Zoomer

Hello

Has anyone any experience with getting a REAL status update response from the passport processing centre in Washington?

I found the status update form thingy, completed it with all the details they were asking for, and 2 days later they came back to tell me nothing.

They confirmed receipt of my "urgent" status enquiry (it wasn't urgent - I just wanted to know it was there and all is well and I'll get my passport in the 6 weeks it takes them to process the thing); then it goes on to say that the passport processing tmes will have returned to normal by the time I am due to travel (yet doesn't specify what "normal" means); following that it states "We won't progress your status enquiry further, but if you have not received your new passport 7 days before your intended travel date, please call....".

What the heck is that supposed to mean? What a wast of time and space!!!!

Brownstar

Normal processing time is 4 weeks rather than the 6 they are saying at the moment. My passport was sent off to them last week, they have it just waiting for them to start processing. Someone I know was told that the process would be back to 4 weeks by the 1st July.

British Consul

You're only supposed to fill in the on-line enquiry if you need to travel urgently. That's why it's called an urgent status enquiry.

Zoomer

Thanks!

Zoomer

Hello

Guess what? The form's title and the form itself do not say "Urgent" anywhere.

Keith

My last passport was processed in Ottawa and cost less than $100. I see that the fee for a renewal is $212US.
I don't think I shall bother I shall just use my Canadian in future.

British Consul

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/passports

"If you need to travel urgently, submit an online passport application status enquiry."

"
Technical difficulties at our Passport Production Centre in Washington has meant that we are experiencing a delay of up to six weeks in the processing of passport applications. We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause, and we are doing everything possible to rectify the situation as soon as we can. We realise that some of our customers will have an urgent need to travel and so have introduced an on-line passport application status tracking system to assist you further."

Zoomer

The form's title and the form itself do not say "Urgent"

Perhaps whoever looks after the information on the website can add this little item to the list of many many items that need to be updated and fixed!

Zoomer

I know what you mean.

I think I'll go ahead with this passport renewal and think very carefully for the next one. Seems to be an awful lot of bureaucracy now, and for the price they're charging they won't even answer a simple question or 2, which applicants should be permitted to ask as part of the fee.

Oh well, what can you do!!!!

Celebrate living in and being Canadian and just roll our eyes and shake our heads at the rest of the silly-billyness!!!

Happy Canada Day!!!!!

JAJ

Passport fees have gone up a lot since Labour came to power. In 1997, a passport in the United Kingdom cost less than GBP20, it's now GBP72. That's why the fees have gone up.

In fairness, over the last 10-15 years, passport fees in most Western countries have raced ahead of general inflation.

It's your decision if you decide not to renew your British passport, just bear in mind that once it has been expired for some time you will not be able to do a straightforward renewal if you change your mind and need one in a hurry.

Brownstar

A Canadian friend of mine has just had her passport renewed............it took just under a year due to bureaucratic inefficiencies!