Just a Heads Up for those who are needing to renew their passports soon. We sent mine in for renewal last week and we've just had a message to confirm they have it and we should allow TEN WEEKS for it to be processed and returned (please don't call for updates)

Randa

Yes, probably and cheaper but why so? No staff (you know Human Beans ) to sort things out anymore. I needed to change my photo and we had already had new photos taken at the local train station which were not digital (there was a choice) . What a b****** palaver that was. Ten squids for 5 pics, all identical so no re-posing and no swapping over between shots and it took an age to adjust the seat to the satisfaction of the machine. Argggg
On the same day we visited the Bank, you know that building that once held money and staff. All we wanted was a few new ten bob coins with his Royalty head on them to give to the grandchildren. One old bloke at front of house apologising that they can't do that anymore as it is all automated
AND don't talk to me about the Land Registry, the once public facility to ask about title deeds, propery boundaries etc who are now not open to the public since Covid.
Stop the World, I want to get off......
Randa

Pre happy retirement Mrs eribaMotters worked on Post Office Counters in a Waitrose branch. Even 6 years ago the system was hit and miss with passports taking a few days to 12 weeks.
If you can go on-line then it is the best route. failing that pay the extra "check it facility" that some Post Office Counters offer and it will go through more quickly.

Colin

Quote: Julie Grafo wrote in post #7

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I think the issue is that a lot of staff are still working from home. Obviously they can deal with online applications. Postal ones require a human to sort the post and distribute to the reduced number of workers who are actually on the premises. I may be wrong but this is what I’ve been told 🤔

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Zitat

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Quote Steve and Debbie:- Online applications automatically resize and digitise the photo and the application. The payment is automated and the email with your photo is sent to your trusted person to identify you and is also automated. That presumeably jumps the queue a few desks. Or maybe the IT crowd want to prove their new system is more efficient.

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I think you'll find that the Passport Office requires you to send a digitised photo for online applications. As for using someone to identify that it is you then we've had to pay out £240 for a solicitor that we don't know from Adam to fill out two forms identifying us from passport sized photos so that we can change some documents with the Land Registry. It took the solicitor less than 10 minutes to do so and the Land Registry would not accept anything other that a solicitor's say so. The LR have a b***** great office not 5 miles away from us that is probably empty.

Randa

WOWZA !

My passport arrived back today, 10 days maybe rather than 10 weeks. Me thinks that there's someone in HM Passport Office that reads our forum. Eribafolk Pop Up Everywhere you know.

The 10 year passport lasts from the day of renewal but when we were members of the European Club didn't we used to get a forward date from when the old one ran out?

Randa

Mike T. I don't believe you have forgotten the immortal words of our Grumpy Old Git leader Victor Meldrew

Julie. No I'm still a citizen of Her Brittanic Maj.

An interesting point has cropped up and it affects one of our sons. He is travelling for a holiday abroad in about 6 weeks time. His passport doesn't run out until 3 months or so past his travel date. All good so far but...............................

His existing passport was issued early and the Passport Office took that into account by Forward Dating the expiricy date to July 2023 making the dates on the passport longer than 10 years.

Not good as this question apples and I quote:-

"Your passport must be: issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the 'date of issue') valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the 'expiry date')"

"When should I renew my UK passport?"

"It depends on when you plan to travel, but regardless you'll need to renew it before the passport is nine years and nine months old. If you have a trip booked or are thinking about one, check the dates on your passport now.."

Randa