mumof4

I need to renew my son's UK passport. Does anyone have any advice for getting a countersignatory when we've only been here (the USA) less than a year? I see it says they don't have to be British, but they do have to have known you for 2 years....any ideas? Also does anyone know if it's a renewal you just send in the old passport, nothing else, right?
thanks

lisa67

Hi
I'd just blag it !! Find a friend who'll put there name to it and cross your fingers...a local teacher or doctor if poss, although we used our next door neighbor.
What you have to send in will be on the application form....I can't remember as it was a couple of years ago. It didn't take long to get it back though. The pain being that because the kids visas were in their old passports we had to carry both the new and the old when travelling

mumof4

Ah visas, mine are joint American citizens...does that mean I have to send in his American Passport? Sorry to ask on here, but the usual british notes had my head spinnning, or maybe it's just everything else we're dealing with at the moment...... then again it was nice to be reading plain English again!!

lisa67

Not sure about the US passport, but I wouldn't think you'd need to send it in as it's nothing to do with the UK whether they have one or not...maybe there's a phone number you can call to ask ? All this paper work...a real pain in the backside !

Bob

don't even need to bother if your photo hasn't significantly changed all that much since the last passport...

Bob

No you wouldn't. The UK government couldn't care less.

And they could just use US passport if trips back to blighty were only for holidays.

Juswus

I thought that was a tough one when i renewed my UK passport. Luckily my doctor was willing to sign it, even though I hadn't seen her in a year. And luckily I had been here long enough for it to count.

I agree with Lisa....I'd try to blag it too. although to be fair you should explain the rules to the person

mumof4

Thanks, but I did say it was for my kid....he's changed a little since he was 2 months old! These kids passport pictures are a bit of a joke - he didn't really look like his photo by the time he was 2years old!

Elvira

Just get the photos signed by a doctor or teacher, and explain in a letter. I'm sure your situation is not unusual.

mumof4

So anyone know where I can get UK passport photos done? Everywhere seems to only do standard size 2 * 2 and the website says you need 45mm by 35 mm exactly which is less than 2 by 2 inches.... Kinkos and walgreens both said they can't do it, any ideas?

username 34

oh renewed his after 6 months of being here, just got the local doc to sign it and date it 2 years. was no problem, went straight through.

Ray

get your camera out

http://www.epassportphoto.com/

Aja

I heard that the "Picture People" do a great job on UK passport photos for about $8

mumof4

Thanks Ray, I hadn't found this one it looks easy enough!

lisa67

I think Walgreens did my kids and I just cut them down....the photos, not the kids