What do you think of British Consular Services?
Jun 4th 2009, 1:42 pm
#16
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Location: on the horizon
Posts: 4,382
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
and the England games for free, too.
Jun 4th 2009, 5:35 pm
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Slough, UK -> Somerville, MA
Posts: 62
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
Looks like it's worth taking the survey as you have the option to be involved in a discussion forum
You will get the chance to help shape the service which the Foreign and Commonwealth office offer British Nationals living abroad.
Discussions begin on the 8th June 2009
Discussions begin on the 8th June 2009
Jun 4th 2009, 5:45 pm
#18
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,029
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
Apologies if you only wanted info from Brits in America but what has happened to the passport service for us Brits in Italy?
We no longer get any help or service from Rome but have to go through an office in Paris now and pay an extra 21 euro for a courier service to get our applications sent and our passports returned.
I am not in France. I am in Italy.
We no longer get any help or service from Rome but have to go through an office in Paris now and pay an extra 21 euro for a courier service to get our applications sent and our passports returned.
I am not in France. I am in Italy.
Jun 4th 2009, 11:36 pm
#19
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
Apologies if you only wanted info from Brits in America but what has happened to the passport service for us Brits in Italy?
We no longer get any help or service from Rome but have to go through an office in Paris now and pay an extra 21 euro for a courier service to get our applications sent and our passports returned.
I am not in France. I am in Italy.
We no longer get any help or service from Rome but have to go through an office in Paris now and pay an extra 21 euro for a courier service to get our applications sent and our passports returned.
I am not in France. I am in Italy.
Agree about those horrendous prices to call ABTRAN. A disgrace.
Jun 5th 2009, 12:56 am
#20
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,172
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
That survey was a bit rubbish really...
Anyway...kind of service, well for a start, more direct access to talk to people who aren't printing money off that rubbish phone service would be a primer.
Affordable cost of renewing a passport and consular birth certs.
Much clearer website for any emergencies, and for get emergency passport etc.
One thing I did appreciate though was that the Boston consulate were sending out the red poppy pins for remembrance day for those who asked, they went pretty quick though. Would be nice if the other consulates offered this. It's obviously nothing as major or as important as the passport/phone issue, but it is a nice bonus
Anyway...kind of service, well for a start, more direct access to talk to people who aren't printing money off that rubbish phone service would be a primer.
Affordable cost of renewing a passport and consular birth certs.
Much clearer website for any emergencies, and for get emergency passport etc.
One thing I did appreciate though was that the Boston consulate were sending out the red poppy pins for remembrance day for those who asked, they went pretty quick though. Would be nice if the other consulates offered this. It's obviously nothing as major or as important as the passport/phone issue, but it is a nice bonus
Jun 5th 2009, 12:59 am
#21
L2, GC, Surrey, OH, TX!
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Surrey to Dallas (via Ohio)!
Posts: 6,363
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
I haven't needed the consular services here in CA but have had wonderful service from the Washington DC Consulate generals offices when doing Dd's citizenship. Twice I was contacted by a Scottish lady called Eadie , (Not sure on the spelling and I forget her last name) she was really friendly and helpful. 
Agree- I have exchanged emails with Mr C Hudson (think you passed my email to him) and he was exceptionally helpful several times - quickly answering my small queries about the passport forms/process.
Other feedback - we have had a couple of folks post on here in the past few months that claim they have overstayed their VWP and cant now afford to get home by any means - some clarification about exactly what the consular service can and cannot do (and any restictions attached ) would be helpful to be able to point them at.
Jun 5th 2009, 1:06 am
#22
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,029
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
Agree- I have exchanged emails with Mr C Hudson (think you passed my email to him) and he was exceptionally helpful several times - quickly answering my small queries about the passport forms/process.
Other feedback - we have had a couple of folks post on here in the past few months that claim they have overstayed their VWP and cant now afford to get home by any means - some clarification about exactly what the consular service can and cannot do (and any restictions attached ) would be helpful to be able to point them at.
Other feedback - we have had a couple of folks post on here in the past few months that claim they have overstayed their VWP and cant now afford to get home by any means - some clarification about exactly what the consular service can and cannot do (and any restictions attached ) would be helpful to be able to point them at.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...5&postcount=45
Jun 5th 2009, 5:09 am
#23
Joined: May 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 987
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office would like to hear what British nationals living overseas think about the types of consular services delivered by British Embassies, Consulates, and High Commissions. Virtual Surveys, a UK company, has been asked to conduct the research for us. If you'd like to take part in the on-line discussions, details will appear periodically in the banner at the bottom of the screen, or visit http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix...64034.aspx?s=3 for more information
Dean
Dean
I hope your survey is sanctioned, and we are not going to find out that your boss found your postings on here, and all of a sudden you ended up back in Blighty doing janitorial duties on King Charles Street.
Has England changed so much since I abandoned her
Good luck Dean, and apparently the FCO.
Jun 5th 2009, 5:39 am
#24
Joined: May 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 987
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
Interesting post. I've not read many of your posts, but the few I had read gave me the impression you were the loner out to right the wrongs of the bureaucratic foreign office. My impression based solely on the fact that you genuinely appeared to give a hoot, and really wanted to be helpful. This is far from my recollection of any government body or institution in the UK.
I hope your survey is sanctioned, and we are not going to find out that your boss found your postings on here, and all of a sudden you ended up back in Blighty doing janitorial duties on King Charles Street.
Has England changed so much since I abandoned her
Good luck Dean, and apparently the FCO.
I hope your survey is sanctioned, and we are not going to find out that your boss found your postings on here, and all of a sudden you ended up back in Blighty doing janitorial duties on King Charles Street.
Has England changed so much since I abandoned her
Good luck Dean, and apparently the FCO.
Jun 9th 2009, 11:49 am
#26
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 383
Re: What do you think of British Consular Services?
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office forum discussions are now taking place. If you haven't registered to give your views on the types of consular services you want the British government to deliver, please click here to take part: http://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix...64034.aspx?s=3
Thanks.
Dean
Thanks.
Dean
