Passport Delays
Dec 17th 2009, 2:42 pm
#391
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 115
Re: Passport Delays
Great news here.
UPS delivered the passports about an hour ago.
To recap my experience:
1) Mid-Nov sent in for two passport renewals. Dec 18th travel date.
2) Heard nothing until Dec 10th when credit card was charged.
3) Dec 16th (08.30gmt/03.30est) Out of hopeless desperation called Careline. Was told that Dec 23rd was likely delivery date, but they would email passport office in Washington DC to see if anything could be done. I gave them my mobile number as a contact number.
4) Dec 16th (approx 14.00est) Passport office called my mobile, said they were about to print passports and would be shipping them overnight to me. Gave me a UPS tracking number.
5) Dec 17th (09.45est) UPS delivered passports to my door.
I am hugely relieved and grateful to the people at the passport office and at Careline. The initial processing may have dragged on a little but once I made them aware of my plight they were magnificent.
Big thumbs up to all involved
Less than thirty hours from my call for help to receiving my passports. Excellent.
We leave tomorrow.
Okay, British Airways, your turn now. Follow that!
UPS delivered the passports about an hour ago.
To recap my experience:
1) Mid-Nov sent in for two passport renewals. Dec 18th travel date.
2) Heard nothing until Dec 10th when credit card was charged.
3) Dec 16th (08.30gmt/03.30est) Out of hopeless desperation called Careline. Was told that Dec 23rd was likely delivery date, but they would email passport office in Washington DC to see if anything could be done. I gave them my mobile number as a contact number.
4) Dec 16th (approx 14.00est) Passport office called my mobile, said they were about to print passports and would be shipping them overnight to me. Gave me a UPS tracking number.
5) Dec 17th (09.45est) UPS delivered passports to my door.
I am hugely relieved and grateful to the people at the passport office and at Careline. The initial processing may have dragged on a little but once I made them aware of my plight they were magnificent.
Big thumbs up to all involved
Less than thirty hours from my call for help to receiving my passports. Excellent.
We leave tomorrow.
Okay, British Airways, your turn now. Follow that!
Dec 17th 2009, 2:45 pm
#392
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 115
Re: Passport Delays
PS... The Careline call cost me about $16usd. I used the number in the UK not the 900 number.
Dec 17th 2009, 2:47 pm
#393
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
Great news!!! Good luck with BA. That is another matter altogether!! Can you imagine what the 1-900 number would have cost you??
Dec 17th 2009, 2:50 pm
#394
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Kingston, Ontario Canada
Posts: 11
Re: Passport Delays
Well this is my problem. I sent my passport application( first time application since I havent had one since I was 12) in the beginning of Oct 2009. The money came off my credit card Oct 14th. Its now Dec 16th,2009 and nothing. Getting pretty upset it takes this long. My husband got his canadian passport 10 days after he applied( first time for him). Why does it take so bloody long for the British passport. I was holding off calling the careline but by the looks of the previous posts I better call. 
Last edited by jewels391234; Dec 17th 2009 at 2:55 pm.
Dec 17th 2009, 3:00 pm
#395
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
9 weeks is unacceptable. I merely was furious with a total of 7 weeks door to door. Have you tried calling the British High Commission in Ottawa? They have been helpful to other posters on this board. (613) 237 1530 That is the main switchboard number. Ask to speak to a Consular officer. (Ask for Clare)
Dec 17th 2009, 3:13 pm
#396
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
BREAKING NEWS.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8418805.stm
BA obtained a court injunction that will prevent BA from a strike over the holidays.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8418805.stm
BA obtained a court injunction that will prevent BA from a strike over the holidays.
Dec 17th 2009, 3:26 pm
#397
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Kingston, Ontario Canada
Posts: 11
Re: Passport Delays
9 weeks is unacceptable. I merely was furious with a total of 7 weeks door to door. Have you tried calling the British High Commission in Ottawa? They have been helpful to other posters on this board. (613) 237 1530 That is the main switchboard number. Ask to speak to a Consular officer. (Ask for Clare)
I wont make plans til I know I am getting my passport and I guess I am getting punished for that.
Thanks I will call Clare for sure.I will let you know what happens
Dec 17th 2009, 5:25 pm
#398
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 102
Re: Passport Delays
It has been 10 business days 
since my passport renewal application was delivered to the embassy in Washington. Would I be correct in assuming that absolutely nothing will happen with my application for weeks (emails, phone calls, credit card payments, etc). I have no travel plans and my passport runs out in April 2010. How long should I wait before being concerned?
since my passport renewal application was delivered to the embassy in Washington. Would I be correct in assuming that absolutely nothing will happen with my application for weeks (emails, phone calls, credit card payments, etc). I have no travel plans and my passport runs out in April 2010. How long should I wait before being concerned?
