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Chat => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rivkid on July 03, 2008, 09:55:20 AM

Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: Rivkid on July 03, 2008, 09:55:20 AM
Going to France on August 1st and just realised my passport expired in May! Just grabbed an application from the PO and they said the check and send service usually takes about 2 weeks but can take longer.

Anyone have any experience with this - think Ill be ok if I get it sent off tommorrow?

Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: Sam on July 03, 2008, 10:21:19 AM
If you drive to one of the regional centres you can get it renewed same day (but its pricey).
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Beaker on July 03, 2008, 10:48:39 AM
2 weeks is about right.  girlfriend did hers in under 2 weeks, and she had lost her old one.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Eggtastico on July 03, 2008, 10:54:11 AM
2 weeks & it shouldnt take longer
I had to go & get mine renewed cos the old biddy in
the PO said I look quite different to my old photo.
Went up on the Friday, got my Passport delivered
on the Tues. - Not bad as the Mon was a bank holibob day
Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: M3ta7h3ad on July 03, 2008, 10:55:41 AM
Quote from: SamIf you drive to one of the regional centres you can get it renewed same day (but its pricey).

They dont do this service anymore, at least in the Passport office in Newport.

Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: Rivkid on July 03, 2008, 11:15:02 AM
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Quote from: SamIf you drive to one of the regional centres you can get it renewed same day (but its pricey).

They dont do this service anymore, at least in the Passport office in Newport.


Apparently you can still go to the offices for a premium same day service - however you have to book an appointment in advance and this can take up to two weeks.......


Going to use the check and send thing at the PO tommorrow - sounds like that should have plenty of time.

Cheers chaps
Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: Eggtastico on July 03, 2008, 11:22:37 AM
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Quote from: SamIf you drive to one of the regional centres you can get it renewed same day (but its pricey).

They dont do this service anymore, at least in the Passport office in Newport.


yes they do, but it isnt your option.. its theirs & you pay for it!
Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: M3ta7h3ad on July 03, 2008, 11:49:41 AM
Quote from: Rivkid
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Quote from: SamIf you drive to one of the regional centres you can get it renewed same day (but its pricey).

They dont do this service anymore, at least in the Passport office in Newport.


Apparently you can still go to the offices for a premium same day service - however you have to book an appointment in advance and this can take up to two weeks.......


Going to use the check and send thing at the PO tommorrow - sounds like that should have plenty of time.

Cheers chaps

Yup thats what theyve replaced it with.

Its not same day service anymore, its prebooked appointments only.

Egg: Youre a timex watch in a digital age my friend.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Dave on July 04, 2008, 00:23:01 AM
as a last resort you could always just go anyway - Ive traveled on an out of date passport fairly recently and it wasnt noticed (this was via a UK airport too!)

my flat mate actually forgot his passport on a trip to France and only got pulled up by UK customs on the return journey
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: chrisdicko on July 04, 2008, 01:11:14 AM
You dont need a passport to travel in Europe now. If you have ID you can use that.......now, im not sure what ID, but you dont need a passport.

Edit: Actually, because we dont have a British Citizen card, you do need a passport. Just my girlfiend is Slovakian, and they just use crappy plastic IDs....but its a Slovak Citizen card, which we dont have the equivalent of yet.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Dave on July 04, 2008, 08:05:58 AM
You dont need a passport to travel between EU countries within continental Europe - you do need one to get back into the UK.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: mrt on July 04, 2008, 08:58:57 AM
OK - something worth remembering.

The Post Office do a checking service (costs about £5), where someone actually checks your application fully for any mistakes, incomplete answers and little things like whether your signature touches the surrounding box, photos comply with regulations.  Delays are generally caused by user-error as they send the whole lot back to you to amend.  A mate of mine had his sent back, purely as his signature touched the box by about a 10th of a mm.  When I done my renewal, I paid the service and they did pick something up on my application that I had missed (I had gone through it once completed?!?).  

Worth remembering when handing in.  I do know someone who recently went to France without a passport and blagged it on the way back.  He was SO English, they had to let him in   -)
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Rivkid on July 04, 2008, 09:17:34 AM
Quote from: mrtOK - something worth remembering.

