Passport Delays
Jun 28th 2011, 9:18 pm
#1621
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Re: Passport Delays
Hi, I'm new and I only found this site after a quick panicked google today.
My timeline:
simple adult renewal sent from Vancouver BC to Washington, rec'd in Washington May 25th. Credit card processed June 27th. After a quick e-mail sent last week wondering what was going on I get a general "do not reply' type e-mail today stating that it could be up to 10 weeks now??? I'm gutted, absolutely gutted. Plans to travel at the end of August to the States with my two children for a family reunion. One is my 5 month old baby. Any ideas what I can do? Good luck to everybody else.
My timeline:
simple adult renewal sent from Vancouver BC to Washington, rec'd in Washington May 25th. Credit card processed June 27th. After a quick e-mail sent last week wondering what was going on I get a general "do not reply' type e-mail today stating that it could be up to 10 weeks now??? I'm gutted, absolutely gutted. Plans to travel at the end of August to the States with my two children for a family reunion. One is my 5 month old baby. Any ideas what I can do? Good luck to everybody else.
Jun 28th 2011, 9:20 pm
#1622
Daft.. not Stoopid
Joined: May 2011
Location: Memphis TN
Posts: 514
Re: Passport Delays
Hi, I'm new and I only found this site after a quick panicked google today.
My timeline:
simple adult renewal sent from Vancouver BC to Washington, rec'd in Washington May 25th. Credit card processed June 27th. After a quick e-mail sent last week wondering what was going on I get a general "do not reply' type e-mail today stating that it could be up to 10 weeks now??? I'm gutted, absolutely gutted. Plans to travel at the end of August to the States with my two children for a family reunion. One is my 5 month old baby. Any ideas what I can do? Good luck to everybody else.
My timeline:
simple adult renewal sent from Vancouver BC to Washington, rec'd in Washington May 25th. Credit card processed June 27th. After a quick e-mail sent last week wondering what was going on I get a general "do not reply' type e-mail today stating that it could be up to 10 weeks now??? I'm gutted, absolutely gutted. Plans to travel at the end of August to the States with my two children for a family reunion. One is my 5 month old baby. Any ideas what I can do? Good luck to everybody else.
Jun 28th 2011, 9:23 pm
#1623
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Re: Passport Delays
Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure about an emergency travel document as this is only for a holiday. I thought I had left enough time to get this passport thing done. I have called the consulate in Vancouver but can't get through to a human! Will have to fax and be the squeaky wheel I suppose. Fingers crossed...
Jun 28th 2011, 9:28 pm
#1624
Daft.. not Stoopid
Joined: May 2011
Location: Memphis TN
Posts: 514
Re: Passport Delays
Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure about an emergency travel document as this is only for a holiday. I thought I had left enough time to get this passport thing done. I have called the consulate in Vancouver but can't get through to a human! Will have to fax and be the squeaky wheel I suppose. Fingers crossed...
If you look all through this thread there is a lot of good advice.
(warning keep a bottle of happy pills with you when you look)
good luck.
Jun 28th 2011, 9:49 pm
#1625
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Re: Passport Delays
Thanks
Any tips for how to get through to careline? I have tried all day and it's permanently busy. The 1.900 number just gets me an error message.
Better stock up on gin, this is going to be stressful
Any tips for how to get through to careline? I have tried all day and it's permanently busy. The 1.900 number just gets me an error message.
Better stock up on gin, this is going to be stressful
Jun 28th 2011, 10:22 pm
#1626
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 7
Re: Passport Delays
Jun 28th 2011, 11:05 pm
#1627
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Passport Delays
Jun 28th 2011, 11:07 pm
#1629
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Passport Delays
Shit happens. It's shit when it does.
Jun 28th 2011, 11:38 pm
#1630
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Croydon
Posts: 103
Re: Passport Delays
At this point I just want my supporting documents back. At least that way we'll still be able to travel august 12th as planned. Wondering if they'll let me pick them up in Washington?
Jun 29th 2011, 12:42 am
#1631
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Re: Passport Delays
I hope you get your documents back shazban...
I faxed the British consulate in Vancouver and got an e-mail reply within hours. She suggested I call Careline (can`t get through!!!!) and said also that the ten week wait was not necessarily on top of the 5 weeks my passport has already been languishing in Washington. (Which is weird- because 10 weeks from date of transaction means 10 weeks from now to me) However, at least I have had a reply. Going to just keep plugging away at it and will keep hoping..... Good luck everybody else.
