When British residents realise that their passport is about to run out, what can they do?
I found all this info on the UKinUSA.fco.gov site. Hope it helps...How to apply from the USA
You need to send your completed passport application and documents to our Regional Passport Processing Centre in Washington, DC.
We recommend that you print this page, so you can refer to it. Print
- Where to send
- How to send
- How much
- How to pay
- Timing
- Delivery back to you
- Specific requirements
- Need more information
- Urgent travel
- Contact us
Where to send
UK Passport Service for the Americas and CaribbeanBritish Embassy
19 Observatory Circle N.W.
Washington DC 20008
How to send
We recommend that you send us your application by secure means such as registered post or a courier. If using a courier to submit your application you should not pay for a return service as this is covered by a separate fee charged by us - see below.How much
A list of relevant passport fees, including postage, can be found on our website.
How to pay
Personal cheques, or certified personal cheques and cash are not accepted Payments can be made by:
- Credit card (Mastercard/Visa) by completing the authorisation form. Please advise your bank/credit card company that a payment will be taken from your account by this office. Your credit card company may charge a transaction fee for this payment.
- Money orders, cashier or bankers certified cheques in US Dollars made payable to:
If your credit card payment is declined, after three attempts, or money order is incorrect the application will be rejected and returned to you via UPS. Please advise your bank/credit card company that a payment will be taken from your account by this office. Your credit card company may charge a transaction fee for this payment.
Timing
If you are renewing your passport you should allow 4 weeks for us to return your new passport to you. If it is your first British passport application or you are replacing a lost or stolen passport you should allow at least 6 weeks. Please do not call to check on the progress of your application before this time.
Delivery back to you
We will return your passport by UPS which you have paid for.(Postage charge is $12 for up to 3 applications or $24 for 4 more) as detailed on the Fees Chart.
PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH A STREET ADDRESS WHERE AN ADULT MAY SIGN FOR THE PACKAGE UPON RECEIPT. (P.O. BOXES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE).
The UPS Postage Fee includes insurance of up to $100. If you wish to insure the package to cover the cost of replacing the passport /supporting documentation you may choose to do so for an additional fee of $1.80 for up to $300 and $0.60 per $100 after that.
Translations:
All foreign legal documents submitted with a passport application (such as birth/death/marriage certificates, divorce papers, change of name documents, affidavits, etc) should be translated into English. You can find a list of officially recognised translators on the country's main website. You cannot get a friend or relative to do this for you.
Need more information
If you need detailed information about what type of passport you need, what documents you need to supply for different types of application please go to What passport do I need? page
Urgent Travel:
If you need to travel urgently and your normal passport is not available you should contact your nearest consular office. They may be able to provide you with emergency travel documentation. Please note they will not be able to answer general passport questions or give information on passport applications in progress (as they are no longer involved in this process). You should only contact them if you have a need to travel urgently and you will be asked to supply evidence of your need.
Contact Us:
If we can't answer your question on the website please call our Passport Information Helpline (Careline): + 44 208 082 4721. Hours of operation: Lines are open 24 hours a day from Sunday 1900 to Friday 2030 Eastern Standard Time
For customers with hearing difficulties, a Textphone service is available by contacting:
+ 44 1750 725 368
Please be aware that you will be charged for this call so try the website first. Calls will be charged at a rate of GBP 0.69 per minute + VAT. Please have your credit card ready before you call. (Telephone service providers will also charge for the cost of the international call).
Alternatively you can call via a premium rate telephone number:
1 900 945 2220
Calls will be charged at a rate of $2.50 per minute for the duration of the call. Calls made on a mobile phone may be subject to additional charges, please check with your mobile phone provider.
Please do not contact us before the expected delivery time as detailed above. We will not be able to give further information and you may be charged for this call.
If you feel that you have not received a high level of service from the Passport Information Helpline please email ukpassportserviceUSAcanada@careline-services.co.uk
How to apply from USA
Ignore the bit about timing!
ReplyDeleteThey only start processing after payment - this took them 3 weeks. Also allow 1 weeek extra for posting. I sent my son's passport off for a simple renewal in good time and I haven't got it back. I am supposed to fly to the UK on Thursday.
Dont expect any help from the 'careline'. A misnomer!
Give it 8 weeks!
I am a US-UK dual citizen applying from the US for my first UK passport. Form C-1 and its notes are not clear but seem to imply that I must provide my original (not a photocopy), current US passport with my application. Is that correct?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous -contact the British consulate in the US to ask more specific questions - you can also find them on Facebook - Best
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat as "Stranger in a Strange Land".
ReplyDeleteIt's getting close to 8 weeks since I know (signature confirmation) that my passport was received in Washington, and I still don't know when it will be done. Calling the Careline for status information is pointless, but there is nowhere else to go. They did confirm that the processing time is still 3-4 weeks, but of course, that clock doesn't start until they actually begin processing, which in my case appears to have been about 4 weeks after receiving everything.
The only information they can provide is basically, "yes, your application was received, and is in process", and then "no, it's not finished yet". It's not really their fault, because I don't think that they actually have access to any more information than that, but it makes it a frustrating process.
If there was a way for them to inform me (via e-mail, for example) when my application was actually complete, that would be helpful.
My company is asking me to travel as soon as possible, so every day counts for me. My only recourse at the moment is to call the "Careline" every day, and pay them $4-$5 each time for the privilege of being told that my passport is not ready yet, and they don't really know when it will be (other than repeating 3-4 weeks after it started processing).
Did you get your passport?
ReplyDeleteI am a Uk citizen resident in Mexico, and am still awaiting any news of my passport, after sending it in January, payment being taken from my credit card 30 January! The Careline system has been of NO use whatsoever, as they seem unable to take my credit card number to pay the extra cost for the call, according to them because my phone doesn-t allow it. I have used 5 different phones! I hoped to travel with my 2 daughters end of May, to return to live in UK. I don-t know if that is going to happen, and I hope I will be able to afford the increasingly expensive flight tickets! I have contacted countless bodies...FCO, Consular services and of course all of Carelines email addresses, only to receive the same reply....Please contact the Careline phone numbers....
ReplyDeleteI realize they must be going through teething problems, but the lack of feedback is appalling. I get some comfort knowingg that I am not the only one, though I sympathise wholeheartedly with those who share my stressful and frustrating situation. I did find one email address that I am niavely hoping might pay some attention to my (our) plight and will post it here as soon as I sort it from the many mails I have sent. Of course, they say you do have to give them 10 working days...
The email that for no apparent reason gives me a little hope, although I have as yet to receive a reply is passport Feedback(feedback.passportservices@fco.gov.uk). Good luck!
ReplyDeleteDid you ever figure it out ?
Delete