Passport Delays
Dec 2nd 2009, 2:04 pm
#333
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
I finally had contact from Washington. I called Careline again and they asked someone to contact me. The Passport Office sent me an e-mail that basically stated that since I was a first time applicant, that it can take from 4-8 weeks to process. Dean had mentioned this, and now the Passport Office is confirming this. This is great news as all I wanted was someone there to just tell me that the processing was still continuing and there were no issues. 
Dec 2nd 2009, 8:20 pm
#334
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Gibraltar
Posts: 25
Re: Passport Delays
I can't comment on applying for a passport by mail, the only time I have done that was for my first passport when living in the UK and applying for it by mail from Liverpool.
From my experience of British Embassies and Consulates overseas however I have never had to wait more than 3 days for a new passport, but have always applied for a new one in person, in a few different countries (I am now on m 10th passport in 15 years! Long story).
I once got a temporary, 1 year passport, at the British Consulate in Miami a few years ago whilst travelling from Seattle to Curacao via Miami. An hour after landing in Miami I realised that I had left my passport on the plane. "Too late" I was told, the plane was heading back to Seattle... The wife was less than impressed
!
After an hour of looking at our options we jumped in a taxi with our carry on luggage and headed to the British Consulate. An hour after arriving there I had a fresh passport, valid for a year, in my hands. A few hundred dollars lighter and 5 hours later we landed in Curacao. (2 days later my original passport was sent to me in Curacao from the airline.).
From my experience I would always recommend you apply in person for a new passport if you can, even if it costs time and money to get to a British Consulate/Embassy. As an overseas Brit this is probably the most important document you will have/need.
From my experience of British Embassies and Consulates overseas however I have never had to wait more than 3 days for a new passport, but have always applied for a new one in person, in a few different countries (I am now on m 10th passport in 15 years! Long story).
I once got a temporary, 1 year passport, at the British Consulate in Miami a few years ago whilst travelling from Seattle to Curacao via Miami. An hour after landing in Miami I realised that I had left my passport on the plane. "Too late" I was told, the plane was heading back to Seattle... The wife was less than impressed
! After an hour of looking at our options we jumped in a taxi with our carry on luggage and headed to the British Consulate. An hour after arriving there I had a fresh passport, valid for a year, in my hands. A few hundred dollars lighter and 5 hours later we landed in Curacao. (2 days later my original passport was sent to me in Curacao from the airline.).
From my experience I would always recommend you apply in person for a new passport if you can, even if it costs time and money to get to a British Consulate/Embassy. As an overseas Brit this is probably the most important document you will have/need.
Dec 2nd 2009, 11:05 pm
#335
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2
Re: Passport Delays
Mine was a basic renewal. It's been in now for over four weeks. The application was received on 2nd Nov and the fee was debited from my account back on 6th November. Haven't heard anything since. Keeping my fingers crossed that it's not gone missing !
Dec 3rd 2009, 12:46 am
#336
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
If you call the Careline, they can confirm your application is being processed.
Dec 3rd 2009, 1:49 am
#337
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: Passport Delays
I can't comment on applying for a passport by mail, the only time I have done that was for my first passport when living in the UK and applying for it by mail from Liverpool.
From my experience of British Embassies and Consulates overseas however I have never had to wait more than 3 days for a new passport, but have always applied for a new one in person, in a few different countries (I am now on m 10th passport in 15 years! Long story).
I once got a temporary, 1 year passport, at the British Consulate in Miami a few years ago whilst travelling from Seattle to Curacao via Miami. An hour after landing in Miami I realised that I had left my passport on the plane. "Too late" I was told, the plane was heading back to Seattle... The wife was less than impressed!
After an hour of looking at our options we jumped in a taxi with our carry on luggage and headed to the British Consulate. An hour after arriving there I had a fresh passport, valid for a year, in my hands. A few hundred dollars lighter and 5 hours later we landed in Curacao. (2 days later my original passport was sent to me in Curacao from the airline.).
From my experience I would always recommend you apply in person for a new passport if you can, even if it costs time and money to get to a British Consulate/Embassy. As an overseas Brit this is probably the most important document you will have/need.
From my experience of British Embassies and Consulates overseas however I have never had to wait more than 3 days for a new passport, but have always applied for a new one in person, in a few different countries (I am now on m 10th passport in 15 years! Long story).
I once got a temporary, 1 year passport, at the British Consulate in Miami a few years ago whilst travelling from Seattle to Curacao via Miami. An hour after landing in Miami I realised that I had left my passport on the plane. "Too late" I was told, the plane was heading back to Seattle... The wife was less than impressed
! After an hour of looking at our options we jumped in a taxi with our carry on luggage and headed to the British Consulate. An hour after arriving there I had a fresh passport, valid for a year, in my hands. A few hundred dollars lighter and 5 hours later we landed in Curacao. (2 days later my original passport was sent to me in Curacao from the airline.).
From my experience I would always recommend you apply in person for a new passport if you can, even if it costs time and money to get to a British Consulate/Embassy. As an overseas Brit this is probably the most important document you will have/need.
Dec 3rd 2009, 2:49 pm
#338
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 51
Re: Passport Delays
I wish I had seen this thread before mailing my passport in to the DC Embassy and stupidly trusting their "10 day" turn around time. Luckily I'm in no hurry to get the passport back.
It looks like the "little piece of Britain" that is over here is just as lazy and incompetent as the bigger piece we left behind.
It looks like the "little piece of Britain" that is over here is just as lazy and incompetent as the bigger piece we left behind.
Dec 3rd 2009, 7:27 pm
#339
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
Dec 3rd 2009, 9:53 pm
#340
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 47
Re: Passport Delays
It's only 45 minutes down the road for me and I mailed it ... Would probably have it by now if I had gone down there in the very first case...
Dec 3rd 2009, 10:49 pm
#341
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
Apparently they do not have parking near the Embassy, so it might have been a bit of a walk! I would have handed it in person had I lived so close!
Dec 4th 2009, 12:55 am
#342
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 47
Re: Passport Delays
The nearest metro station is more than a mile away too...
Dec 7th 2009, 2:01 pm
#343
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 47
Re: Passport Delays
Just called Careline and apparently my passport was printed on Friday so should be with me any day now Just in time for leaving on the 22nd 
So to summarize passport application returned to me for corrections Nov 9th. Returned to the passport office on the same day. Passport printed December 4th.
Just in time for leaving on the 22nd So to summarize passport application returned to me for corrections Nov 9th. Returned to the passport office on the same day. Passport printed December 4th.
Dec 7th 2009, 2:06 pm
#344
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Hamilton, Canada
Posts: 73
Re: Passport Delays
Great news! Am still waiting myself.
Dec 8th 2009, 4:04 pm
#345
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 47
Re: Passport Delays
And it arrived at 9:30 this morning. No phone call this time though 