I faxed the British consulate in Vancouver and got an e-mail reply within hours. She suggested I call Careline (can`t get through!!!!) and said also that the ten week wait was not necessarily on top of the 5 weeks my passport has already been languishing in Washington. (Which is weird- because 10 weeks from date of transaction means 10 weeks from now to me) However, at least I have had a reply. Going to just keep plugging away at it and will keep hoping..... Good luck everybody else.
Jun 29th 2011, 12:50 am
#1632
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2
Re: Passport Delays
Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and only found it whilst looking for some information on British Passport delays. This situation is unbelievable and I am so frustrated. The first thing I think of when I wake is "I wonder if my passports will come today", sad isn't it. My timeline is as follows:
Passports applications received: May 5th
Payment taken out: June 24th (they did call me Mon 20 and 22 to advise c/c had not worked). Apparently pre-paid c/c's don't work but does work when you call careline? Sent in money order express post.
I asked the man how long would it take from now and he told me 6-8 weeks. Can you believe it? It has already been 7 weeks!! He gave me a reference number so at least I have that to quote.
Sent an email to the British High Commission in Ottawa yesterday, waiting for a reply. Wanted to fly to the UK on June 16th for nephew's birthday's, sadly that day came and went. I am not going to sit back and wait quietly, I think I will bombard Washington with letters and continue to try and get a response from the High Commission. I have called Careline three times, and they are unhelpful. However, I will try all options.
I read someone's post about sending some of the applications back to the UK, what a great idea. My sister sent off for a new passport for her baby and she got it back in 10 days.
Would like to hear if anyone else who sent their applications in at the beginning of May have been successful and received their passports yet?
Passports applications received: May 5th
Payment taken out: June 24th (they did call me Mon 20 and 22 to advise c/c had not worked). Apparently pre-paid c/c's don't work but does work when you call careline? Sent in money order express post.
I asked the man how long would it take from now and he told me 6-8 weeks. Can you believe it? It has already been 7 weeks!! He gave me a reference number so at least I have that to quote.
Sent an email to the British High Commission in Ottawa yesterday, waiting for a reply. Wanted to fly to the UK on June 16th for nephew's birthday's, sadly that day came and went. I am not going to sit back and wait quietly, I think I will bombard Washington with letters and continue to try and get a response from the High Commission. I have called Careline three times, and they are unhelpful. However, I will try all options.
I read someone's post about sending some of the applications back to the UK, what a great idea. My sister sent off for a new passport for her baby and she got it back in 10 days.
Would like to hear if anyone else who sent their applications in at the beginning of May have been successful and received their passports yet?
Jun 29th 2011, 1:02 am
#1633
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
Re: Passport Delays
Here's my timeline so far:
My flight to the UK leaves on the 29th June, and I sent my application for to renew my passport on May 3rd. I sent it with tracking and with return receipt. The tracking said they received it May 5th I believe, but I got the return receipt in June with a 1st June date stamp on it.
They charged my credit card on the 9th.
I wish they had a link to this form from the US passport renewal website, or that they would update the website with real time estimates for passport applications.
My flight to the UK leaves on the 29th June, and I sent my application for to renew my passport on May 3rd. I sent it with tracking and with return receipt. The tracking said they received it May 5th I believe, but I got the return receipt in June with a 1st June date stamp on it.
They charged my credit card on the 9th.
I wish they had a link to this form from the US passport renewal website, or that they would update the website with real time estimates for passport applications.
I got an emergency passport yesterday (27 June). Cost $157 and I had to show up in person at the consulate (went to the one in Los Angeles). Took just over an hour. They required:
1. printout of my flight information.
2. My green card
3. 2 photos - which they returned to me! (they scan the photo) $8 at CVS.
4. $157
So, I get to fly tomorrow - just in time for the UK Border agency strike:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/si.../june/45strike
Oh, the joy of visiting the homeland.
Still no news on the passport renewal.
Jun 29th 2011, 2:36 am
#1634
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: Passport Delays
But Andy
How are you getting back without your passport?
How are you getting back without your passport?
Jun 29th 2011, 2:50 am
#1635
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 68
Re: Passport Delays
He has a passport - an ETD is a limited duration UK passport essentially. It is good for one trip of up to 5 stops. That plus his green card is good for a return trip to the UK. The consulate verified his itinerary before they gave him the ETD.
My wife is currently in the UK with the same documents - ETD plus Green Card.
My wife is currently in the UK with the same documents - ETD plus Green Card.