Passport condition

[jbers88 0]

Hi All,

First of all, I would like to extend my thanks to this amazing community. It has been so helpful to my fiancee and I to be able to read other people's experiences and what to expect at each stage.

I finally recieved packet 3 last week and sent back the necessary documents, had my medical examination last friday and have not heard anything back so we can assume everything is fine there!

My new worry (I seem to find something new to worry about as soon as the last thing is done with) is the quality of my passport. It went through the wash about a year ago and looks a bit tattered on the outside & the inner pages are slightly creased and wrinkled where they got wet. The ID page is absolutely fine and all information is clearly visible with no real sign of damage. I have entered the US 3 times since it got damaged and had no problems. I hadn't considered this would be an issue until I spotted in someones forum signature that they were refused their visa due to poor condition of their passport. After waiting patiently for so long I would be pretty devastated if I get rejected because my passport is a little bit rough around the edges.

As I am still awaiting my interview date I could probably use the post office check and send service to get a replacement passport in 3 weeks, though I'm not sure if having a different passport number when I arrive at the interview will also cause a problem?

Any advice?

Edited October 1, 2013 by jbers88

[ChicagoSarah 127]

It probably depends on the Embassy and CO....but you don't have a country or timeline listed, so it may be difficult for people to help you.

In the UK forum, one of the users was approved pending receipt of a new passport due to the poor condition of her old one. But that was London...as soon as she got the new passport, she had it couriered to the Embassy, and all seemed fine.

[jbers88 0]

Sorry, yes - I just set up an account and hadn't figured all that stuff out yet!

I am applying via the London embassy

[jola83 19]

One of the members on here got turned away at her interview because of her passport condition,it may pay you to get a replacement if possible to be on the safe side

[ChicagoSarah 127]

You should be able to rush delivery a new passport....I would go that route...better safe than sorry.

[jbers88 0]

You should be able to rush delivery a new passport....I would go that route...better safe than sorry.

Do you think it will be ok if I have a new passport number & details. I was concerned that having a different passport number might cause some kind of confusion/delay at the embassy when it doesn't match my forms.

Do you think the 3 week check and send service will be fast enough? I sent my forms back last Thursday 26/09 and had my medical on Friday 27/09 so don't have an interview date yet. I could get a fast track appointment but getting to London is tricky with work.

[ChicagoSarah 127]

I've read other people getting a new passport in the process and being fine. They were of course able to present the old passport and the new one at the interview and explain the situation (since the new one would have no stamps and have a different passport #). Didn't seem to cause any issue. I don't know how long it takes in the UK to get a new passport, but I imagine you won't have an interview date until at least late October, so you should have time to get a new one in the post.

[emyardy 11]

I agree with Sara and Jola- better safe than sorry! Get a new passport ASAP!! Good luck!

[soapface 16]

I renewed my passport this year and I think I read that if you send it for normal processing and then find that you need it more quickly you can phone them and pay to upgrade to expedited processing. I think you can even phone and have it sent to the 1 day emergency processing centre. Best double check that though, don't take my word for it.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Sorry, yes - I just set up an account and hadn't figured all that stuff out yet!

I am applying via the London embassy

Yes London is very picky about passports. I have know rejections reported in this forum for washed ones, Suntan lotion spilled on one, and a couple with curled edges. There's been enough problems that I put it in my preparation for London list here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/

[Anna Grant 169]

I had a different passport to the one that I had when I submitted the I-129F. I had no problem. I took my old passport with me to the interview, in case they wanted to see it as it had about 3 of my VWP stamps for entry to the US in it. But they only wanted to see my current passport. If you can get to London, then that is a lot quicker but you have to pick up your passport at the end of the day.

See here for the different ways of getting your UK passport:

https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports

Personally, I would probably go to the Post Office and do their 'Check and Send' service. It tends to be quicker (although a little more expensive than mailing it direct) - https://www.gov.uk/how-the-post-office-check-and-send-service-works. Not all Post Offices offer this service - check whether http://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder and select 'Passport Check and Send'.

[Azsara 110]

Hi All,

First of all, I would like to extend my thanks to this amazing community. It has been so helpful to my fiancee and I to be able to read other people's experiences and what to expect at each stage.

I finally recieved packet 3 last week and sent back the necessary documents, had my medical examination last friday and have not heard anything back so we can assume everything is fine there!

My new worry (I seem to find something new to worry about as soon as the last thing is done with) is the quality of my passport. It went through the wash about a year ago and looks a bit tattered on the outside & the inner pages are slightly creased and wrinkled where they got wet. The ID page is absolutely fine and all information is clearly visible with no real sign of damage. I have entered the US 3 times since it got damaged and had no problems. I hadn't considered this would be an issue until I spotted in someones forum signature that they were refused their visa due to poor condition of their passport. After waiting patiently for so long I would be pretty devastated if I get rejected because my passport is a little bit rough around the edges.

As I am still awaiting my interview date I could probably use the post office check and send service to get a replacement passport in 3 weeks, though I'm not sure if having a different passport number when I arrive at the interview will also cause a problem?

Any advice

I had my interview last week and they actually gave me a blue slip saying I had been refused due to the condition of my passport. They are pretty strict about passport conditions. My passport was in good enough condition to be allowed in and out of the states for the past 18months but not good enough for a visa.

I had an emegrency appointment at HM Passport Office place in Victoria (2 day wait for the appointment) where they issued the passport for me within 4 hours. If its busy they wont offer the premium service on damaged passports (premium service is 4 hours) only on renewals. The quickest they will offer is a week. But this time of year is quiet and they will do it if its quiet. Ive attached a pic of my passport page with the "problem area"

EDIT: Just to add the passport office were very efficient. I had my shiny new passport within 3 hours. The courier company collected it on Monday and the embassy signed for it today. SO hopefully now we should have an approval this week. My advice would be to renew your passport ASAP

Edited October 2, 2013 by Azsara

[jbers88 0]

Thanks so much for all the advice. I booked a fast-track appointment at the passport office for next Tuesday. I was thinking about check and send but I dont want to risk not having my new passport in time for my interview.

Thanks especially to Azsara for details of your experience, I think it was actually your signature that brought this to my attention!

Edited October 2, 2013 by jbers88

[Azsara 110]

Thanks so much for all the advice. I booked a fast-track appointment at the passport office for next Tuesday. I was thinking about check and send but I dont want to risk not having my new passport in time for my interview.

Thanks especially to Azsara for details of your experience, I think it was actually your signature that brought this to my attention!

Good thinkin! And your very welcome x

[rjm_cmyk 75]

I had my interview last week and they actually gave me a blue slip saying I had been refused due to the condition of my passport. They are pretty strict about passport conditions. My passport was in good enough condition to be allowed in and out of the states for the past 18months but not good enough for a visa.

Looking at the photo you have you do wonder how many people will get caught out. I was expecting your passport to look dog eared and machine washed....

I suspect they wonder if it's been tampered under the laminate layer otherwise like you say - if it's been used for US entry repeatedly - someone in London is being *really* picky.