Get this!!! I applied for my three children's British Passports a couple of weeks ago, and the application asks for their birth certificates to have been issued less than 3 months after their birth. Well, we didn't get our kids certs till after that time period had passed, so we sent off their hospital birth verification letters (the ones you get when they are born) as the application stated (in lieu of the birth certs).
I get the whole package back in the normal USPS mail, saying that I had left out their birth certificates, and in the meantime, passport fees have gone up like two day ago (which is AFTER I sent the original applications).
So, I had to send another money order for $72 to cover the higher fees, plus pay another $20 to Fedex the whole package off.
I'm p#ssed off at the British Embassy. All they had to do was phone me and ask me to send off the bloody birth certificates and voila, they would have got them and I wouldn't be $92 out of pocket. evil
ooh that's nasty!
I'd send a shitty letter to the C general, can't do any harm!
They went up last year. I paid $166Can for mine and that didn't include the courier fee, which I avoided because the High Commision is here in Ottawa. It took just 2 weeks to get it renewed.
So do they need both documents or just the birth certificates? I'm applying for my kids in a couple of months. Oh, do you need an i.d check on the photos? You know a signiture from someone in a presumebly make you more honest job i.e police officer;doctor;lawyer. Load of rubbish if you ask me. Why cant you just get them notorized like here. I dont know any policeman;doctor etc. I guess the school principal may do. Any ideas? ???
To renew an existing passport you only need send it back with two new photos and the relevant form and you will be issued a new one, you don't need to get the photos verified, and yes the fees have gone up, its bloody disgusting, and it costs the same to get a renewal as it does a brand new application roll
So do they need both documents or just the birth certificates? I'm applying for my kids in a couple of months. Oh, do you need an i.d check on the photos? You know a signiture from someone in a presumebly make you more honest job i.e police officer;doctor;lawyer. Load of rubbish if you ask me. Why cant you just get them notorized like here. I dont know any policeman;doctor etc. I guess the school principal may do. Any ideas? :???:
They need both documents if the birth certificates were issued over 3 months after the kids births. If you got their birth certs within 3 months of their births, then just the birth certificates will do.
Yes, you do need someone to sign the photos. The signatory must have known YOU (not your kids) for at least 2 years, and they must be in some kind of professional standing, ie a school teacher, doctor, lawyer, engineer, military, police, civil servant...etc. They can't be related to you. I got a neighbour of ours who works for the civil service to sign my kids pics. They don't need to be a British citizen. The school principal will work. My kids doctor refused to do it, saying it wasn't her responsibility - :evil:
Any questions, feel free to ask away.
Thanks Mango, I think i'll go with the Principal! grin
I just sent mine for renewal (yesterday). The fees are $173 plus $12 postage for adults now. Ouchy.
O.M.G it was only $118 t'other week. Wow , why did I procrastinate on this one. I have 4 to get. sad
Cr*p, evil I was waiting to return from my Holiday for Blighty, was just going to start on getting it renewed, should have done it before I left I guess roll
Looking at the UK passport site we are basically being charged the Fast-Track Premium Service fee. The one where you go to the Passport Office and have it done the same day.
A 45% increase is a bit stiff, there would be outrage if they did this sort of rise back in the UK.
I did wonder if it would be worth me renewing via my parents address in the UK, the standard fee is only 51GBP, but with courier fees each way, the difference would probably be the cost of dinner, plus I see the UK passport website is very clear about UK renewals are only for UK residents..
I was wondering if you could renew whilst in the UK. Bit risky if you didnt get it back in time though.
Depends on how long you are going for the UK fees are here-
http//www.passport.gov.uk/general_fees_passport.asp
Standard service is three weeks, and I would not want to bet on it being that long, faster service costs more, so you are back to the difference not being worth it.
As you say you are rolling the dice somewhat to renew it while you are there.
Unless you went to Liverpool.
To do that now costs 96.50GBP, at todays exchange rates about the same as doing through the US Embassy.
David.
I renewed through UK last time (about six years ago). I think I mailed it back to my sister with a signed form, had her submit it for me and then she brought it back over with her on a visit.
I still had my own UK address back then but now I've sold up there, I'd probably not do it that way again.