Passport nightmare!!

[jen_uk]

The problems Ive had the last few days trying to renew my passport makes me want to cancel my holiday and go to Butlins instead!

Basically my passport is in my maiden name and the holiday is booked under my married name. Ive been trying to get my passport changed for weeks with no luck. I finally got my photos signed and got my documents together and went to the post ofice today to use their check and send service and they told me I couldnt because my photos were not passport standard, I had used their photo booth so Im not terribly pleased about this! Also they wouldnt accept my change of name deed because its a copy even tho its been stamped and certified by the solicitors!

So if I want to change my passport and I only have 6 weeks to do this I neeed to get more photos done, travel back to where my old doctor lives as only he can sign them and get the solicitor to get my original document out of storage, I start uni on Monday so Ive basically run out of time to get this done.

So I think Im probably going to have to change my ticket into my maiden name, the travel agent told me they can do this for £30. My passport exires in 5 months so I rang the embassy and they said its still ok to travel on it as long as its valid for the time Im there. I rang Virgin Atlantic to check that they would let me travel on a passport thats valid for less than 6 months and they said its fine, the woman also said that if I take my change of name deed I could fly on my old passport but with the tickets in my new name but I cant believe thats right???

Anyway Im very stressed now......going to have a big drink!

 

[Goofyish]

They do seem to turn passports around pretty quickly these days - I'm sure mine took just over a week to come back.

There is quite an extensive list of people who can sign your photos, as long as they have known you for a certain amount of time. Even people like bank managers, professional engineers, financial advisors, teachers etc.

 

[jen_uk]

I moved to a new area last year and so my new doctor cant sign as he hasnt known me 2 years, the bank wouldnt sign as they said they cant unless they know me on a personal level and I dont know any of my old teachers!
In not worried about getting back in time for the holiday but if I didnt get it back by Oct 26 then I would need a visa and there wouldnt be time before the holiday to do this.
Thing is if I cant sort it tomorrow then Ive had it as I will be at uni from Monday and I know its long hours on the course so I wont have time to sort the passport out.

 

[Dimplenose]

I thought the deadline for visas had been extended to October 2006.

Libby

 

[Graeme]

Tha advice about travelling with the deed form may be right, If you go to the site of the Home Office UKPS site on www.ukpa.gov.uk you may find it, or their advice line is 0870 5210 410.

Don't worry, everything will be OK, when I got married nobody would accept my wifes ID before someone else had but persevere!

 

[mark&sue]

you can use anyone that works for the local council. Does that help?


Susan

 

[athurstance]

There is a huge list of people who can countersign - check the link on the passport website at
http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/faqs/faq.asp?strAreaNo=321&intelement=454

Most people will know someone on the list it includes teachers, nurses, social workers etc. My friend is a parish councillor and she did mine.

The new photo rules are quite strict and a lot of the auto photo booth are so rubbish that they don't produce a photo that's sharp enough. High Street photographers will take passport photos too and they know the rules so they're more likely to be accepted.

 

[carolfoy]

Just caught up Jen, hope you get it sorted, I agree its a pain to try and get someone who can sign for you, I agree that the deadline for visas has been extended tho' so hopefully you can get it done soon,
wishing you loads of luck

 

[wilma-bride]

I changed my passport to my married name before I went on my honeymoon and I can't remember needing a change of name deed. Are you sure that's right?

With regard to the pictures, get anyone to sign them - it doesn't have to be a doctor. A school teacher, local government worker or anyone in a position of authority can sign them.

 

[jen_uk]

I know it doesnt have to be a doctor but he was the only person who could do it! As Ive moved to a new area Ive known everyone less than 2 years here so they dont qualify to sign. But Ive looked at the list and I do know someone in the Civil Service but Im not sure if he has a British passport or foreign so will have to check.
I just called the USA embassy and they told me that the deadline hasnt been put back so any passports changed after Oct 26 this year will need a visa.
The reason I need my original change of name need is because I changed my name to my husbands before we got married.

 

[Claire L]

I just called the USA embassy and they told me that the deadline hasnt been put back so any passports changed after Oct 26 this year will need a visa.

Yes it has been put back look here.

