PASSPORT RENEWAL

[EV11 18]

I got mine back about a month ago... I can't remember exactly how long it took but i was quite surprised because it was a lot less than 4 weeks.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it! Great news about your passport coming back so quickly, at least that's one less thing to think about. My passport arrived at the Embassy April 13th, so hopefully it will only be another 2 weeks or so!

[EV11 18]

Hi All,

I thought I would come back and give everyone an update on my recent passport renewal, especially for those looking for advice on how to renew their British passport. Well...I received a brand spanking new passport in just under 4 weeks. The current processing times (due to the Easter break), are 5 weeks, so I was well within the time frame.

I renewed my passport because I wanted to change my name to my married name. So I am basing my information on a simple renewal, not a long expired or a lost/stolen passport. Here is what I sent with no problems encountered:

Completed C1 form in my new name - I did not get the C1 form countersigned.

2 US SIZED passport photos - I did not crop them down. I did not use computer software. I did not get either passport photo counter-signed.

Marriage Certificate

Birth Certificate

Certfied Check - The only problem with this (I realized too late) is that when it says "4 weeks processing time from when the fee is taken" - I had no idea when the fee was taken! Dohhh!

All in all a very simple process

I hope this helped!

[RachC 0]

Hi All,

I thought I would come back and give everyone an update on my recent passport renewal, especially for those looking for advice on how to renew their British passport. Well...I received a brand spanking new passport in just under 4 weeks. The current processing times (due to the Easter break), are 5 weeks, so I was well within the time frame.

I renewed my passport because I wanted to change my name to my married name. So I am basing my information on a simple renewal, not a long expired or a lost/stolen passport. Here is what I sent with no problems encountered:

Completed C1 form in my new name - I did not get the C1 form countersigned.

2 US SIZED passport photos - I did not crop them down. I did not use computer software. I did not get either passport photo counter-signed.

Marriage Certificate

Birth Certificate

Certfied Check - The only problem with this (I realized too late) is that when it says "4 weeks processing time from when the fee is taken" - I had no idea when the fee was taken! Dohhh!

All in all a very simple process

I hope this helped!

Thanks for the help!

I was having a huge stress this afternoon about it. I've just got married too and wanting to change my surname so everything's the same. And was just reading all those forms about having to have it resigned and your parents birth certificates. They really don't make it clear on the Embassy website do they?!

[EV11 18]

Thanks for the help!

I was having a huge stress this afternoon about it. I've just got married too and wanting to change my surname so everything's the same. And was just reading all those forms about having to have it resigned and your parents birth certificates. They really don't make it clear on the Embassy website do they?!

I'm glad I was able to help!

Ohh tell me about it, I read the instructions over and over again until I went blue! In the end, I just read this thread and chucked my application in the post box and kept my fingers crossed. I know everyone's situation is different, but I am almost certain you don't need your parents BC at all. As for the counter-signatures, my picture was 7 years old in my old passport so again I just bit the bullet and risked it. Trust me when you send in your application and get your new passport, you'll wonder what all the stress was about.

Good luck!

[Widge 0]

Long time no post ...........

I am about to get my expired (oops) passport renewed in my married name (traveled 3 times to UK with no problem on maiden name) have everything together old passport, credit authorisation, two photos, marriage certificate. Then came to look here and realise I am the only person who is stating they completed form OL I can see no reason why it doesn't apply but would love some reassurance that somebody else successful;y used this form as opposed to the C1

[SLMcT 5]

Hi all. I will hopefully be getting my K-1 approval in a few weeks and getting married to my American love in November and just starting to try and get my head around all that's to be done after!!!

From reading through this thread am I correct in thinking that I have to wait until I get my AOS/GC before changing the name on my passport. I did read something on the ukinus website that said:

When you apply to amend your passport, we cancel your current passport and issue you with a new one. This means that any visas in your current passport may become invalid. You should check with the local Embassy/visa issuing authority of the country concerned about whether you can use an unexpired visa in a cancelled passport. If not, you will have to reapply for the visa for your new passport.

Thanks for any advice

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Hi all. I will hopefully be getting my K-1 approval in a few weeks and getting married to my American love in November and just starting to try and get my head around all that's to be done after!!!

From reading through this thread am I correct in thinking that I have to wait until I get my AOS/GC before changing the name on my passport. I did read something on the ukinus website that said:

When you apply to amend your passport, we cancel your current passport and issue you with a new one. This means that any visas in your current passport may become invalid. You should check with the local Embassy/visa issuing authority of the country concerned about whether you can use an unexpired visa in a cancelled passport. If not, you will have to reapply for the visa for your new passport.

Thanks for any advice

That statement is not an issue to you in that your K1 visa becomes invalid the day you use it to enter the US. You only get to use a K1 for one time. However, you will want your passport for photo ID until you get something else like a greencard or state drivers license. Adjustment of Status will have a biometric appointment and maybe an interview so you'll want your passport for those. Many people don't renew for a married name change until it is about to expire. They travel with their marriage certificate to show the name change or they book tickets in the passport name.

[SLMcT 5]

That statement is not an issue to you in that your K1 visa becomes invalid the day you use it to enter the US. You only get to use a K1 for one time. However, you will want your passport for photo ID until you get something else like a greencard or state drivers license. Adjustment of Status will have a biometric appointment and maybe an interview so you'll want your passport for those. Many people don't renew for a married name change until it is about to expire. They travel with their marriage certificate to show the name change or they book tickets in the passport name.

Thanks Nich-Nick! Yeah i'll just wait

[SunDrop 59]

Just about to renew the kiddo's and my expired passports. Can't find anywhere in town that does UK size photos. #######, I remember Walgreen's used to have an option to change the size but they're swearing that's impossible now. Granted, that was in 2010 when we went to get US size photos for our K-1/2 visas applications. Any ideas?

Also, if I'm changing my name as well as renewing my passport, do I put my old name or new name on the kiddo's application? I'd like to think the UKPA applies a little more common sense to things that the USCIS tends to lol, but it would be a very annoying reason to have it sent back!

Edited February 24, 2013 by SunDrop

[Keigwyn 1]

Just about to renew the kiddo's and my expired passports. Can't find anywhere in town that does UK size photos. #######, I remember Walgreen's used to have an option to change the size but they're swearing that's impossible now. Granted, that was in 2010 when we went to get US size photos for our K-1/2 visas applications. Any ideas?

Also, if I'm changing my name as well as renewing my passport, do I put my old name or new name on the kiddo's application? I'd like to think the UKPA applies a little more common sense to things that the USCIS tends to lol, but it would be a very annoying reason to have it sent back!

I went to Walgreens and got them done in jan 2013. Passport arrived in 3 weeks 2 days after applying. The passport office will trim them. I am not sure if they take the money when all is ok, as it took 2 weeks for the money to leave the credit card.