We`re in the same situation except I paid by money order. I heard it`s ten days usually after the payment has been taken. I too need to be in the UK for a job asap. I wish there was some way of contacting them to see if they can pull my application from the pile. I worry it is sitting in a big pile and won`t be looked at for weeks!

I have heard people renewals in a quickly as seven days or as long as a month or more! Really starting to worry as I can`t expect my job to wait around forever.

Well, Oct 28th came and went. I've called the careline number three times now, and it's been almost $8 each time. I last called on Oct 27, and was told it was still in 'data entry' The first time I called it was in the 'examination' stage, but I don't know if that's any different from 'data entry'.

Anyway, I know it has to go to the printers and back to the Embassy before I get it, so I guess it won't be here for another week at least yet, making it well into November. Then I have to find a good price on a flight.

I am frustrated to read that others in this forum got theirs back so quickly (3 weeks after sending?) and I've been waiting now into my sixth week this coming week.

The careline people can't seem to tell much, except for the status and there are no problems flagged on the system, and that someone would probably have contacted me from the processing centre in DC by now if there was.

Received my passport back today, sent 14th October received 1st November, I paid by credit card.

Called Careline again today, Told Passport now in queue for printer. Should get it early next week. So after applying Sept 22nd, it will be Mid November before I get out of here. Not impressed.

Hubby just renewed his ... paid by credit card too, and it only took about 2 weeks, which astonished us, considering the postage time ... it must have been dealt with and turned around same day!

Now we are still wondering why application for Canadian Citizenship, which went off in June 2009, is still leaving us hanging ........

Congratulations on getting yours back so quickly, but it's annoying why mine has taken six weeks so far (since I sent it).

Why should California be so much slower than Canada? Putting an intended travel date on the application is obviously just a waste of time, and BS on their part.

Mine only took 10 days 6 weeks is longer then the average wait even for CA

I had a family gathering on October 30 I wanted to attend. I'd have liked to have been back for a firework display on Nov 5th, and I'd have liked to have made BarCampLondon on the 13th.

Most importantly though I want to get back to a waiting job.

As a recent (today!) addition to the British Expats website, I'm not sure that I have much to contribute at the moment.........

However, perhaps someone can help me! The application form C1 says that applications do not have to be accompanied by birth certificates etc, provided that the previous UK passport is still valid or 'recently expired'.

In this context can anyone tell me what 'recently expired' means? Five years, one year, six months, yesterday? Thanks to anyone who can help.

SRC

I believe it is ten years.

Thank you. That's most helpful. SRC