uk passport renewal

[claydon82]

Hello

I need to renew my passport and was told by the post office a letter was sufficient from my employer that i need to keep hold of my passport as I need it to work

the passport office said i would have to pay extra for the one day fast track option and have to travel to london to do this

Has everyone else had the same experience as this and if not how did you you renew your passport while flying?
thanks

[redsnail]

You're better off booking an appointment in London and getting it renewed on the same day. Yes, it's a wasted day off but you'll turn up in the morning, hand over every thing. Disappear for a few hours and return to collect it. It's often ready before their nominated time and of course, there are queues.

Passports | Home Office

[primreamer]

As redsnail says your best bet is the same day fast track option in London (or other provincial passport office if you're closer to them). Be warned though, the cost is almost double, its done on a strict appointment only basis and they are very busy. I had to book two weeks in advance for the next available appointment.

[Tableview]

It is more expensive but it works like a dream. I made an appointment on-line, went to the Peterborough office at 1600, and had my passport at 1000 the next morning. I think it cost about £100 for the 'fat' passport.

The passport that the new one replaced had been issued in Bogota, so I think they had to do a check, luckily the time difference was in my favour.

[claydon82]

thanks

thanks everyone

[elgnin]

Claydon. I was in the same position a few weeks ago. I called the help line (0300 222 0000) (find your nearest office here Directgov: Maps - Identity and Passport Service (IPS) Customer Service Centres) and got an appointment the next day. Turned up on time, was seen within 5 minutes of my appointment, took 5 minutes, paid on the way out. My new passport was ready 4 hours later! It cost a bit more than usual (£120-£130 ish) but was worth every penny. As it was a renewal I didn't need a countersignature, just some more passport pics (photo machine on site at the London office). Not much is impressive about most G'ment Depts. but they do passport renewals very well. PS. I did it this way for speed and because I needed my passport and couldn't have it (getting lost) in the post for a week/2 weeks - this was ideal.

[Chinchilla.612]

Hi Claydon82,

If you're going to get a letter from your employer you might find it useful to ask them for one stating you need a second passport instead. The passport office can issue you with a second passport if you show a need for one, for example for flight crew to obtain travel visas while still travelling for work.

Renewals and visa applications are then much less hassle as you can continue to work using one passport and send the other one off for processing.

I did this myself a few years ago and it has made my work life much easier, especially when the Russians took several weeks over issuing my last visa!

Just a suggestion anyway so feel free to investigate further or disregard as you wish.

All the best,

Chinchilla.