Originally Posted by sir_eccles

The consulate is not closing. Passport processing has been slowly consolidated back into the Uk passport office rather than being handled by individual consulates.

I don't think the consulate has actually been processing them for about a year or so.

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter

So why did it cost more to get a passport from the US than while in the UK? Or am I misremembering?

Originally Posted by BritInParis

That decision has since been reversed and overseas customers will continue to pay the current higher overseas fee until further notice.

Originally Posted by Yorkieabroad

That'd make for a pretty boring thread title though...." Oh dear we need to put a different address on our passport application every 10 years....."

Originally Posted by BritInParis

.... That decision has since been reversed and overseas customers will continue to pay the current higher overseas fee until further notice.

Originally Posted by Pulaski

So what is to prevent you just having your new passport mailed to a relative in the UK? .... Or IF they're paying attention to where the application was mailed from, mailed via a relative?

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter

So why did it cost more to get a passport from the US than while in the UK? Or am I misremembering?

Originally Posted by Pulaski

So what is to prevent you just having your new passport mailed to a relative in the UK? .... Or IF they're paying attention to where the application was mailed from, mailed via a relative?

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter

So why did it cost more to get a passport from the US than while in the UK? Or am I misremembering?

Originally Posted by Caritas

I have recently applied to renew my UK passport from the United States, and over 4 weeks after I still have not received the new passport or an update on my renewal application. When I called the British Embassy, Washington DC, I was shocked to find that that I could not speak to the Passport Processing Team, which is few blocks away from the Embassy. I was given a Passport Information Helpline +44 208 082 4729 in UK, and little did I know that the shock of my life was about to come with a message:

Calls will be charged to your credit card at GBP 0.72 + VAT per minute (your telephone provider may also charge for the international call). Please have your credit card available when calling.

I reluctantly paid to get my passport, and that was not straightforward nor made it easy. I was told to wait for a response in up to 3 days!

Luckily, the following day they left a telephone message for me along with this email:

Title: RE: Passport Application for ######### ######### USW--------------------------------------------


Dear ### ##############,

Thank you for your recent application(s) for a British passport.
In order for us to continue processing your application(s), you will need to provide the following documents/information:

Ø Current Photo ID –
o Send a good copy of the photo page of your non-UK passport
OR
o Send two forms of government issued photo ID (e.g. resident card, driving licence, work authorisation card, Canadian Health Card).

Ø Historical ID/Documentation – We require historical documentation such as:

o Original issued short form birth certificate
o Student ID cards, vaccination cards or any other form of photographic identification
o Documents obtained during your time in the United Kingdom (if applicable) i.e. National Health card, school reports, photographs, baby book. (????????????)
o Passport you exit the UK on (I thought they should have noted that this was sent along with my application ????????????)
• School reports from any country other than the UK covering as many years as possible. (Seriously? I am not that young to have kept my school report after several years?)

o Evidence of your identity in the form of bank statements, credit card statements, store card statements, social security card, pay statements, tax statements, utility bills etc.
o Original hospital records or medical documents from the time of your birth

Please send this to:
Attention: Pending Team
Washington RPPC
19 Observatory Circle NW
Washington, DC 20008
USA
Ref no: USW--------------------------------------------

Please supply the requested documentation/information within 30 days of this email, otherwise we will assume that you no longer wish to continue with your application(s) and it/they will be withdrawn. Any supporting documents will be returned to you by DHL.

Originally Posted by rebelaine

I see where you're coming from.

My credit card was charged 5 months ago, and I am still waiting for my renewal passport.

I finally got through to someone on the phone ($) a month ago. He advised that the application is still sitting in Washington, DC, "awaiting security check from the UK". He further advised that there was nothing he could do to expedite it. Great service!

Originally Posted by BritInParis

For most it's a once-in-ten-year event and if you do travel that frequently, then renew it when you're in the UK with the one day service.