Dec 17th 2009, 9:50 pm
#399
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: Passport Delays
It has been 10 business days since my passport renewal application was delivered to the embassy in Washington. Would I be correct in assuming that absolutely nothing will happen with my application for weeks (emails, phone calls, credit card payments, etc). I have no travel plans and my passport runs out in April 2010. How long should I wait before being concerned?
since my passport renewal application was delivered to the embassy in Washington. Would I be correct in assuming that absolutely nothing will happen with my application for weeks (emails, phone calls, credit card payments, etc). I have no travel plans and my passport runs out in April 2010. How long should I wait before being concerned?
Dec 17th 2009, 11:00 pm
#400
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
No kidding 9 weeks is ridiculous!!! And they are telling me to call in the new year again... then it will be 3 months since I sent it.They need to change the way they issue passports in North America. Not sending to Washington for a canadian and call England when you have problems. Definitely not a streamline system.
I wont make plans til I know I am getting my passport and I guess I am getting punished for that.
Thanks I will call Clare for sure.I will let you know what happens
I wont make plans til I know I am getting my passport and I guess I am getting punished for that.
Thanks I will call Clare for sure.I will let you know what happens
Dec 17th 2009, 11:03 pm
#401
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
It has been 10 business days since my passport renewal application was delivered to the embassy in Washington. Would I be correct in assuming that absolutely nothing will happen with my application for weeks (emails, phone calls, credit card payments, etc). I have no travel plans and my passport runs out in April 2010. How long should I wait before being concerned?
since my passport renewal application was delivered to the embassy in Washington. Would I be correct in assuming that absolutely nothing will happen with my application for weeks (emails, phone calls, credit card payments, etc). I have no travel plans and my passport runs out in April 2010. How long should I wait before being concerned?
Dec 18th 2009, 12:21 am
#403
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 8
Re: Passport Delays
Great news here.
UPS delivered the passports about an hour ago.
To recap my experience:
1) Mid-Nov sent in for two passport renewals. Dec 18th travel date.
2) Heard nothing until Dec 10th when credit card was charged.
3) Dec 16th (08.30gmt/03.30est) Out of hopeless desperation called Careline. Was told that Dec 23rd was likely delivery date, but they would email passport office in Washington DC to see if anything could be done. I gave them my mobile number as a contact number.
4) Dec 16th (approx 14.00est) Passport office called my mobile, said they were about to print passports and would be shipping them overnight to me. Gave me a UPS tracking number.
5) Dec 17th (09.45est) UPS delivered passports to my door.
I am hugely relieved and grateful to the people at the passport office and at Careline. The initial processing may have dragged on a little but once I made them aware of my plight they were magnificent.
Big thumbs up to all involved
Less than thirty hours from my call for help to receiving my passports. Excellent.
We leave tomorrow.
Okay, British Airways, your turn now. Follow that!
UPS delivered the passports about an hour ago.
To recap my experience:
1) Mid-Nov sent in for two passport renewals. Dec 18th travel date.
2) Heard nothing until Dec 10th when credit card was charged.
3) Dec 16th (08.30gmt/03.30est) Out of hopeless desperation called Careline. Was told that Dec 23rd was likely delivery date, but they would email passport office in Washington DC to see if anything could be done. I gave them my mobile number as a contact number.
4) Dec 16th (approx 14.00est) Passport office called my mobile, said they were about to print passports and would be shipping them overnight to me. Gave me a UPS tracking number.
5) Dec 17th (09.45est) UPS delivered passports to my door.
I am hugely relieved and grateful to the people at the passport office and at Careline. The initial processing may have dragged on a little but once I made them aware of my plight they were magnificent.
Big thumbs up to all involved
Less than thirty hours from my call for help to receiving my passports. Excellent.
We leave tomorrow.
Okay, British Airways, your turn now. Follow that!
Dec 18th 2009, 6:40 pm
#405
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 102
Re: Passport Delays
For some people, a couple of weeks is all it took, but for many it has been/was much longer. Remember, it is not when it was delivered, but when the payment was taken, as that is when the data is entered into the system. Have they taken the payment yet? It is also the Christmas rush, and people with travel plans are apparently given a higher priority. Don't wait by your mailbox for a while.