH
- printed off renewal form and instructions from British Embassy website
- filled it in (easy-peasy)
- had photos taken at Longs Drugs (I do think she'll need photos - they scan it and it goes in the new passport)
- I think we may have included a copy of our birth certificates - not sure about that, but it's all in the instructions
- sent it to the Embassy with a credit card authorization thingy
- new passports for all 5 of us arrived within a week.
HTH
#5
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Here is the website:
http://www.britainusa.com/sections/i...=10080&d=1
Passport and Consular Services
Welcome to the Consular and Passport Services section of the website. In this section, you will find information about applying for or renewing a British passport and about the services we provide for British citizens in the USA. Please click on the boxes to the left or use the links above to navigate to the information you require.
It is not necessary for British Nationals/Citizens living or working in the US to register with the Embassy or their local Consulate General.
British passports are issued by the British Embassy in Washington D.C.
Completed applications should be sent, or brought in, to the Passport Office at the address below:
Passport Office
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20008
http://www.britainusa.com/sections/i...=10080&d=1
Passport and Consular Services
Welcome to the Consular and Passport Services section of the website. In this section, you will find information about applying for or renewing a British passport and about the services we provide for British citizens in the USA. Please click on the boxes to the left or use the links above to navigate to the information you require.
It is not necessary for British Nationals/Citizens living or working in the US to register with the Embassy or their local Consulate General.
British passports are issued by the British Embassy in Washington D.C.
Completed applications should be sent, or brought in, to the Passport Office at the address below:
Passport Office
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20008
#6
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Originally Posted by Englishmum
Help!
I know this is a fast-moving forum and I'm sure many posters here have applied recently for passports so I hope you can help me!
I'm an expat in the US and need to arrange flights for my daughter who is a student in London to come over for Christmas.
I know this is a fast-moving forum and I'm sure many posters here have applied recently for passports so I hope you can help me!
I'm an expat in the US and need to arrange flights for my daughter who is a student in London to come over for Christmas.
Note to self: don't post when not quite awake and/or read posts properly before replying
#7
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Originally Posted by Elvira
Oops - just realised your daughter is in the UK, so my 'helpful' reply was totally pointless...
Note to self: don't post when not quite awake and/or read posts properly before replying
Note to self: don't post when not quite awake and/or read posts properly before replying
LOL!
Yeah, it does seem so much simpler and quicker to get passport renewals when outside the UK.... My most recent passport only took one week to be processed from the US Embassy in Washington DC (but of course it is more expensive, although my husband's company picks up the tab!).
#8
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Originally Posted by Englishmum
LOL!
Yeah, it does seem so much simpler and quicker to get passport renewals when outside the UK.... My most recent passport only took one week to be processed from the US Embassy in Washington DC (but of course it is more expensive, although my husband's company picks up the tab!).
Yeah, it does seem so much simpler and quicker to get passport renewals when outside the UK.... My most recent passport only took one week to be processed from the US Embassy in Washington DC (but of course it is more expensive, although my husband's company picks up the tab!).
Most people experience the opposite - it's usually a lot slower to get a British passport overseas compared to using the UK Passport Service.
UKPS ought to turn around a properly completed application fairly quickly at this time of year. She should include proof of travel if this is available.
I don't see the point of using the 'online' service if they have to mail it to you to sign - why not just get a form from the Post Office and fill it out normally?
Jeremy
#9
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/_3_urgent/3_contents.asp
Might help
I have just applied for my son's passport at Canberra. According to an enquiry current processing times are 10-18 days. I guess that is working days. The website states 2 weeks for a renewal and 4-6 weeks for a new passport.
I also like the way the site contradicts itself on paperwork requirements. On one page it says I need to include my birth certificate whilst on the following page it says a current or expired fathers passport is required. This is for someone born overseas and father born in the UK. As I cannot find my full birth certifcate I made an online enquiry and they responded saying the expired passport should do.
Might help
I have just applied for my son's passport at Canberra. According to an enquiry current processing times are 10-18 days. I guess that is working days. The website states 2 weeks for a renewal and 4-6 weeks for a new passport.
I also like the way the site contradicts itself on paperwork requirements. On one page it says I need to include my birth certificate whilst on the following page it says a current or expired fathers passport is required. This is for someone born overseas and father born in the UK. As I cannot find my full birth certifcate I made an online enquiry and they responded saying the expired passport should do.
#10
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Originally Posted by Englishmum
Hi Helen; What a pain!
Still planning to move to Melbourne then?
(Daughter looks so young that she wants to retain her passport for ID for getting into pubs and doesn't want to send it off for three weeks LOL!)
Still planning to move to Melbourne then?
(Daughter looks so young that she wants to retain her passport for ID for getting into pubs and doesn't want to send it off for three weeks LOL!)
Now he's at uni he's able to use his student card as identification.
Yes its still my dream to move to Melbourne but its proving very difficult to find a job that fits the RSMS requirements! Hubby had an interview a few weeks ago and they wanted him in Melbourne ASAP on a 457 visa but we didn't want to pack the house and move daughter away from AS levels unless we could be assured of a RSMS visa. We are now looking at regional areas.
How long will you stay in US, are you still happy there ?
Helen
#11
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Originally Posted by JAJ
I don't see the point of using the 'online' service if they have to mail it to you to sign - why not just get a form from the Post Office and fill it out normally?
#12
Re: British Passport Renewals Online?
Hi
I recently used the online service, at the end of answering all the relevant questions the form is sent to you already filled in - then you check your details, sign it and send it back.
You have to send your old passport (if you have it) and 2 passport photos, the photos do not need to be countersigned if you are still recognisable against the old passport photo!
The new passport arrived within 10 days of starting the application.
gd
I recently used the online service, at the end of answering all the relevant questions the form is sent to you already filled in - then you check your details, sign it and send it back.
You have to send your old passport (if you have it) and 2 passport photos, the photos do not need to be countersigned if you are still recognisable against the old passport photo!
The new passport arrived within 10 days of starting the application.
gd