The Horticulturalist

So, we are due to fly to the UK on June 24th and I just now realised that both my children's UK passports expired a few months ago.

I have just completed the documentation online, there didn't seem to be a fast track option if you live abroad for a child's passport, is that correct? The turnaround time quoted is 6 weeks which puts us right up the creek without a paddle. Has anyone had a child passport back within a couple of weeks?

Our nearest consulate would be Atlanta if we had to get an emergency travel document. How long would you think I should wait before I pursue that option?

I will FedEx the passport applications in the morning.

MsElui

i posted this in the other thread a few weeks ago
probably doesn't inspire confidence im afraid.

The Horticulturalist

Michael

I believe emergency travel documents only gets someone into the UK and not back to the US so if you use them, someone will need to check your mail for their passports and overnight them to the UK. The kids will be stuck in the UK until they get their passports.

JAJ

An emergency travel document is valid for travel to multiple countries (up to 5) depending on endorsements. And while it is not eligible for the visa waiver program, it is a valid passport and can be used to enter the U.S. with a valid visa or green card.

The Horticulturalist

If we're eligible to apply then according to the Consular website "The emergency travel document can also cover a return journey if you’re resident in the country you’re applying from".

Michael

I believe you have green cards so that should get you back to the US.

lansbury

There is a huge back log with overseas passport applications. Gather you should think in terms of 9 - 12 weeks minimum at the moment. Maybe longer.

Read the latter pages of this thread http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=815712

kodokan

If emergency travel documents will get you into the UK ok, you could just use the one-the-spot Premium Processing to get the kids' passports done there. We used to book an appointment, then fly back from Switzerland and spend an afternoon in London getting it all sorted (they were in the middle of moving the Euro UK passport processing all over the place, centralising it in Paris, and we were suspicious of their ability to get the pps back to us unscathed...)

The Horticulturalist

Lansbury, thanks, this helped me see that short of a miracle there is no way that the passports will be back in time, the passport system seems to be a bit of a shambles right now.

I talked to someone in the British Consulate General in Houston and told her the details, we now have an appointment for emergency travel documents as we will be in Houston the week before we are due to leave for the UK.