renewing a British passport

jrhartley · #1 02-22-2009, 07:52 PM

has anyone had any experience of renewing a passport with the embassy in puerto plata - I know of one person that had theirs returned 3 times before it came back renewed, just wondering what the norm is , if there is a norm (I understand its sent to Mexico for some reason)

Contemplating returning to uk to do it in person - would this be the best option

Looking for insight

whirleybird · #2 02-22-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhartley

has anyone had any experience of renewing a passport with the embassy in puerto plata - I know of one person that had theirs returned 3 times before it came back renewed, just wondering what the norm is , if there is a norm (I understand its sent to Mexico for some reason)

Contemplating returning to uk to do it in person - would this be the best option

Looking for insight

As far as I am aware, it will cost far less for the actual passport but do you really want to go back to the UK for it is one question I would ask?

jrhartley · #3 02-22-2009, 11:29 PM

not especially but i need tea-bags as well lol

Lambada · #4 02-23-2009, 12:15 AM

Now you've done it, jr, you'll be getting shopping lists by PM

. I've only been here 16 years so I've only had to renew mine once & I did that on a trip back to UK as I visit every 3 years. I brought back the forms for BB and he was able to renew his in the UK without going back, so there's another option (all you need is a reliable courrier to take it & post it in UK with the return address of your next UK visitor, who brings it out with them). If you decide to renew at PP office, allow plenty of time. And if you don't know Mendez personally & want an intro let me know & I'll go in with you on a day when I'm in that part of town.

pedrochemical · #5 02-23-2009, 12:15 AM

Bring me some Yorkshire tea bags please. Not the 'gold' variety - the normal ones.
And some plain digestives.

I too am in the process of renewing my passport. I rang the Embassy people who sent me instructions in an email. They are not the brightest bunch - only getting my email address the third time I requested the info.
Then they told me to put some money in their bank account and FedEx the passport, photos and form C1 (?) to their Santo Domingo office. ( I live in Haiti). They did not give me the account number and still haven't managed to get this info to me.
The lady on the phone was obviously Dominican - very sweet but didn't have a clue.
It seems that they have gone native and will be totally inefficient. I am expecting for the whole process to go wrong several times.

More to the point - they told me the whole process takes 2-3 weeks once they receive the info, photos, cash etc. And yes, they do have to send it to the passport factory in Mexico.

Total cost for me is around 190 quid including shipping stuff from Haiti to D.R. to Mexico to D.R. to Haiti.

No good can come of this......

BushBaby · #6 02-23-2009, 12:17 AM

Hey JR,
IF you don't have reason to return to UK, get someone to bring the renewal forms out from the UK for you - fill them in (with signature) & then get them to the UK for posting! Use a reliable address IN THE UK for the passport office to send your new passport to. That person can then bring it out or send it FedEx (or other safe courier service) to you out here.

Just thinking outside the box a bit!!

To answer your DIRECT question, ONE trip to Puerto Plata when sending passport & another to collect the renewed one should suffice. Time scale Mendez will advise you when you apply for the new passport!! (I suspect about 6 weeks!!). ~ Grahame.

DAMN, ......... that girl got in & posted before me again!

!

pedrochemical · #7 02-23-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambada

Now you've done it, jr, you'll be getting shopping lists by PM

. I've only been here 16 years so I've only had to renew mine once & I did that on a trip back to UK as I visit every 3 years. I brought back the forms for BB and he was able to renew his in the UK without going back, so there's another option (all you need is a reliable courrier to take it & post it in UK with the return address of your next UK visitor, who brings it out with them). If you decide to renew at PP office, allow plenty of time. And if you don't know Mendez personally & want an intro let me know & I'll go in with you on a day when I'm in that part of town.

Wow, Lambada - my mum is coming over in a couple of months. So if I send her the passport and the photos she can have it renewed in England and bring it out to me? I never thought of that!
If I can ship it back to England for less than a couple of hundred bucks it would make sense.
So, to save me searching the forum, does anybody know how much it costs to ship something like a passport to the UK? Which is the best company? Has anyone ever attempted this before?

Thanks in advance for your help.

BushBaby · #8 02-23-2009, 12:42 AM

At the risk of 'Er in doors getting in before me again try looking through this link for costs by FedEx Shipping, Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management from FedEx UPS will have a similar link.

My recollection of FedEx rates are that it should be under RD $2,000 (US $60) but PLEASE check this as I am basing my comment on 2001 rates PLUS allowing 75% for inflation/cost increases!!

Don't forget to send everything WITH the signed application form ~ Grahame.

Lambada · #9 02-23-2009, 12:49 AM

pedro, first you'll need the forms. I recall that a different set of forms apply if applying in UK and applying out here, so forms they have out here won't help you. Get mum to go to Post Office & get set of forms - I know you have to sign them etc which is why she can't do this for you. I always keep a spare set of UK forms out here for my next renewal (& hope they don't change them in the meanwhile

). When you have the forms, complete & send with passport to your mum & she can do a postal application in UK. Takes approx 3 weeks. What she can't do is use Post Office's Check & Send proceedure for which you pay an extra fee, because you're supposed to be doing this in person, I believe, & some PO clerk will probably tell your mum she isn't you!

UK fees here
Passport fees - Identity and Passport Service

Worldwide fees are supposed to be here but......where is DR??
http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/downl...eptember08.pdf

Check whole proceedure on website above in case anything has changed to make this non-workable - I last renewed mine in 2000 & that's when I brought the forms back for himself.

If your photos need validating (due to e.g. altered appearance from existing photo) remember it has to be the same person who signs section 10 of appllication form.
Validating your photographs - Identity and Passport Service

BushBaby · #10 02-23-2009, 12:53 AM

I have just done a Quick Quote on their site & come up with US $74.01. That is from Cap Haitian to Scotland (I know that postcode!!). It takes 7 days 'door to door'.

Hope this helps!! ~ Grahame.