Re: Passport Delays
 

When does your old passport run out?

Re: Passport Delays
 

I think the British Embassy/Consulate issue ETDs to enable UK citizens to get back to the UK. They cannot dictate to the US or any other country's immigration officials what documents you should produce to enter another country.

Re: Passport Delays
 

Ran out June 6th. I will admit some measure of fault in not noticing this prior to flights.

Re: Passport Delays
 

Your GC will get you back into the US.

Re: Passport Delays
 

I suggest you send it off to the UK, you will probably get it back before those of us that submitted renewals in April to DC

Re: Passport Delays
 

Sorry, to clarify, I am in the US.

Re: Passport Delays
 

Much obliged. Thanks for the help.

So I could, potentially, receive an emergency travel doc to get out and back in to the US.

Any advice on the consul v submittal question.

Thanks so much guys, I really do appreciate it.

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?

Re: Passport Delays
 

I sent my daughters off for renewal on April 26th, cc taken on May 27th. No sign of passport. We have to get and ETD so we can leave on Friday

Re: Passport Delays
 

I was changing my name too due to marriage, my passport was the same as yours only issued last year but it still took 11 weeks to get it. :(

Re: Passport Delays
 

How much did it cost for the ETD's?

Re: Passport Delays
 

Originally Posted by lcfcdan
So you are saying the ETD can get me to the UK, but not necessarily back to the states?

I am a green card holder if that helps.

Again, I'm sorry if I am asking you all to retread well worn topics, I hope you understand my nerves here!

Your GC will get you back into the US.

True, but I don't think the airline will let you fly to the US from the UK unless you have a valid passport.
Can anyone confirm please?

Re: Passport Delays
 

Just as an update for everyone. I just needed to renew my passport. My old one expires in July this year. The only change was my name to my married one, for which I sent in the original marriage certificate. Shouldn't be difficult!

Application received April 27th
CC charged May 27th
Still no passport!

Called the careline last night the guy was not very helpful and told me that I was still within the 10 week processing time following the cc being charged. He actually told me not to call again until August 5th!

Re: Passport Delays
 

If you are a GC holder you are not traveling using the visa waiver program. The US doesn't apparently accept the ETD when traveling under the VWP. I say apparently because that is what I have read in this thread hence the accuracy of that statement may need to be checked.

Re: Passport Delays
 

If you have a GC and an ETD, you can go from the US to the UK and back. An ETD is a 'valid passport'. In fact, and ETD looks just like a passport, only off white in colour and it expires the day you get back.

Re: Passport Delays
 

This is part of the email I received from the vancouver consulate regarding ETDs:

I also explained that entry into the US will be at the discretion of the US Immigration Officer. Please see the information below, paying particular attention to the first two paragraphs which immediately follow the bold heading of TRAVEL SUMMARY.







http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-.../united-states

Re: Passport Delays
 

Just called the CBP Call Center.

I was told that ETD are accepted only when travelling into the US by land.
When travelling by air you have to register on the ESTA with a valid passport number. This is not necessary when travelling by land as you fill out the paperwork at the border.

Hope this helps.

Re: Passport Delays
 

Unless you are a US citizen or a LPR entry is always at the discretion of the immigration officer.

Re: Passport Delays
 

I take it you mean traveling from Canada using the VWP. If so please make it clear otherwise people reading your post at a later date may well be confused.

Re: Passport Delays
 

haven't got it yet, but I think it costs $157

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.

Re: Passport Delays
 

see post # 1619

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...

Re: Passport Delays
 

look for stuff posted by LP9 he is already squeaking that wheel.

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.

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 :(

Re: Passport Delays
 

I called the number 3 times last night between 6pm PST and 9pm. (I was freaking out just a little bit). When I called first around 6pm I was on hold for about 15mins but by the time I called at 9pm they answered it right away and I spoke with the same woman 3 times :)

Re: Passport Delays
 

The British Consul has confirmed that it is you, and no one else, who decides whether an ETD is appropriate. A holiday is as good a reason for an ETD as a dying relative!

Ian

Re: Passport Delays
 

Unless you have an appointment, I wouldn't bother as they won't see you.

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Big difference being the US passport being done within the country...and it's not like they aren't prone to it taking ages too. BIL's US passport renewal look over 10 weeks last year.

Shit happens. It's shit when it does.

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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?

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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.

Re: Passport Delays
 

We are having the same problems. We live in Nova Scotia and sent the renewal early May and it looks like we'd be lucky to see the passports this side of September. I find the situation a total joke and want to cancel as I'd rather wait for my Canadian citizenship but to rub salt in the wound they have already take $590 from my credit card. I am embarrassed to call myself a British Citizen!

Re: Passport Delays
 

Here's the update:
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.

Re: Passport Delays
 

But Andy

How are you getting back without your passport?

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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.

Re: Passport Delays
 

I'm confused now. I spoke with a staff member at the Los Angeles Consulate earlier.
They specifically said the ETD was only for travel to the UK and could not be used to return to the US.

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Nope, thats not right. I think they did have another form of travel doc that was a one way trip, but thats not an ETD.

One trip, up to 5 stops and it expires at the end of your itinerary. My wife arrives back to the US July 20, ETD expires July 20.

Re: Passport Delays
 

You'd think they'd know themselves...there were very clear on this.

I take my oath on Thursday, I have an appointment to fast track a US passport on Friday.

Fingers crossed that process will go smoothly as I won't have my GC anymore.

Re: Passport Delays
 

It will be irrelevant to you as you'd need your US passport to travel regardless.

The ETD is primarily designed to get people back into the UK via other destinations, but you can be used as a round trip if you aren't resident in the UK. The problem is, the foreign country does not have to recognise it and essentially, the US doesn't for air travel unless you have a visa. Most here would use their greencard to enter the US though.

The problems the Canadian residents are having, wanting to have a holiday in the US is not having GC's, nor a visa, so can't use the ETD and the VWP to enter the US, certainly by air, by land it would be by discretion of POE officer.

Re: Passport Delays
 

Finally! My husbands passport came this morning!So that is one day short of 11 weeks since the card was charged and almost 14 since they received it. I never did speak to Careline but this is reallly an unaccceptable turnaround time . I am glad that we didn't have any travel plans but I feel really bad for those who do. When I sent his off in March the website said 4 weeks. I hope everyone who has applied gets theirs very soon and those reading this thread who haven't please do not make any travel plans if you do not have to until you get your passport in hand.