mwdake

I can't believe I did this but I overnight mailed a passport application to UK Embassy in Washington; but did not put the 19 Observatory Circle NW in the address.

Now I realize the British Embassy is a different address than the passport office part address.

Do you think my package will be directed to the right place?

Jscl

The Post Office does some pretty nifty stuff at times, but it's my suspicion it depends on how nice they are at the Post Office the mail gets to. This is the correct address:

UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle N.W.
Washington DC 20008

If you had the whole of the passport service line, just not the 19 Observatory Circle part, I think (just my guess here) that it will get to the right place. If you just put "British Embassy" not the whole line I think it would most likely (also a complete guess) get to somewhere in the correct building, but could be a long long time before the application got to the correct office within the building.

Or... the 20008 zipcode Post Master could be a complete monster and it'll eventually get returned to sender. Not sure anyone can know for sure.

jenniferpa

You say you sent it "overnight". On that basis you should have some form of tracking number. Mind you, if it can't be delivered, it should be returned to you fairly quickly.

Having said that, I sent mine in on Thursday, with an expected delivery date of Saturday and as of today (Monday) it's still apparently drifting around Washington, sigh.

mwdake

Thanks for the answers I did get the passport service office right.

I just missed the street.

UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean
British Embassy
Washington DC 20008

I had written the proper address on the envelope then the post office guy said I had to write it out on a special label which he stuck over my handwritten address; I guess I was not paying attention.

I am not too worried about a bit of a delay but worried that all y important documents will get lost in the process.

Jscl

My guess is it will get there ok, and even to the right office as you mentioned the Passport Office. Might be a delay of a day or two because it might have to be sorted by hand rather than machine, but I think it will get there. Again, just a guess!

mwdake

It looks like the Post Office took pity on me.

Tracking showed it left the sorting office then seemed to come back.
Now I just received an email that is was delivered and there is a PDF attached showing who it was signed for by and it said there address was 19 Observatory Circle.

Thank you all for the re-assurance and I feel better now.

jenniferpa

Incidentally, FYI my application arrived at the embassy on the 14th and I received my new passport today, the 23rd, which is a pretty fast turnaround to my mind. I didn't ask for expedited processing or anything either.

mwdake

Wow, that was fast and thanks for sharing.

Was yours a renewal or a new application?

My application, my daughters really, arrived the same day. I am hoping I will be as lucky as you.

jenniferpa

It was a renewal. I was quite surprised: I thought with the holidays etc it would take longer.

mwdake

Thanks, I believe renewals go through quicker than new applications.
Nevertheless, that is still quicker than they indicate.

I am hoping to get my daughters back before Jan 20th.

British Consul

FYI - The Embassy (3100 Massachusetts Ave NW) and the UK Passport Service (19 Observatory Circle NW) are actually at the same location, the latter use a different address to speed passport applications through the system. I think the USPS is quite used to receiving mail for the British Embassy with the street address missing, so I wouldn't worry too much.

mwdake

That's good to know.
Thanks for sharing.

mwdake

I wish they had a way to check the status of a Passport application.

My daughter leaves for Austria for 6 months on Thursday AM.
I was hoping she would get her British Passport before she left.
Fortunately she can travel on her US Passport as she got her Austrian student visa all sorted out quite quickly.

jenniferpa

I thought you could call a UK number. I know it's not cheap, but it's on the Embassy website. http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-fo...w-to-apply/usa

mwdake

Thanks for the reminder of the help line number; but from what I have read they are not much help and I am not sure if even they can check on the status.

I was thinking why can't the UK Embassy Passport Service make an online 'Status Check' on their website similar to the one the US has for their passports?