liveinthesunshine

Hi all

I'm in South America at the moment but I was hoping you guys wouldn't mind me butting in as we are all in the same boat with this one! I'm refering to UK passports for Brits in the Americas being processed in Washington.

I was mugged here in SA and had my UK passport stolen and I am hoping I can obtain a new full passport whilst abroad. I can get a document to travel back to the UK (to get a full passport) but I don't want the upheaval and expense of this piece of otherwise unnecessary travel.

For a full passport application I will need my photos countersigned by a respectable person but I know nobody in South America who can do this for me and anyway I have not been here 2 years. I have several people in the UK who could vouch for me though.

Other than that my application couldn't be simpler in that I will be surrendering my emergency travel document with photo which states I am a British citizen and due to my birth in the UK before 1982 I am entitled to a British passport.

Has anyone been in this situation and can offer encouragement or advice?

thank you

Jerseygirl

You may not need the photos countersigning.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...50&postcount=9

liveinthesunshine

Thanks Jerseygirl.

That would be so sweet if I didn't need a countersignature. However I fear that because I have lost a passport (am not renewing my full passport, just surrendering a travel document that looks a lot like a passport) I am subject to additional scrutiny.

I am hoping that common sense would prevail when my application gets to the top of the pile but...

Bob

It just needs to be a person of "professional" standing if you did need a counter sig, so a teacher, lawyer, doctor...all the usual suspects.

liveinthesunshine

Thanks Bob

The problem I have is that I have nobody in SAmerica of professional standing that could vouch for me (and anyway I have not been here 2 years).

I have long-standing friends in the UK (who saw me a few months ago on my recent visit) who could vouch for me.

Bob

They don't need to have known you for 2 years.

They just have to be of professional standing and confirm the ID you show them looks like you and the photo's you are providing essentially.

Get someone in a bank to do it, or a notary public etc.

liveinthesunshine

Thanks Bob.

Is that really the case? The notes for form C1 say that this person should have known me personally for two years, that's all. Do you know someone who has been through something similar?

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I am doubting your expertise.

That's great news if this requirement can be modified in an otherwise straightforward case.

Bob

I don't know about the case of having a passport stolen and having to get photo's done, but there are plenty of threads where, Dean, "British Consul" on BE has said counter sig isn't needed if you haven't significantly changed since previous photo's, and that if you have, that the person signing only has to be of professional status in the community such as a banker, lawyer etc, etc and if you really want to be more comfortable about it, get a notary public to do it.

Burn1911

Our passports got stolen whilst we were here.. we replaced them through Washington DC and didn't need a countersignature..

Jerseygirl

That depends if your appearance has changed. If in doubt I suggest liveinthesunshine contacts Dean for advice.

liveinthesunshine

Thanks for replying Burn1911. Sorry to hear this happened to you too. Can I ask when this was? The rules have changed in the last year or two.

Jerseygirl: my appearance hasn't changed since the issue of the (now stolen) passport 7 years ago.

As suggested I have contacted Dean for guidance.

with thanks to all

Jerseygirl

If your appearance hasn't changed you should be OK. Your previous info including photo should be on file. If in doubt I suggest you wait for Dean's guidance.

British Consul

Responded to PM. Advice is that given above.

Thanks

Dean

liveinthesunshine

Thank you to all for taking the time to reply.

Fingers crossed that they are able to process my application relatively quickly!

best wishes

Sue

Hi,

How are things? Did you get your new passport ok?

Sue