Brief details -

All VWP travelers, regardless of age or type of passport used, must present m achine-readable passports; previous one-time exemptions for first-time VWP travelers without MRPs ended June 26, 2005. In addition, depending on when VWP travelers’ passports were issued, other passport requirements will apply:

Machine-readable passports issued before 10/26/05 – no further requirements
Machine-readable passports issued between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 – requires digital photograph printed on the data page or integrated chip with information from the data page
Machine-readable passports issued on or after 10/26/06 – requires integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport)


The UK has been issuing digital photos since about 1998, so therefore complies.

Claire

 

[Cochise]

They are stopping the non readable passports this year so maybe that is what they are referring to. You can continue to travel on the VWP with a machine readable after "and" renew this after October of this year.

 

[Supercod]

Here is the UK version of the US information above. It's basically the same, I just think seeing it on the UK passport site is more reassuring

http://www.passport.gov.uk/press_160605.asp

16 June 2005
VISA-FREE TRAVEL TO THE US FOR BRITISH VISITORS EXTENDED FOR A FURTHER YEAR

The US Department of Homeland Security announced, on 15 June, a one-year extension of its Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) to 26 October 2006.

VWP countries, including the UK, are required to have a biometric passport issuing system in place by 26 October 2006 in order to continue as members of the Programme and benefit from visa free travel to the US after that date.

The US also announced a requirement that all new passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 must contain a digital photo image to enable the holder to travel to the USA visa free. This does not affect the UK as we have been issuing digital passports since 1998.

This means that:

British citizens with machine-readable passports containing a digital photo image will not require a visa to visit the USA because they meet the criteria of the 26 October 2005 VWP deadline.

British citizens with machine-readable passports but without a digital photo will still be able to visit the USA visa free until the 26 October 2006 as their passport was issued before the 26 October 2005 deadline.

British citizens without a machine-readable passport must obtain a machine-readable passport or apply for a US visa before visiting the USA.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Passport Service (UKPS) welcome the US decision. It will now enable the UK to finalise the developments of our biometric programme and allows British visitors to continue to visit the US visa free.

 

[mark&sue]

This is fun we fly back October 26th next year. Will they deport us if we haven't got a visa on the way back?


Susan

 

[Lisash]

I renewed DD & DD's passports last week. We took them to the post office to fast track them on Monday as I wanted them done before the deadline (which has typically now changed) and got them back on Saturday. So took less than a week

 

[jen_uk]

I think I will try and get it done before I go but if I cant at least the deadline has been put back so it doesnt matter too much.

 

[Hilary]

Surely there are lots of cases where a honeymoon is booked in the woman's new married name, but her passport can't be changed until the marriage certificate has been signed.

If so, then I would think the old passport with a certified copy of the marriage certificate should suffice at check-in. (I appreciate that you said the post office wouldn't accept the copy, but that seems illogical!).

However, at the end of the day, you need to feel confident that there won't be any hassle on your trip, so good luck with getting it sorted out before you go!

 

[Claire L]

Surely there are lots of cases where a honeymoon is booked in the woman's new married name, but her passport can't be changed until the marriage certificate has been signed.

If so, then I would think the old passport with a certified copy of the marriage certificate should suffice at check-in. (I appreciate that you said the post office wouldn't accept the copy, but that seems illogical!).

However, at the end of the day, you need to feel confident that there won't be any hassle on your trip, so good luck with getting it sorted out before you go!

From what I have read a marriage certificate will not suffice the name on the passport MUST match that on the flight ticket. If getting married a passport can be changed up to 3 months prior to the wedding with documentary evidence of the forthcoming marriage but once issued the passport cannot be used until after the marriage.

Passport Office advcie

4 years ago this was only 1 month so I travelled in my maiden name, it was alot easier no worries about not getting the passport back correct.

Claire

 

[steve_rob]

We had exactly the same worries when we got married and it was so difficult getting a straight answer from the Post Office and Passport Service about what we needed to do, that in the end we plumped for the same option as Claire; I booked everything (air tickets, car hire etc.) in my wife's maiden name for the honeymoon and she only changed her passport to her new name when she got back home.

 

[jen_uk]

I got married 2 years ago but I changed my name by deed poll before the wedding, this is why I cant just take my marriage cert with me. Ive been really lazy about getting it changed, I wish now I had sorted this months ago!