UK passport renewal procedure looks easy

[poppet 4,010]

Oh, for goodness sake, this was my application, photos and old passport being sent recorded delivery to Düsseldoof.

 

This was the 'briefstatus' message until yesterday (19th July)

 

 

Sendungsnummer: RG 1234 4567 123

Die Sendung wurde am 10.07.2012 eingeliefert (Papier Ehlen Bahnhofstr. 24, 27419 Sittensen) und befindet sich in der Zustellung.

I complained that perhaps after 9 days it might have been delivered earlier. Mysteriously some time yesterday the message became

 

 

Sendungsnummer: RG 1234 4567 123

Die Sendung wurde am 17.07.2012 ausgeliefert.

Problem is that my credit card was charged the bargain price of ONLY €194 on 12th July. Deutsche Post = Numpties.

 

Or perhaps clairvoyants work in the Consulate in Düsseldork? In fact Reevese maybe you should try asking there?

[SquirrelKate 36]

Hi all

 

I applied for a renewal on the 23rd of June and I'm still waiting. Money has been taken out of credit card account.

 

How long, on average, do people wait? I'm bricking it as I'm due to be a bridesmaid in 3 weeks time in the UK. I don't even have my old passport to travel with!

[Kazalphaville 1,813]

At the mo, it looks like 4 to 5 weeks is the average.

[SquirrelKate 36]

My fingers and toes are crossed. :)

[jeremyhay 13]

A photocopy of the main pages in your old passport will get you into the UK

and back (and prob. even less than this).

The receipt of the recorded delivery of your old passport to Düsseldorf would help too.

The Bundespolizei and the UK Borders Agency are quite reasonable about these things.

Best check with the Bundespolizei before buying an air ticket 'tho.

Just have ample evidence of who you are and where you live.

[Perfect Poise 3,099]

So, got my new passport today with my new German name. All in all, happy with the service, even if it is overpriced at nearly 200 euros. Took almost exactly 4 weeks.

 

Next stop, Einwohnermeldeamt, Auslanderamt, Gewerberamt, Sparkasse, etc, etc...

[Perfect Poise 3,099]

Oh yeah, and I had to sign for it and also haven't received my original documents back.

[SquirrelKate 36]

I don't have copies of my old passport or the reciept, as I got a phone call to say it had arrived, and the credit card details were invalid... all sorted within 24hrs.

 

I feel like I'm screwed! Still... if the average turn around is four weeks... there's hope for me yet.

[Kazalphaville 1,813]

Nice one PP. I actually changed my name at the Sparkasse and some other places just with my marriage certificate and my old passport; some just with the marriage certificate. Strange, I know, but it worked out okay.

[poppet 4,010]

So mine took from 10th July until today, 31.07. No old documents yet. So this moaning, whinging old git is now a happy moaning, whinging old git. Albeit €194 lighter. Interesting that they've now moved the 'ID Page' to the front, whereas previously it was at the back. Oh and apparently it now has an imbeded, invisible chip in the cover.

 

 

The cost of obtaining a standard passport over the years has increased greatly. While consumer prices in the UK have increased by 24% from early 1998 to 2009, the price of a passport renewal increased by 269%

[YorkshireLad6 7,152]

An "invisible chip" eh? My how technology has advanced, even in the UK Foreign Office....

[Kazalphaville 1,813]

 

Nice one PP. I actually changed my name at the Sparkasse and some other places just with my marriage certificate and my old passport; some just with the marriage certificate. Strange, I know, but it worked out okay.

 

UPDATE: don't bother trying to change your name with ebay with a new passport and marriage certificate. They want an official certificate that shows a name change and won't budge unless they get one, even though I told them we don't have this in Britain. I could do a deed poll kind of thing, but even that is not official. They are the only ones I have had an issue with and everyone else has changed my name with no problems. So, boo sucks to them.

[poppet 4,010]

 

An "invisible chip" eh? My how technology has advanced, even in the UK Foreign Office....

 

Nah, that was the easy bit. They've been making consuls, ambassadors embassies and staff invisible for at least the last 5 years. :P

[Tue 3]

Old passport came back separate about a week later than new.

[poppet 4,010]

 

even though I told them we don't have this in Britain. I could do a deed poll kind of thing, but even that is not official. They are the only ones I have had an issue with and everyone else has changed my name

 

As I'm sure you know ebay accounts are valid worldwide. Are you talking about ebay.de? Then ask ebay.co.uk. Bureaucracy yummy, yummy.

[Kazalphaville 1,813]

Never thought of that. Good point.

 

UPDATE: so I logged on with ebay.co.uk and talked to an agent online and after some questions, they changed my name for me. No documentation needed. ebay.de can go and stuff themselves :-P

 

Sorry for the off topic but it is kind of relevant to using a new passport to change your name in Germany. Out of all the ones I had to change with, can't believe ebay was the difficult one!

[poppet 4,010]

Very quickly. It is that Yorckstr. address in Duesseldorf. Closed is the passport COUNTER.

[poppet 4,010]

 

Never thought of that. Good point.UPDATE: so I logged on with ebay.co.uk and talked to an agent online and after some questions, they changed my name for me. No documentation needed.

 

Erm, of course not!

[poppet 4,010]

So got the old one back right now, also by DHL courier. Apparently (the passport I got on 31st) will be here within 7-10 days.

[Tibia 1,974]

I posted my old passport and application to Dusseldorf on the afternoon of the 13th Sept.

The new passport and old one have just been delivered to me in separate packages this morning, which seems a mighty swift turnaround. Quite impressed really, it almost makes up for the eye-watering costs.