British Consul

Sorry Deedee, they should have charged you the old rate if the application arrived before the prices went up.

I'll let Gerry know (about the voice that is).

PS. You can renew your passport up to 9 months before it expires. Any time remaining will be transferred to the new passport.

Dean

Jdatlas

I mailed my renewal application on June 8, 2009. I procrastinated for way too long and should really have dealt with this months ago. I want to go to England this summer. Should I risk it and buy a ticket for mid-July in the hopes that my passport will arrive by then or should I buy a ticket for the end of July and risk not seeing my sister and family who I haven't seen for years as they will be travelling in August? I hate not knowing what is happening with my application and not knowing when my passport will arrive.

20masonroad

Based on others and my experience......August seems to be your best bet.

Jdatlas

Thanks. I am kicking myself for not dealing with this earlier. I feel so stupid.

20masonroad

No need to be feeling that way, I, like you thought I would have enough time when I sent mine in for renewal, I didn't, missed my Grandson's 6th birthday, my son's 30th, a good friend of mine has M S and missed his fund raiser... the list goes on....Next time, I'll be early in line to renew.
Good luck

rebs

The uk passport website suggests that you can renew a passport at any time, but the max amount of time that can be transferred is 9 months.

http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/apply-renewing-when.asp

Are the rules different when applying abroad?

British Consul

Same thing, just a different way of saying it.

Dean

taradem

This whole situation is a joke, someone really needs to be held accountable for this enormous mess. The BBC reports today that the UK is coming out of recession ....... I can only imagine this is because of the massive revenue the passport office has generated from all of us using their premium rate not - helpline.
I applied for my childrens passport renewals on 21st April so should have had plenty of time to meet a June 16th meeting at the US embassy. Money taken 22nd May. I've now been told it takes 20 working days from the date of money being taken. 4 weeks - are you kidding me??
I have sent numerous queries to the website and got 2 standard responses - todays being - we shall be back to normal by the time you are due to travel and if you don't hear a response by 7 days before call premium rate number. Well I called them this morning as I don't have 7 days left before next Tuesday and guess what? Nothing issued and nothing they can do - this is beyond stressful.
The worst of it is having to explain to a US immigration bod that it is the British that have screwed it up - grrrrrrrr. Rant over!
For all of you that need to travel next summer I might think about applying sometime soon!

CP2908

Taradem - I think you are in Canada so have you tried emailing the consulate in Ottowa? I sent my passport in around the same time as you and had nothing back so I emailed the consulate (at address below) on Sunday May 31and my passport arrived 2 days later. I am sure they did something to get it moving. Good Luck.

[email protected]

Jerseygirl

Have you seen this post? http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...6&postcount=99

I would email Ottowa at the address CP2908 posted and drop Dean a PM asking for his help.

Good luck.

mainscow

Hmm. My money was gone on March 16th (I had to file a lost passport form too), I just called Careline and they told me that they couldn't see my application. They promised me that the embassy would call, but Abtran promised the same a few weeks back. I travel back to Manchester on June 29th. You'd have thought that if I had Fedexed my application on March 6th, I would have the passport by now wouldn't you?

Very concerned.
Mark

Jerseygirl

Ouch...3 months it does seem excessive. The embassy should pull their fingers out and make it easier for citizens to contact them.

JAJ

Dean (British Consul) is very helpful, perhaps you could send him a message.
Alternatively, best thing you can do is get on to your MP in Britain and ask him or her to find out what is going on through the Foreign Office Minister.

Deedee13

Ok my timeline......
Jan 09 - Knew the kids passports were running out put on my things to do list. They have german ones too so what weigh up the prices and the inconvenience - German u have to go to washington and get fingerprints done, the british ones just fillout and send it...
Feb 09 - Put the paperwork in for my green card extension - the pound is up and down, the prices keep changing..kids passports put on the things to do list.
Mar 09 - Looked at a this site for "how to apply" for the passports. Kids telling me they are under no circumstances having their fotos done without the hair being done first. Hair gets done. No money for passports, Kids passports on the things to do list.
April 09 - kaskas birthday, money money money. What we doing for the summer break.Kaska wants to go to europe for the summer, kelly wants to go for two weeks... crap.. passports... Wasnt their a passport fee change? AHA pays to wait I am going to get them cheaper - kids passports on the things to do list.
May 09 - Oh crap - The things to do list still has the passport on it. Bugger British Expats are up in arms at delays, what delays? oh crap them delays, oh shite, oh crap, oh bugger.. the to do list is laughing at me!!
May 10th . send the passport application off, go to fedex forget the address, double crap, phone Bitch from Hell Number one. Please tell me the address that is on the table that I forogt, what paper? the paper on the table? what table? i swear by god if i could have put my hand down the phone and throttled her I would have. Fedex let me use the pc to find the address. Wrote address, Mrs Fedex looks at me and says what state is Washington dc in... is this a trick question? It must be, gotta be. No one is that bloody stupid..
May 20... decide to go into pc and track passports did they arrive? They did, may 13.
May 21, 22, 23, 24,25,26 check if money has gone out of credit card.No money out ... oh pissy pants.
May 28 - kids u might not be going on holiday. Kids - mama u %^&% up. now i would never admit to it.. but that to do list.... hmmm
Jun 3 Money has left the credit card. They have my money, must be a good sign, my moneys gone, no passports but the money has gone.
June 7 read on British expats from Dean and enquiery service. Fill out the form and press send.
June 8. Land in Detroit . Mr Sexy Voice (swoon) calls and tells me I need pics countersigned. They are countersigned .. no NOT FROM UR HUSBAND..i know he had a point but u know a girl got to do what a girls got to do. He is a cop doenst that make him an honest law abiding citizen?? The girls look the same.. no they dont look the same they were 10 and 12 when they had the pics done.. they look the same they do.. i know i live with them.. grrrr.. get the photos done and back to me ...ok submission.. He is right i am wrong.Drive 98 miles an hour on the highway. I swear if the cops had pulled me over i would have said Gerry told me to... : )
June 9 - Gerry calls.. oh let me go into my own quiet space to purr...... Tells me the passports will be sent out on 10 will arrive on 11..
June 10 - Passports arrive....

big BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU.

My to do list has been destroyed!!

taradem

Lucky you! (Although I am sorry for your stress)

My update - I have just had a phonecall from a very lovely lady called Claire at the British Consulate in Ottawa. No promises but she has said she will get back to me today. As this really is the 11th hour now I do hope so.

I have also been in touch with Dean who remains hopeful but no sign as yet.
Good luck everyone!