Passport Delays
Jul 19th 2011, 8:47 pm
#1936
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 20
Re: Passport Delays
Like so many others, I just found the UPS envelope sitting on the doormat. Why some have to sign and others don't is puzzling to me. Our UPS guy usually rings the doorbell for the most trivial items.
Jul 19th 2011, 9:16 pm
#1937
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: Philly area
Posts: 154
Re: Passport Delays
So I went out to pick up my mail and, on my doormat lies my passport! (the UPS guy didn't ring the doorbell!) Thank you Green Team! Careline told me that DC would contact me within 3 or 4 days. Instead of calling, they went ahead and sent my passport...Phew! I hope everyone else with a similar timeline doesn't have to wait much longer.
How wonderful! Are you going to leave the support group or hang around to encourage others?:
Jul 19th 2011, 9:44 pm
#1938
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: Buenos Aires (at the moment)
Posts: 4
Re: Passport Delays
I have been travelling in South America for a while and all my pages got filled with stamps so I needed a passport renewal. British Embassy in Buenos Aires advised me to send existing passport to Washington. Tourist visa lasts 90 days in Argentina so I hope it arrives soon! Visa up on 6 AUG (but not a huge problem as can pay small fine to stay longer). Already cancelled four pre-arranged trips. Locked into Colombia trip in late August. May end up having to get ETD and additional visas. Is there anybody applying with any luck from South America?
09 May: Sent passport to DC from Buenos Aires by DHL
12 May: Passport received at Consular Service Washington
14 June: Passport application processed
16 June: CC Payment processed
19 July: Called Careline, spoke to Scottish Jane, 6 digit ref number (with no 'R'?) ..... told it could be another 10 weeks! Totally unacceptable.
Thinking about contacting local MP in UK to speed up the process.
Any advice appreciated.
Cheers,
Boulty
09 May: Sent passport to DC from Buenos Aires by DHL
12 May: Passport received at Consular Service Washington
14 June: Passport application processed
16 June: CC Payment processed
19 July: Called Careline, spoke to Scottish Jane, 6 digit ref number (with no 'R'?) ..... told it could be another 10 weeks! Totally unacceptable.
Thinking about contacting local MP in UK to speed up the process.
Any advice appreciated.
Cheers,
Boulty
Jul 19th 2011, 9:47 pm
#1939
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 19
Re: Passport Delays
Excellent...good for you and everyone else who have received their PPs.
I hope this means the FCO are getting their arses in gear and sorting this mess out...rather than prioritizing those that phone and complain...thus pushing the rest further and further down the queue.
I hope this means the FCO are getting their arses in gear and sorting this mess out...rather than prioritizing those that phone and complain...thus pushing the rest further and further down the queue.
Jul 19th 2011, 9:51 pm
#1940
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: Passport Delays
Jul 19th 2011, 10:32 pm
#1942
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Re: Passport Delays
09 May: Sent passport to DC from Buenos Aires by DHL
12 May: Passport received at Consular Service Washington
14 June: Passport application processed
16 June: CC Payment processed
19 July: Called Careline, spoke to Scottish Jane, 6 digit ref number (with no 'R'?) ..... told it could be another 10 weeks! Totally unacceptable.
Jul 19th 2011, 10:35 pm
#1943
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 20
Re: Passport Delays
I have been travelling in South America for a while and all my pages got filled with stamps so I needed a passport renewal. British Embassy in Buenos Aires advised me to send existing passport to Washington. Tourist visa lasts 90 days in Argentina so I hope it arrives soon! Visa up on 6 AUG (but not a huge problem as can pay small fine to stay longer). Already cancelled four pre-arranged trips. Locked into Colombia trip in late August. May end up having to get ETD and additional visas. Is there anybody applying with any luck from South America?
09 May: Sent passport to DC from Buenos Aires by DHL
12 May: Passport received at Consular Service Washington
14 June: Passport application processed
16 June: CC Payment processed
19 July: Called Careline, spoke to Scottish Jane, 6 digit ref number (with no 'R'?) ..... told it could be another 10 weeks! Totally unacceptable.
Thinking about contacting local MP in UK to speed up the process.
Any advice appreciated.
Cheers,
Boulty
09 May: Sent passport to DC from Buenos Aires by DHL
12 May: Passport received at Consular Service Washington
14 June: Passport application processed
16 June: CC Payment processed
19 July: Called Careline, spoke to Scottish Jane, 6 digit ref number (with no 'R'?) ..... told it could be another 10 weeks! Totally unacceptable.
Thinking about contacting local MP in UK to speed up the process.
Any advice appreciated.
Cheers,
Boulty
Jul 20th 2011, 12:15 am
#1944
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: Buenos Aires (at the moment)
Posts: 4
Re: Passport Delays
Your time-line is very close to mine. I was told last week that it COULD take 10 weeks after payment. There was no record of me in the computer. I was told the ref# is just something to help them pull your file up every time you call. An expired visa sure sounds like an emergency and inconvenience in my book! Call them tomorrow.
As Careline is 24hr and free these days, I called them back straight away.... hoping not to get the unhelpful Jane. The friendly Scott (the Scot) answered, he gave me a different reference number for the call, 1584**, just 63 digits different from my last reference number (which makes me think it is just the number of calls logged) and looked my case file up on a tracking system. He said my passport would be another 3-5 weeks maximum before it got here. My tourist visa might expire but at least this gives me a bit of hope!
Cheers
Boulty
Jul 20th 2011, 12:19 am
#1945
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Re: Passport Delays
It looks like they tried to deliver my passport! I missed the UPS van by minutes. I'm going to try and pick it up from them now!
The guy who countersigned for me keeps asking me whether I've received it yet and I keep having to tell him no. In fact, I told him the delay is clearly his fault, and he must be on a terrorist watch list somewhere.
The guy who countersigned for me keeps asking me whether I've received it yet and I keep having to tell him no. In fact, I told him the delay is clearly his fault, and he must be on a terrorist watch list somewhere.
Jul 20th 2011, 12:32 am
#1946
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: steinbach,manitoba
Posts: 16
Re: Passport Delays
It looks like they tried to deliver my passport! I missed the UPS van by minutes. I'm going to try and pick it up from them now!
The guy who countersigned for me keeps asking me whether I've received it yet and I keep having to tell him no. In fact, I told him the delay is clearly his fault, and he must be on a terrorist watch list somewhere.
The guy who countersigned for me keeps asking me whether I've received it yet and I keep having to tell him no. In fact, I told him the delay is clearly his fault, and he must be on a terrorist watch list somewhere.
im getting nearer to my holiday but its looking good.
Jul 20th 2011, 1:08 am
#1947
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Re: Passport Delays
So I was able to pick up my passport, but I found out why Careline couldn't find me in their system. They misspelled my name!! I suppose they will take another 4 months to fix it. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Jul 20th 2011, 2:32 am
#1950
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 20
Re: Passport Delays
Looks like I may be getting my passport tomorrow, was sent a UPS tracking number today by the embassy. Was supposed to be delivered today but the address was wrong so they're sending it Wed. So excited!, last Thurs night when I called they hadn't even started processing. was apprently printed and ready to go Friday!
Saro, sorry to hear they spelled your name wrong, hopefullly they'll fix it quick for you. They can move quickly if they have too
Saro, sorry to hear they spelled your name wrong, hopefullly they'll fix it quick for you.
They can move quickly if they have too