Passport renewal situation (UK)

[Anna66 2,674]

On 2.5.2022, 12:14:17, skadi said:

Unsurprisingly, my nice new blue (it looks black to me and like a cheap forgery) passport arrived a week after I left for the uk.

 

Re processing times...It took 8 weeks from when I posted the old one back (7 from when it was received and signed for at HMPO) for the new one to arrive in my letterbox. The expired one has not yet been returned. 

 

I'm still waiting for mine. It is still being *processed*

Glad I have dual nationality and can travel on vacation within the EU on my ID card.

[skadi 75]

I find the whole thing very bizarre. My mum applied at Easter to renew her passport and received it back within 2 weeks. I don't understand why they would not prioritise those applying from abroad, as many people don't have dual nationality and so are left without proof of identity.

As my mum is quite elderly, maybe they thought they had to get it done before she pops her clogs! 

[Anna66 2,674]

On 30.5.2022, 10:57:32, skadi said:

I find the whole thing very bizarre. My mum applied at Easter to renew her passport and received it back within 2 weeks. I don't understand why they would not prioritise those applying from abroad, as many people don't have dual nationality and so are left without proof of identity.

As my mum is quite elderly, maybe they thought they had to get it done before she pops her clogs! 

 

I think it's because they stopped processing the expat applications at the embassies abroad. Something to do with the cost of the biometric machines? No idea...

So you have to send everything for processing in the United Kingdom which means more work for the passport office there... Lack of staff. corona, people renewing their passports after corona, embassies not processing passports anymore. Just a huge backlog of work I guess.

[kaffeemitmilch 1,294]

On 6/4/2022, 3:44:58, Anna66 said:

I think it's because they stopped processing the expat applications at the embassies abroad. Something to do with the cost of the biometric machines? No idea...

So you have to send everything for processing in the United Kingdom which means more work for the passport office there... Lack of staff. corona, people renewing their passports after corona, embassies not processing passports anymore. Just a huge backlog of work I guess.

Eh, the US passport is printed in the US the same day and sent to the mission abroad immediately, without the expedite fee. The Brits CAN do it. They just don't.

[yesterday 1,983]

I did my passport in 2019, I found the system very easy and quick. I could fill in the application form on the Internet, including a picture taken on my mobile phone!. Then I posted my passport to the UK. I got back the new passport within 3 weeks.

 

Much easier and convenient than handling everything through the embassy. 

[Anna66 2,674]

1 hour ago, kaffeemitmilch said:

Eh, the US passport is printed in the US the same day and sent to the mission abroad immediately, without the expedite fee. The Brits CAN do it. They just don't.

 

Yes, because it's too expensive. I have alot of American friends, and the amount they pay in tax to the US even if they live abroad is terrible. The passport service should be gold standard in this case.

[Anna66 2,674]

19 minutes ago, yesterday said:

I did my passport in 2019, I found the system very easy and quick. I could fill in the application form on the Internet, including a picture taken on my mobile phone!. Then I posted my passport to the UK. I got back the new passport within 3 weeks.

 

Much easier and convenient than handling everything through the embassy. 

 

Yes, lucky you! Before corona. I applied in March and am still waiting.

[kaffeemitmilch 1,294]

22 minutes ago, Anna66 said:

 

Yes, because it's too expensive. I have alot of American friends, and the amount they pay in tax to the US even if they live abroad is terrible. The passport service should be gold standard in this case.

Hehe, you must know some well-to-do Americans. I don't owe any tax to the US.

[Anna66 2,674]

3 hours ago, kaffeemitmilch said:

Hehe, you must know some well-to-do Americans. I don't owe any tax to the US.

 

No idea to be honest. I never really asked and have absolutely no idea about how it works in the US at all.

 

Back on topic, the US passport system does seem to work alot better. I really wish it was easier with the British system. Online was easy to do, but the wait seems to be very very long lately.

[kaffeemitmilch 1,294]

50 minutes ago, Anna66 said:

 

No idea to be honest. I never really asked and have absolutely no idea about how it works in the US at all.

 

Back on topic, the US passport system does seem to work alot better. I really wish it was easier with the British system. Online was easy to do, but the wait seems to be very very long lately.

Definitely a lot easier. You just need the old passport, application form (which is very basic), a picture, the fee and the return envelope.

[Anna66 2,674]

On 2.5.2022, 12:14:17, skadi said:

Unsurprisingly, my nice new blue (it looks black to me and like a cheap forgery) passport arrived a week after I left for the uk.

 

Re processing times...It took 8 weeks from when I posted the old one back (7 from when it was received and signed for at HMPO) for the new one to arrive in my letterbox. The expired one has not yet been returned. 

 

Did you have to sign for it? or did they just put it into your post box? Einwurf einschreiben?

Just curious.

[azillio 0]

Hi 

 

I need to renew my German Passport and ID card in the German Embassy LONDON.. Aside from filling out the form, the list of things to bring to the appointment seems very long, and maybe more appropriate for first time passport applications?

 

From memory, last time I was asked to buy a Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope, but it was never used (I still have it 10 years on!). Are renewed passports still collected in person from the Embassy once ready or is the envelope for posting to you?

 

I've since additionally taken British Citizenship, so I want to bring my certificate? (I had informed them at the time by email as this was a requirement).

 

Mother's passport etc? Surely only for brand new applications?

 

Many thanks in advance if anyone's been throught this recently..

 

 

 

 

[skadi 75]

On 6/16/2022, 8:44:37, Anna66 said:

 

Did you have to sign for it? or did they just put it into your post box? Einwurf einschreiben?

Just curious.

It just appeared in the letterbox, handy as I was not there to sign for it. 

[Anna66 2,674]

Yeah, mine arrived too and I did not have to sign for it either. Think this is the norm now because of corona. Even if I collect packages at the Hermes Paket Shop, no need to sign, they just look at my German ID card and put the number in.