Replacing Passport - How long?

MikeHunt79 · 8 Jun 2009 at 18:56

I've got to apply for renewal tomorrow, it's a PITA getting photo's signed, but it's easier than being a stowaway!

mjt · 8 Jun 2009 at 19:00

am i the only one that knows their passport number by memory?

kinda easy though.. 704aabbcc

benjo · 14 Jun 2009 at 16:38

Sent it off yesterday, paid for the check and send service and the lady said it'd take 10 working days

Better than I thought and worth doing, they pointed out that my original photo wasn't acceptable

Azagoth · 14 Jun 2009 at 16:41

JBuk said:
Not having a go but it amazes me the amount of people who leave something so important so late

That's exactly what I was going to say! Surely something of paramount importance to a trip overseas should be sorted out way in advance.

neil3k · 14 Jun 2009 at 16:45

JBuk said:
Not having a go but it amazes me the amount of people who leave something so important so late

This.

Surely you should check when you book your holiday ?

Mr^B · 14 Jun 2009 at 18:39

neil3k said:
This.

Surely you should check when you book your holiday ?

What if it's not a holiday? I've been "sent" abroad on business with just a few days' notice - it was just a matter of luck that my passport was valid as I hadn't been abroad for about 8 or 9 years.

JBuk · 14 Jun 2009 at 18:41

Mr^B said:
What if it's not a holiday? I've been "sent" abroad on business with just a few days' notice - it was just a matter of luck that my passport was valid as I hadn't been abroad for about 8 or 9 years.

If in the duty of your job you are required to travel then surely you would be even more liekly to keep check on such matters?

benjo · 14 Jun 2009 at 18:42

To be honest this trip wasnt really set in stone, and we only booked the ferry a week ago on the whim

It's not like I've been planning this for months.

Mr^B · 14 Jun 2009 at 19:22

JBuk said:
If in the duty of your job you are required to travel then surely you would be even more liekly to keep check on such matters?

What if it's not within the duty of your job, but it's a great opportunity?

It's not in the duty of my job to travel, but I spent most of the early part of the year in Zurich and/or Chicago. Things can (and often do) change quickly in business and you have to be adaptable.

The point is, you can't plan *everything* to the nth degree, sometimes you need to get things done in a rush, visas, passports, flights, accommodation, etc...

leaskovski · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:16

Quick... just went and checked mine and added a reminder into my google calender

JBuk · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:27

Mr^B said:
What if it's not within the duty of your job, but it's a great opportunity?

It's not in the duty of my job to travel, but I spent most of the early part of the year in Zurich and/or Chicago. Things can (and often do) change quickly in business and you have to be adaptable.

The point is, you can't plan *everything* to the nth degree, sometimes you need to get things done in a rush, visas, passports, flights, accommodation, etc...

If you *know* the situation can change so drastically and you may be required to travel , again you should be prepared and keep all your documents up to date.

If your merely some guy who is presented with an out of the blue great opportunity then fair enough, but knowing great opportunities may come your way often then you should be prepared imo.

Mr^B · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:45

JBuk said:
If you *know* the situation can change so drastically and you may be required to travel , again you should be prepared and keep all your documents up to date.

If your merely some guy who is presented with an out of the blue great opportunity then fair enough, but knowing great opportunities may come your way often then you should be prepared imo.

Yes, the ability to predict the future would be handy as you know you'd need a passport well in advance of when you'd actually need it.

The situation was changing, and rapidly, with the REDUCTION of international business travel, so it was a double surprise; a) travelling wasn't part of my job and b) travel in general was reduced to cut costs.

How was I supposed to know that I would be needed, in another country, with 2 days' notice, given that information?

For holidays you book, yourself, in advance, yes there's no excuse - but there are unforeseen situations which can (and have) arise which means that you might possibly get caught short on a passport about to expire, through no fault of your own.

Sheesh, and I thought *I* was a pedant - clearly I have some way to go!

JBuk · 14 Jun 2009 at 21:01

Mr^B said:
Yes, the ability to predict the future would be handy as you know you'd need a passport well in advance of when you'd actually need it.

The situation was changing, and rapidly, with the REDUCTION of international business travel, so it was a double surprise; a) travelling wasn't part of my job and b) travel in general was reduced to cut costs.

How was I supposed to know that I would be needed, in another country, with 2 days' notice, given that information?

For holidays you book, yourself, in advance, yes there's no excuse - but there are unforeseen situations which can (and have) arise which means that you might possibly get caught short on a passport about to expire, through no fault of your own.

Sheesh, and I thought *I* was a pedant - clearly I have some way to go!

Heh, you don't need to predict the future, just prepare for it , you even say yourself you need to be adaptable and you obviously travel a certain amount as you say you visit Chicago and Zurich

Anyways don't take it to heart, it's just my opinion

Origin · 14 Jun 2009 at 21:20

benjo said:
Sent it off yesterday, paid for the check and send service and the lady said it'd take 10 working days Better than I thought and worth doing, they pointed out that my original photo wasn't acceptable

You do realise you are paying for nothing that you can't do yourself don't you?! They do absolutely nothing that common sense and reading the instructions doesn't do anyway. People can still have applications refused even when using the C&S service due to stupid things like the photo being 2mm to wide.

Heliospherez · 14 Jun 2009 at 21:28

Just what I was about to say.

I'm amazed why anyone would even need to use the check and send service. And with it - there is no guarantee that it will pass anyway. Dear god - are people that dumb that they actually need a post office worker to hold their hand & tell them that yes - they have managed to fill in less than 15 simple boxes with information they have written a thousand times before. Maybe I should give them a call to see if they can check my kitchen clock is set to the right time.

It's not as if you are applying for something with no instructions - or an item in a different language or country. The instructions are in basic english and laid out in such a way as to be as simple as possible.

JBuk · 14 Jun 2009 at 21:33

I was under the impression the whole process is slightly quicker if it has been pre-checked at the PO

Heliospherez · 14 Jun 2009 at 21:41

No - it's only quicker if you would have posted it standard postage.

In fact Check and send is slower than if you send your own application by Next day Special delivery 9am (or deliver it yourself)

Mr^B · 14 Jun 2009 at 21:47

JBuk said:
Heh, you don't need to predict the future, just prepare for it , you even say yourself you need to be adaptable and you obviously travel a certain amount as you say you visit Chicago and Zurich

Anyways don't take it to heart, it's just my opinion

If you'd bother to read what I said, you'd see what the problem is with your opinion.

fiveub · 14 Jun 2009 at 22:39

simulatorman said:
Mine was done within five days.

Same here, I was very impressed.

kibblerok · 14 Jun 2009 at 22:50

divosuk said:
Just what I was about to say.

I'm amazed why anyone would even need to use the check and send service. And with it - there is no guarantee that it will pass anyway. Dear god - are people that dumb that they actually need a post office worker to hold their hand & tell them that yes - they have managed to fill in less than 15 simple boxes with information they have written a thousand times before. Maybe I should give them a call to see if they can check my kitchen clock is set to the right time.

It's not as if you are applying for something with no instructions - or an item in a different language or country. The instructions are in basic english and laid out in such a way as to be as simple as possible.

But it only costs 6 quid or so for check and send.... it would cost that anyway to post it yourself special delivery and you'd still have to go to the post office, why wouldn't you use it? :confused:

Plus you can pay by card there and then, no cheque or sending off your card details in the post.