valspal

Hi i am filling out a renewal and am confused about a couple of things.

1) countersignatory. This is not clear whether i need one. If my appearance hasn't changed significantly (don't think so), i don't need one right?

2) supporting documents. Do i need them for a renewal.

3) name change. I haven't changed it since the last passport. Is that what they mean?

Jerseygirl

1. Correct.

2. As far as I can remember you send the fee, the application form, photographs and old passport for a renewal if nothing has changed ie you've got married.

3. Correct.

valspal

[QUOTE=Jerseygirl;10117688]1. Correct.

2. As far as I can remember you send the fee, the application form, photographs and old passport for a renewal if nothing has changed ie you've got married.

3. Correct.[/QUO

Thanks Jerseygirl for your quick reply. They are so unclear on some of these, especially the countersignatory. I filled out the new smartform online and the parts that are not required for you to fill out are faded. This one is not so was difficult for me to send in, felt wrong. They had no notes attached either.

Anyway off i go to mail

valspal

Also whats the best way to mail it?

valspal

What's the best way to mail passport renewal application to Washington?

RICH

Do you want fastest, cheapest, most reliable or what it says on the instructions?

Bob

Don't need to many threads on this topic, so merged the other one into this, considering you already asked the question in this thread.

valspal

Most reliable but not too much cost. I'd like to know how others who have done it recently did it and how that was.
(sorry i wanted to mail it today so i reposted new thread to get a quick answer.

RICH

Fedex & UPS will do overnight delivery to DC, at a cost, and in my experience are very reliable, but here is the recommendation:

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-fo...-apply/usa#how

I would think USPS registered post is cheaper and just as reliable, if slower.

valspal

Thanks Rich. Do you happen to know what registered post means? Probably not tracking which i'm thinking about. I prefer UPS but usually they are expensive. I hate my local P.O. the woman there is horrid. Doesn't seem to like me asking questions. I'm leaning towards either UPS or Registered Post.

MarylandNed

Yes, you get tracking with Registered Mail. Someone also has to sign for it at the other end. Because of the increased security, this could be a slower option than regular mail however it's worth it for important documents.

http://tinyurl.com/chrqauk

Bob

Speed of postage is a waste of time. It'll still generally be a couple of weeks sitting around at the other end before it gets opened and credit details charged, then you've got the 4-7 weeks for passport processing.

So saving a day or too on postage is a waste of extra money on speed.

valspal

Now i'm nervous i have a flight on July 20th. 5 1/2 weeks. Would have been 6 but wasted a couple of days trying to figure out if i needed a countersignatory. It says on site 4 weeks somewhere. Now what?

Jerseygirl

Did you enter the date of your travel on the form?

Bob

That 4 weeks is the time for processing, once they've charged your card.