brad1984

Dear all,

I'm looking for anyone who has had previous experience with the Passport Production Centre in Washington DC. My partner who is Canadian is currently in the process of applying for his British Passport. As he currently lives in Canada he is required to submit his application through the centre in Washington. This is a new process recently introduced whereby Canadians are required to submit passport/visa applications in the US rather than in Canada.

His application was made at the start of December 2008 and as yet he has received no news concerning his application. In an attempt to find out how his application was progressing he called 'Abtran' (the outsource partner of the British consulate who deal with visa/application enquiries....)

He was informed (after the Abtran representative checked the 'lists') that his name did not appear on rejected applications nor did it appear on those waiting for payment to be taken. He was simply told that "this happens from time to time" and that the Consulate would have to call him. Anyway as it stands we are still waiting to hear!

Obviously we are slightly concerned. For one we are both worried that his application (along with Canadian passport, birth certificate etc) may have been mislaid. On the other hand we are worried that the application may simply not have been opened? We know that the application reached Washington as it was sent by recorded delivery and they have confirmed this!

Given that we have no prior experience with the Production Centre in Washington I would be so grateful to hear any comments concerning this. Is it too early to be expecting his passport or how long does it take to process a payment for instance!

I look forward to your comments!

Many thanks!

JCraigFong

I am a little confused by the posting. Am I correct in understanding you that BRITS who apply for CANADIAN passports while in NORTH AMERICA have to apply at some sort of passport processing centre in the USA?

Does this mean that the Brit in question is a Canadian & UK dual national? Is there no processing centre in Canada? If the person is a British national, WHY is the processing centre asking for the Canadian PPT?

Or are we talking about a US PPT?

--J Craig Fong
Los Angeles, CA

brad1984

Craig,

I'm sorry if the post was unclear!

This is how it stands. I am British and currently live in the UK. My partner is Canadian and is attempting to get his British passport (his father is British and also lives in Canada). As of November 2008 Canadians could no longer apply for a British passport in Canada and have since been required to submit their application via Washington. Once he obtains his passport he will be moving to the UK.

Seeing as many of the people on here may have renewed their British passport/visa at the production center (or could in fact be in the process of doing so) given that they currently live in the US, I thought I would see if anyone on here could help me.

Many thanks.

Jerseygirl

To renew a UK PP from the US usually takes a week or so. Saying that...this is a new PP so it will take longer...also allow for the Christmas and NY break.

Assuming he paid by credit card...has the payment been taken?

brad1984

Hi Jerseygirl,

No the payment has been taken. This is what we are both worried about given that the application arrived on December 8th and no payment has yet been taken.

Thanks

Jerseygirl

What date was the payment taken?

brad1984

NO payment whatsoever has been taken, this is our concern!!!

Jerseygirl

OK I was looking at this...Hi Jerseygirl,

No the payment has been taken.

I still think it's early days considering the holidays and that it's a new application. Payment is taken just before they send the PP back to you. So just because it's not been taken yet doesn't mean it's not a work in progress. I would give it a while longer and keep checking the credit card statement.

brad1984

Thanks Jerseygirl!

On the website it quotes 6 weeks to receive a new PP back. Given your experience would you say most applications are processed within this time frame or should we expect a longer wait?

Jerseygirl

I think you have to allow at least an extra 2 weeks for Christmas and NY. I don't know about new PP but it that's what they say...I would give it until early Feb. Once the payment's been taken the PP is normally sent out within 7/10 days...sometimes sooner.

ian-mstm

I renewed my UK passport last year and it was almost exactly 6 weeks. However, I wasn't in any rush to get it back, so I didn't care too much how long it took.

Ian

Rete

I have moved your post and retitled your subject line correctly. You are not asking about a US Passport and you are not asking about US immigration. I put this in the US forum in the hopes that a Brit might be able to answer you.

thebrit123

It does not seem to be long to get a passport renewed. I mailed mine in via USPS just before New Year. They debited my credit card on Jan 8th. This morning, my cellphone rang with a message from UPS. It said that my passport would be delivered today. That is quite fast.

Giantaxe

When I've renewed my passport, they have charged my credit card shortly before the passport has been mailed to me, i.e. right at the end of the renewal process.

rblythin

brad1984,

I'm in the exact same situation. I currently live in Ontario Canada, my wife lives in the UK. My parents are originally british hence I have dual citizenship. I'll be moving to the UK once my passport arrives. I actually went up to the british high commission in Ottawa on November 24th. They mailed it down, I did that purely because if something happened. I'd have some recourse for them to replace the original documents. They now refuse all applications.

I saw they took the fee off my mastercard exactly a week ago: Jan 8th. No sign of the passport yet though, I'm hoping it'll arrive by next week at the latest. Since we need to get flights booked & be in the UK by Feb 15th. Since my wife delayed starting a new post, cause I have a hard time traveling alone due to a stutter. If they're late with it, I'll be stuck here another 5 months. That's the earliest my wife could come back over to escort me back. Which would completely suck!. Being apart 8 months out of 12 since our wedding is brutal enough.

As soon as mine arrives, I'll drop you a line. That should give you a rough gauge. It sounds like our applications weren't sent off too far apart. I'd maybe give it another week for payment activity. If nothing, try following up again.

Rick