US mumsnetters in UK - child passport renewal question

[dabdab]

Rather specific, I know, but I need to renew my child’s US passport and need an in person appointment at the embassy, which is proving completely impossible - any advice / experience / suggestions of where to go (specialist immigration solicitor?) or forums that might give advice? I need to have it sorted by August and am getting nervous!

I'm stalking the appointments at the moment, can't get one for love nor money.
Looks like they are only doing a couple of days per month.
Under 16 both parents must be present as well as the child.

Sorry but there's a huge backlog even for people who are in the US needing passports.

@osbertthesyrianhamster

Sorry but there's a huge backlog even for people who are in the US needing passports.

We renewed DSes very quickly and easily from here in the US.

Sorry OP, you must be really frustrated. Crazy but you could maybe consider flying back to the US to get a passport? They are doing appointments as normal here and have been for months.

One parent can be present if you have a notarized form from the other giving permission.

I once flew UK to US solely to pick up a work permit. It's ridiculous but it was the only way I could get it without waiting months...

We renewed DSes very quickly and easily from here in the US.

My cousin's having a nightmare right now getting hers renewed and needs to travel 9 July.

Last year and this year you need to check in on your US passport or passport with green card to go to the US (there are apparently exceptional circumstances but you'd have to find out what they are) and use the US passport or passport with green card on connecting flights if you have any (also need to comply with Covid testing but that's another matter). We're travelling on 2 July.

So it's not as straightforward as it used to be to fly over there with a person, even a child, who is a US citizen but does not have a US passport.

So far, it's a PCR test for each passenger within 72 hours of flight (this is aside from the passport thing). I've been vaxxed twice but apparently you still need the negative PCR, too.

It's actually harder than last year. But even last year it was the first time in 20 years of doing this journey that they were so strict about US passport or green card thingy. They were actually strict on the way back about UK passport or residency visa, something that had never been an issue until we actually landed back in the UK and had to go through border control.

You can email the embassy asking for an emergency appt
There is a lot of chat on American Expats in London on Facebook about the issue - they seem to release appts twice a week

They announced last week that you can travel on an expired passport, even children, up until 31 December. There are a few not too stringent conditions, so you'll need to Google for details on the Embassy's website. I found it on an expat FB group.

You've always needed a US passport to fly in if you're a US citizen. It's actually easier right now because they're allowing people to fly in on expired US passports.

It's very easy to get a PCR test once you're in the US.

OP I'm sure you know this but you can apply via an Expedited Service without needing a reason - there's an extra fee. It cuts the waiting time from 10-12 weeks to 4 weeks. We did it when passport processing had just reopened and they had massive backlogs, and it took 3 weeks.

Thank you all for your replies. Flying on expired passport is only allowed if it expired after Jan 2020 - my daughter’s expired before then. Yes, I am quite frustrated! In person appointments are being run 4 days a week at the embassy, but they are always always always already booked up. The appointments are released week by week.

1. Does anyone know which days / time they release new appointments?

The passport section of immigration is not taking any phone calls at the moment, and emails mainly bounce you back to the website.
ZZTopGuitarSolo - You said that you renewed your son’s easily from the US - are you already there, or did you fly in using another passport for your son and then renew his US one?
I was thinking my daughter might be able to fly in on her UK passport (I know, if you are an American citizen you are not supposed to..) and then renew the US one when she is there.

2) On the ESTA does it ask if you are an American citizen?

@ZZTopGuitarSolo

You've always needed a US passport to fly in if you're a US citizen. It's actually easier right now because they're allowing people to fly in on expired US passports.

It's very easy to get a PCR test once you're in the US.

Many airlines are requiring them before you fly to the US as well (BA is). They're not hard to get but they're very expensive here.

We moved back to the US at the start of April, so I’m sure the process has changed a bit since then because they weren’t doing any standard appointments then. However, this was our experience.

We had to request an emergency appointment five working days before our flight, providing our reason for travel and flight information. I tried contacting them earlier to avoid a stressful situation days before an international move, but they just sent a standard response.

When I submitted the emergency request form the five days before departure, they did initially respond with some questions, and then they stopped replying to my emails. That evening, I submitted the form again stressing that we were moving due to employment and absolutely needed the appointments. We had a response the next morning and were given appointments for the following Tuesday, which was two days before we left.

Once we had the appointments it was fairly straightforward and the process was very quick. We were out within two hours with emergency passports, and apparently there is no additional charge to apply for new standard passports.

So, it may be a case of gritting your teeth until the last minute and getting an emergency appointment. Although, as I said, this might not be entirely relevant due to changes in the past two months.

Something definitely seems to have gone amiss with the passport office this spring. Hope it's soon sorted out.

It used to be Weds and Fri around 2pm but now people are saying 8am Thursday is when appts are released

Thank you, Foldinthecheese, I was aware of this option, but I am hoping to avoid it if possible, to save ourselves the stress that you experienced! Also, it is for tertiary education, and my daughter was hoping to go over a few weeks before her course to get settled into a new flat etc, so I am worried that they might deem that not enough of an emergency. What happens if you have to wait and do the ‘5 days before you fly’ scenario and then don’t get given an appointment??

Thank you too, DonGray, I will check at those times. The embassy have told me that there is not any specific time in which they release the next weeks appointments, but that does not make sense to me.

ZZTopGuitarSolo - You said that you renewed your son’s easily from the US - are you already there, or did you fly in using another passport for your son and then renew his US one?
I was thinking my daughter might be able to fly in on her UK passport (I know, if you are an American citizen you are not supposed to..) and then renew the US one when she is there.

We are already in the US.

Ahh, you must be so frustrated.

I'd consider contacting an attorney in the UK who specialises in US visas. They may well have their own ways of contacting the US embassy. Someone like these guys? www.lauradevine.com/us-immigration/

I will check that out, ZZTopGuitarSolo. I did check with a local solicitor, but he quoted £550 for a consultation, so I am trying other things first!
The expat Facebook page is helpful - someone there also said Thursday morning for release for new appointments, like DonGray said. We might try stalking the appointments page continually.
Good luck, FedUpAtHomeTroels.

That sounds like a serious reason to be going to the US. She's repatriating, effectively.

No, she has never lived there - it is for tertiary education.