Passport in the Laundry...

[Rob and Jill 82]

So...

Has anyone from the U.K. washed their passport in the laundry before moving to the U.S.? If so was anything effected? Did you get a new passport or risk it? It's a 6 week hold up to get it replaced...

Not that I personally know anyone who would have washed his passport...

*coughs*

Edited July 6, 2010 by Rob and Jill

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Believe it or not, Jill, this did happen before on VJ. Unfortunately I cannot remember what the person did. Have a search through the UK forum -- it was at least 2 years ago.

Good luck. It's also possible to get an expedited passport if you pay out the requisite shekels.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I wish they'd make passports out of money paper - so they come out of the laundry even nicer than they went in!!

[Rob and Jill 82]

I'll check and see Maven. So annoying...I mean, his medical is tomorrow and he is scheduling his interview soon, so what a time to ruin a passport. He said he coudln't get a replacement rushed...Do you have a link where I can show him otherwise? I have no idea what to look for in that area.

I just wondered if anyone washed it and DIDN'T replace it.

NIK&Heather....seriously. They should make those a little more error proof in my opinion.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Jill, he doesn't need his passport for the medical. As long as he can prove his identity otherwise, and explain what happened, he'll be okay. (See MARM's report on here somewhere on how her fiance did it.)

He's not eligible for one-day service since the passport has been damaged, but he can do the fast track service, which takes about a week. He would need to make an appointment and go to a regional office (I assume Glasgow for him). More info here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/howlongittakesandurgentappplications/DG_174149

The timetable for postal applications is three weeks (though you should allow up to six); if you do the Post Office Check & Send it should take two weeks: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/Applicationinformation/DG_174154

Not to be a pill, but it sounds like he's being a man and making excuses.

[Rob and Jill 82]

Jill, he doesn't need his passport for the medical

Oh I know, it was just a FINE TIME to wash a passport.

No, he was afraid it would take 6 weeks. He's a bit impatient when it comes to researching, which is why I do it

[DukeOfYork 28]

I've done that...twice. The second time I had to go to the US embassy in Madrid to get it reissued. I never put my passport in my pockets anymore. Ever.

[Rob and Jill 82]

I've done that...twice. The second time I had to go to the US embassy in Madrid to get it reissued. I never put my passport in my pockets anymore. Ever.

LOL that is awesome! What is it with people not emptying their pockets before they put clothing in the laundry?!

[h1a1 5]

I badly damaged my passport last year. I went to the main passport office for the area I was living in (which meant a train ride to Liverpool) and got a new passport on the one day service. I had to wait about 4 hours for it.

[Rob and Jill 82]

So, with all that has been said and done on this.

If he had listened when I asked him to replace it in July this would not be an issue. This has turned into the biggest pain in the butt part of this whole process.

So...

He did have to go to Glasgow to have it replaced. No biggie, he did it, it's done, and a courier picked up a new passport. Now, with all of that being said he was promised repeatedly that this would be all wrapped up by the first and his flight wouldn't be an issue. (No lectures on not booking flights needed.)

Here we are, 48 hours before his flight with no passport. How long does it take to freaking staple a piece of paper into a passport?

I guess I get to spend today calling everyone I can think of trying to get someone and their stapler to work.

[Dodi 69]

Unfortunately this is the reason they tell us not to buy a ticket until the visa is in hand. I'm really sorry you're going through this. Stupid men and their inability to just do as we tell them. Don't they realize they'd be so much better off if they did?

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Jill, you're not the first who has gotten missing docs back to the embassy and they don't get around to processing them as soon as they arrive. They must sit in a pile with others, probably more than we realize, before they make it to the COs desk. Keep rattling cages to get it shaken loose.

[Rob and Jill 82]

Jill, you're not the first who has gotten missing docs back to the embassy and they don't get around to processing them as soon as they arrive. They must sit in a pile with others, probably more than we realize, before they make it to the COs desk. Keep rattling cages to get it shaken loose.

Well, that makes sense. I didn't even think of it that way. You would think if it was being delivered by a courier (that they charge out the #### for BTW) that it would go on an expedited desk or something, but that's not the case.

I am experimenting with calling around to a few different offices to see if there is something I can do to at least get a date.

Unfortunately this is the reason they tell us not to buy a ticket until the visa is in hand. I'm really sorry you're going through this. Stupid men and their inability to just do as we tell them. Don't they realize they'd be so much better off if they did?

In lieu of your ability to not lecture about not buying tickets even though I said I didn't want to read them...

Thanks! It's coming along, and I don't so much as care about the date he travels as I do not losing the money because he did book it. I don't think it's asking too much for them to say "NO, it won't be done in the time frame we told you", and letting us reschedule the flight without LOSING the money. I am not asking for lions through flaming hoops, just a yes or no, and not that canned answer BS you get when you call any of the available phone numbers they give you.

[Jewel-8 21]

Thanks! It's coming along, and I don't so much as care about the date he travels as I do not losing the money because he did book it. I don't think it's asking too much for them to say "NO, it won't be done in the time frame we told you", and letting us reschedule the flight without LOSING the money. I am not asking for lions through flaming hoops, just a yes or no, and not that canned answer BS you get when you call any of the available phone numbers they give you.

In the past if you call(at the low price of $16?) and get the email code the person handling email is very efficient at helping you. Is that no longer the case?

[marlea 84]

I've also read that if you email with your case number in the subject line, that can work as "the special code" and they will possibly reply. I've not tried it, I don't know.