Bob

That's to make them harder for people to tamper with by sliding the lamenate off to stick a new pick in them.

Celtic_Angel

yeah don't worry rincewind , i actually let my passport expire for 2 years before getting a renwal

as long as you have the old passport for them you won't even need the countersignature, they advise you not to let your paperwork expire though

rincewind

My passport arrived today and you're not kidding. The quality is no where near what it was for my previous one. I opened up the page with the photo and it almost works like a pop-up book.

The photo is also a badly scanned in version of the one I sent but heck, at least I have it.

Thanks for you help on this one guys. I was worried about the whole counter-signature thing but it wasn't needed.

Pulaski

Mine is too - really badly distorted, kind of compressed, leaving me looking like a wide-mouthed frog.

Bob

Least you have the excuse that they made it look bad

Britdrinker

I seriously wonder whether mine will stand up to ten years of travelling.

truebrits

I don't know if your passport is expired. My wifes' and mine are, so when I went to renew at the Embassy in DC last week, I was told that we needed copies of our driving licences as well, because they were expired. I was also turned away as the friend who counter-signed the pictures, including the ones for our children, was a personal trainer. I was told that for the children it HAD to be their teacher. I did point out that their present teacher hasn't known them for two years, but was told that I still needed them signed by teachers'. They did, however, assure me that I would receive the new passports before our christmas travel date. At least we had good weather for a day trip to DC and the Smithsonian!

rincewind

It was due to expire at the end of January 2005 so I renewed it nice and early. No counter signature needed.

CaliforniaBride

That's odd. The website says the person has to have known you not the child.

GJB

Ironically, I just sent mine off today. My previous passport expired in June of this year. I sent it, a professionally taken new picture of me, and had my old boss (who has known me for 18 months and is a professional accountant) countersign the form and the pictures.

I'm hoping to get back home next summer, so wanted to get it done and out of the way early.

Gary

AlbaTivo

I allowed my passport to expire and applied without countersignature and everything was processed okay.

When my son was born we had his countersigned by a friend who is a paralegal. I really think you only need the countersignature for first time applications, although we will probably have our son's countersigned when he has to renew at 5 years old since they change so much.

Perfumdiva1

For goodness sakes, applying for a new passport is childsplay, DC and back in 2 weeks max..

Try applying for a driving permit for a 15yrs old, when we have lived in the US for 7 years, paid taxes etc, still non green card holders...........
(Applied for green card nearly 5 years ago, but, if you apply after 9/11, it is delivered under 2 years, happened to 2 friends of ours, (work for the same company as my husband in less senior positions) yeah for American security and vigilance)

But we had to leave the country so my son could have his I94 updated, crap crap crap

Long live George W Bush...(NOT)

Sorry to sound pissed off, but I am

Go figure................

Elaine

CaliforniaBride

I hope so. I sent my son's off on 15th November, next day delivery. His was originally a five year passport. We asked our neighbour, who is an engineer to countersign. But it clearly says on their website that if you haven't known anyone for two years it can be less AND that they have to have know you and not the child.

CaliforniaBride

Here are the details:


When you have completed the form, someone who has known You (not the child) personally for at least two years should complete and sign Section 8. That person should be a British citizen, other British national or Commonwealth citizen who is a Member of Parliament, Justice of the Peace, Mnister of Religion, Bank Officer, Established Civil Servant, or professionally qualified person, e.g. Lawyer, Engineer, Doctor, School Teacher, Police Officer or a person of similar standing. Procedures include a check on the authenticity of countersignatories.

If you do not know a British national or other Commonwealth citizen locally with those qualifications, a citizen of the country in which you are residing may complete and sign the form, provided he/she has a similar standing in that country has known you for two years and the Consul considers his/her signature to be acceptable.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Notes%20C2,0.pdf


14. Who should I ask to countersign my application if I have been in the USA for less than 2 years?
A professional person of good standing (doctor, dentist, teacher etc) who is known to you. Or you can obtain a countersignature from your previous location.
http://www.britainusa.com/consular/o...D=231#fourteen

Perfumdiva1

Hi

We had people in the offfice sign off the paper work, even though they did not know my boys, just my husband

Everything went through OK

So good luck and hopefully it will not take too long, although when you file off-seasin, it really makes a difference..