Passport Renewal Problems - Urgent Help needed!

[tahammerton]

After planning a trip to England to introduce my infant son to my Mum and Granny, I realized that my passport would expire within a month of us returning. I sent in the renewal 1 March 2011, travel planned for 26 April 2011.

They processed payment on 28 March 2011, but no passport yet. I called the careline and it was mostly useless, all they told me was that it will usually be 3-4 weeks after processing payment. The UK in USA website says to allow FOUR weeks for renewals, but it's already been far more than that. Unfortunately I relied on this information when I chose to send my passport in.

We booked our trip with miles and can't rebook. Does anyone have any advice about what I can/should do? I live in Hawaii, so traveling to a consulate to try to get a travel document is really difficult - the closest one is in LA.

[telco]

I was told that passports now are processed back in the UK, so the delay is about a week to 10 days extra.

Just had a passport re-new and it took 5 weeks

Jim

[tahammerton]

I've spoken to the careline (both regular and premium service lines)and they have been virtually no help, all they can say is "it's being examined." They now say that it will be 3-4 weeks from the date that the payment was processed rather than 4 weeks total, which is what the website says. I'm very frustrated and anxious, if anyone has any thoughts I'd be appreciative.

[Susie]

Hi

Contact Dean at the British consulate

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/find-an-embassy/north-and-central-america/consulate-orlando

[MarriedToTheUK]

We have encountered the same problem. The passport was sent at the beginning of March for a trip date at the end of the first week in April. The credit card was charged on the 23rd of March and to date (20 April), nothing!

A call to the help line led to the '4-6 weeks after the charge' statement and that the passport was in 'quality control'. So much for the mother's 75th birthday family reunion trip with the rest of the family.

In today's web-driven world, it is ridiculous that there is no online update system for a passport processed through an embassy. The renewal form asks for an email address; perhaps a series of status updates would be appropriate as the renewal progresses through the process. It is a bit frustrating when the application falls into the black hole that is the renewal process.

[chris]

This is a comment and not meant as a solution.
Given that it appears Passports are now wholly processed in the UK. If you are traveling back to the UK on a British Passport that would expire shortly after arriving in the UK, would it not make more sense to personally renew it when you are physically in the UK. You can get same day processing in some cases. And you would save money to boot. Or am I missing something?

[MarriedToTheUK]

If you are traveling back to the UK on a British Passport that would expire shortly after arriving in the UK, would it not make more sense to personally renew it when you are physically in the UK....Or am I missing something?

That would work in some cases. We had thought of that, but in our case (UK citizen resident in US and travelling to another country), it was not practical to do so. You are correct on the costs and it probably would have been a better option at this point in time!

[telco]

Chris is quite right, and infact easily obtained. if you are stying in the uk, a visit to the passport office, or even send in by post is well within the rules if you have time.