Richard92024

Hi,
I'm a Brit living in sunny California... (with a Green Card).
My British passport expires Jan 19th 2010.
I looked online, and it seems that if I renew it here in the US, it costs $212 ($224 inc. postage)... whereas if I renew it in the UK, it costs £77.50 (approx $124).
I'm tempted to use my UK address and apply from there (i.e. send the forms to my dear old Mum in the UK, then she could send the passport on to me here in the States... I'll be going back to the UK in the Spring, but don't plan on returning in the English winter if I can avaoid it!...)
Anyone know of a reason this wouldn't work?
(Please only reply if you're sure! Thanks!)
Richard

AdobePinon

I am positively sure that I'm not sure. Thanks for allowing me to post.

CarlWain74

Richard,

I can't see why this would not work out. The passport agency will send the passport to the address on the form when you submit it.

How fast can you send post to the UK? this is something I am still trying to find out.

Xebedee

Pretty fast really.
2 to 5 days from the US to the UK.
Then 4 to 10 weeks from any UK airport to the doorstep.

JAJ

Courier is better than regular post.

Wooglin

It was explained to me that when it is delivered to an address, the passport holder has to sign and show ID. So that would not work.

dave2702

put off by the cost and the Washington embassy delays, I got my parents to send me the application forms, filled them out, went to Walgreens to have my photos done (their photo system actually has a British Passport option) sent them to my parents (arrived in 3 days but Chicago to Birmingham post is always quick)

Because the post office were about to have strikes I got them to take the stuff to the post office to be be checked and sent. I also chose the "return via 3rd party courier" option on the passport

It was back to parents within the week and they sent it back via DHL and it was in my hands the day after.

So I got my passport back in 2 weeks from my initially sending it

ian-mstm

I can't believe you're vacillating over $100 difference - which could easily get eaten up with mail/courier costs back and forth across the pond.

I renewed my UK passport a couple of years ago at the Embassy in DC. Yes, it was more expensive, but what the hell... it was way more convenient.

Ian

psb1821962

when I lived in the states I got my GB passport from DC can't remember the cost

Burn1911

I concur fully - for me it was way easier to just fill in the forms pay the $'s and send it to DC.

If I had to rely on my Mum to forward mail to the Passport office etc I would be waiting forever to go abroad - plus seeing as how it was my decision to move over here why would I want to put my Mum out to get her to send me the forms etc. so I could save some $'s

Bob

I'd wait till after x-mas when the mail rush settles down, even using a courier to lower the risk of it going missing.

Sending it to the UK makes sense if you've got more than one passport to sort out, so worth the bother if you don't need it in a rush, not that it'll be a quick effort done over here either.

Richard92024

Many thanks for the replies.
This is a question for Dave:
You said you asked for the passport to be "Returned via third party courier." If the courier wanted a signature, I guess it was OK with it not being yours?
(A previous poster said that they had heard that on delivery, they needed the passport holders signature and ID).
I just filled in the online application for a form to be sent to my UK address. I didn't tick the box, though, re. requesting the passport be returned by a third party courier. I can't believe the Post Office are the ones who would need a signature...
Any ideas on this?
Thanks again!
Richard

Wooglin

That was me Richard. (Previous Poster) I was informed that Passports are normally handled through courier or priority mail through regular post. Even through regular priority mail, it still usually needs to be signed for with proof of ID. The passport office would not send out mail without some means of security. Contact the British Post service and see if that is indeed the case. Perhaps this Third Party Courier does not need a signature from the applicant. Good Luck!!

dave2702

One of the options is to pay for secure delivery from the passport office and it was just delivered and signed for, no one asked for proof of identity my mother just signed for it

Richard92024

Many thanks for all the great advice
I'll post back here in a few weeks once, hopefully, I have my new passport in my hands
Cheers,
Richard