I need to renew my passport but they want my mothers birth cert?
 

I'm trying to renew my passport after royal mail lost mine and I'm going through the forms they need and they want my mothers birth certificate. How am i supposed to get hold of that?

They also want the photo endorsed by someone that has known me for x years. We've only been here since March so who can do that?

Re: I need to renew my passport but they want my mothers birth cert?
 

Are you sure you need that?

How expired is your passport. I'm fairly certain that for a straightforward renewal you don't need countersigned photos, and as for mothers birth certificate , ????

I remember reading on the US forums that the guide is kind of misleading

They have a guy , Dean , from the British consulate, maybe drop him a PM?

Re: I need to renew my passport but they want my mothers birth cert?
 

It's different if you've lost it I think.

Re: I need to renew my passport but they want my mothers birth cert?
 

Didn't read that bit :o

Still might be worth a PM to dean though

Seems silly to me , the whole point about a renewal is that you've already proven your entitlement lost/stolen or otherwise

Re: I need to renew my passport but they want my mothers birth cert?
 

One difference is that with a renewal you send in your old passport as proof of who you are.

Re: I need to renew my passport but they want my mothers birth cert?
 

Either a. ask your mother, or b. send off to the relevant registry office. Links etc, at: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/UK_Passport_In_The_US

If you cannot do either of the above (as distinct from finding it inconvenient) then you may be able to apply for a passport anyway but it will take a lot longer while they verify your previous passport records.

Re: I need to renew my passport but they want my mothers birth cert?
 

Well this is what I thought too but in the notes for the forms it states:
If you mother/ adoptive mother was born in the UK her full bith certificate.

I also have the problem of getting the pics verified by someone who has known me at least 2 years. No one here has known me more than 5 months

Re: I need to renew my passport but they want my mothers birth cert?
 

I had the same issue with renewing passports for the children, having not been in Canada for 2 years yet. I rang the helpline and they told me just to note on the form that you had been in Canada for less than two years. In my case it was 18 months which they said was okay. Would probably be worth checking with the passport office that the same principle applies for 5 months.