The Post Office do a checking service (costs about £5), where someone actually checks your application fully for any mistakes, incomplete answers and little things like whether your signature touches the surrounding box, photos comply with regulations.  Delays are generally caused by user-error as they send the whole lot back to you to amend.  A mate of mine had his sent back, purely as his signature touched the box by about a 10th of a mm.  When I done my renewal, I paid the service and they did pick something up on my application that I had missed (I had gone through it once completed?!?).  

Worth remembering when handing in.  I do know someone who recently went to France without a passport and blagged it on the way back.  He was SO English, they had to let him in   -)

yeah thats what Ive done. They reckon it takes about 2 weeks.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: mrt on July 04, 2008, 10:07:48 AM
Mine was back within 2 weeks.

Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: M3ta7h3ad on July 04, 2008, 13:05:49 PM
Quote from: DaveYou dont need a passport to travel between EU countries within continental Europe - you do need one to get back into the UK.


You just need photographic ID. A full UK Driving licence suffices.

I know as some of the lads who I went away on a stag weekend to Benidorm only took their drivers licences. UK Customs check on the way back and no problem at all.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Eggtastico on July 04, 2008, 13:14:45 PM
Quote from: DaveYou dont need a passport to travel between EU countries within continental Europe - you do need one to get back into the UK.

bullsh*t. Just speak jibberjarbish & youll be welcomed in with a pot of money & a 3 bedroom house
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: El Jacko on July 04, 2008, 14:36:14 PM
well put
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Dave on July 05, 2008, 00:19:51 AM
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Quote from: DaveYou dont need a passport to travel between EU countries within continental Europe - you do need one to get back into the UK.


You just need photographic ID. A full UK Driving licence suffices.

I know as some of the lads who I went away on a stag weekend to Benidorm only took their drivers licences. UK Customs check on the way back and no problem at all.

not true - you still need a passport for the UK
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: M3ta7h3ad on July 05, 2008, 14:55:30 PM
Quote from: Dave
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Quote from: DaveYou dont need a passport to travel between EU countries within continental Europe - you do need one to get back into the UK.


You just need photographic ID. A full UK Driving licence suffices.

I know as some of the lads who I went away on a stag weekend to Benidorm only took their drivers licences. UK Customs check on the way back and no problem at all.

not true - you still need a passport for the UK

Then either customs were retarded on the day we went through, or you dont.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Dave on July 05, 2008, 20:29:29 PM
You need a passport for the UK as we didnt sign up to the Schengen agreement. You dont need a passport when youre within europe.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: chrisdicko on July 06, 2008, 16:35:49 PM
My girlfriends sister just came back from Slovakia, and just used her ID to get in to the UK.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Dave on July 06, 2008, 17:10:47 PM
my mate managed it without a passport or ID and Ive managed it with an out of date passport

youre not supposed to though

for the UK/Ireland youre supposed to have a passport - once youre in an EU country that has signed up to the Schengen agreement you no longer need a passport
Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: M3ta7h3ad on July 06, 2008, 17:46:46 PM
According to Wiki we have signed up to some aspects of it and there is a prime line in one of the paragraphs. That a visitor must show a reason for traveling and returning home to their originating country, and must be able to prove themselves a resident of their originating country.
Title: Re:Passport Blunder!
Post by: Dave on July 06, 2008, 20:16:40 PM
The UK passport website says you need a passport - ergo you need a passport:

QuoteAlthough the United Kingdom is part of the European Union (EU), you still need to carry a full British 10-year passport (or five-year child passport if you are under 16 and not on a parent's passport) every time you travel to Europe. This includes day trips and travel by Eurostar.

Many countries no longer check passports at their land borders, but they still expect visitors to be able to produce a valid form of identification. For UK travellers this is the British passport. Remember, your passport will have to be checked at immigration control when you return to the UK.

http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/travel-europe.asp
Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: Leon on July 06, 2008, 23:58:59 PM
Indeed you need a passport, I looked into this before when I went to Prague (Couldnt find my passport till last minute)

In fact that reminds me, where is my passport, I havent seen it in a few months. Better take a look when I get back to the flat and it has my visa in it :(

I think you can still get same day service for passports in London, Euston station has a place if i remember correctly
Title: Passport Blunder!
Post by: Sam on July 07, 2008, 00:47:40 AM
Yeah this is the problem with the internet. Everyone posts up their own opinion and usually theyre full of sh*t.