How long does it take to get a passport?

[Bob's Orange]

Actually, I think you can also go to the post office for a rush job - you pay extra, but they go through your form, confirm that everything is OK and filled in etc.  then they will guarantee it comes back to you in a certain time.  Not sure if they still do it, but worth a go...

Looks like they do, you'll have to pay £77.50 by the looks of it.

http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/_2_howtoapply/2_what_cost.asp

[Luci]

I have potentially a similar dilema, I need a Thai visa, but short of going to London, Cardiff or Birmingham, and taking a day off work I have to risk the postal service for getting my passport there and back to me, and I leave in 5 weeks.  If I could potentially get a replacement in days then that offers me some reassurance.

Just spoken to our orient team at work and you can obtain a 30 day visa on arrival in Bangkok which is issued to you there and then. (No pre-arrangement needed) If you are staying more than 30 days you may require a different application though.

The only other requirement is that you have at least six months validity on your passport which I'm sure you'd have anyway.

[Bob's Orange]

I have potentially a similar dilema, I need a Thai visa, but short of going to London, Cardiff or Birmingham, and taking a day off work I have to risk the postal service for getting my passport there and back to me, and I leave in 5 weeks.  If I could potentially get a replacement in days then that offers me some reassurance.

Just spoken to our orient team at work and you can obtain a 30 day visa on arrival in Bangkok which is issued to you there and then. (No pre-arrangement needed) If you are staying more than 30 days you may require a different application though.

The only other requirement is that you have at least six months validity on your passport which I'm sure you'd have anyway.

They must be delighted after beating Fulham in the cup on Sunday!

[Luci]

I have potentially a similar dilema, I need a Thai visa, but short of going to London, Cardiff or Birmingham, and taking a day off work I have to risk the postal service for getting my passport there and back to me, and I leave in 5 weeks.  If I could potentially get a replacement in days then that offers me some reassurance.

Just spoken to our orient team at work and you can obtain a 30 day visa on arrival in Bangkok which is issued to you there and then. (No pre-arrangement needed) If you are staying more than 30 days you may require a different application though.

The only other requirement is that you have at least six months validity on your passport which I'm sure you'd have anyway.

They must be delighted after beating Fulham in the cup on Sunday!

They're ecstatic!  

[pumbaa]

I got my passport renewed a couple of years back, it takes about 10 days for a renewal from posting expired passport to receiving nice new one (longer for a first application though I suspect). I might have got lucky though.

[Dazzza]

Passport - Pay the express fee and make sure to god your photo's meet the requirements otherwise the whole lot gets sent straight back.  Gob shut, no glasses, white background and no bhurkas Edinburgh!

Thai Visa – Like the lady said just turn up as long as you’re a British passport holder you’re entitled to a 30 day holiday visa.  If you want any longer you can just bribe an official with £15.00 like I did in country for an extension or just do the old visa run and hop on a train overland and come straight back in for another 30 days.

Whatever you do don’t do what a few mates did and pay someone off the street  for a visa stamp.  You’ll end up in a cell.

[Reg Smeeton]

Renewal shouldn't be too troublesome,  but back in the summer I needed to get a first passport for one of my sons.....absolute fucking nightmare.

 The rules had all been changed without seemingly informing anybody...I've a very low tolerance of bureaucracy at the best of times....but when I get foucked about I try very hard not to but often end up going call the security guard ballistic.

 In this circumstance they were questioning the validity of of the birth certificate....as I pointed out "you lot in here issued it to me so it must be a valid birth certificate no?"......apparently not.

 A new certificate needed to issued at a cost of I don't know say about 20, and it takes yonks for it to happen....well I'll leave an envelope, when it arrives can you post it to me......no you have to get it over the counter....but I can't make it in due to work commitments and stuff....too bad we can't post it..............red mist decends........

[Simon Pieman]

My housemate got his photos rejected because he was too far to the left of the picture. In all honesty he was only a fraction off centre and was sat upright on the chair so I don't why it should have failed for that?

[Dazzza]

I'm good at passports I am.

Reg took his son's short birth certificate instead of the long one.  An absolutely fucking useless piece of paper to anyone born post 81 and yet unless you request otherwise it's all you get issued with.

Si's mate's photo doesn't meet the biometric requirements despite it not being a biometric passport.  It has to be central so it'll scan so your mug can be compared by computer to a. the one on file and b. any dodgy Rodgers. It’s to get people used to the new ways don't you see?

[Reg Smeeton]

I'm good at passports I am.

Reg took his son's short birth certificate instead of the long one.  An absolutely fucking useless piece of paper to anyone born post 81 and yet unless you request otherwise it's all you get issued with.

Si's mate's photo doesn't meet the biometric requirements despite it not being a biometric passport.  It has to be central so it'll scan so your mug can be compared by computer to a. the one on file and b. any dodgy Rodgers. It’s to get people used to the new ways don't you see?

 That's about the size of it.....the upshot was having just past 16 and coming off my passport....he needed his own, and by the time they'd fannied ariound with birth certificates it was too late......

[Dazzza]

It's a fucking great system.

Provided I know your full name, date and place of birth I can write off and get your birth certificate.

All I need do is then fill out a form with countersignature, send in my photos and bingo I’ve got your identity.

If I know where you bank I’ll empty your account, if I know where you live I’ll re-mortgage your house and that’s  not to mention the credit cards and loans I take out in your name.

Thanks to the Internet anyone with half a clue can get all of the above in seconds.

[STFC Village]

Thanks for that Daz :shock:

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

mine took two weeks i think

[Bedford Red]

It's a fucking great system.

Provided I know your full name, date and place of birth I can write off and get your birth certificate.

All I need do is then fill out a form with countersignature, send in my photos and bingo I’ve got your identity.

If I know where you bank I’ll empty your account, if I know where you live I’ll re-mortgage your house and that’s  not to mention the credit cards and loans I take out in your name.

Thanks to the Internet anyone with half a clue can get all of the above in seconds.

You can find out tons on the internet. Luckily most people are honest but it's just too easy if you want to do fraud.

[Bob's Orange]

Sent off the forms and stuff on monday morning and some dude woke me up at 9am this morning to hand me my new passport!! Good service!