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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

... to suggest you check your passport expiry dates?

70 replies

EdithWeston · 31/12/2014 10:53

As a bit of New Year admin.

I am terribly disorganised, but this is one thing I do manage to do. So I know when renewals are coming up and can send off in good time.

Remembering the passport office chaos this year (and in previous years) and knowing how easy it is not to notice, I thought I'd post a little reminder.

And am ready to be flamed by those who think this is a misuse of AIBU and/or that no such reminder is ever appropriate.

OP posts:

lljkk · 31/12/2014 14:35

photo card license expiry too, keep on top of that one. Especially since you can use same photo if you get them renewed close enough together.

MrsMot · 31/12/2014 14:36

Just done dd's. It expires in April but I prefer to get it done plenty in advance.

Like the new system - pay online, print off a declaration and send. No fussing with having to wait for it to be sent back or getting photos countersigned. Let's see how long it takes...

We keep all passports in an A5 folder with expiry dates written on a card at the front...

Now to get dh to do his driving licence...

OopNorth · 31/12/2014 14:39

Thanks for tip, just checked and x2 DSs need renewing before holiday next year

HittingABrickWall · 31/12/2014 14:43

I liked the new online applications (just renewed DD's passport).

For those, like me, who get asked to countersign you are now confirming ALL the details on the application - not just that you know the person and that the photo is a true likeness.

The person who countersigned DD's passport was contacted by the pasport office and had to confirm, on a letter with the business letterhead, that they had countersigned the passport and for whom.

The whole process, including this extra confirmation, only took 3 weeks though.

Tobeemoree · 31/12/2014 15:18

NorksWar We're meant to be flying to Cape Verde. We're gutted, but it is entirely our own fault.

I couldn't even get an appointment for a same day renewal today, because they don't offer it for child passports. If it had been mine, no problem. The Embassy have been rather remiss in wanting to return any emails or phone messages. We fully expect not to get there :(

ArsenicStew · 31/12/2014 15:25

Good idea

financialwizard · 31/12/2014 15:25

I have 3 that need renewing next year and tbh I am not bothering to renew them until the end of 2015 because I know we can't go on holiday until mid 2017 and my youngest will still be classed as a child and I want to be able to get maximum use out of it.

Janethegirl · 31/12/2014 15:50

I renewed ours earlier this month and had the new passports within a week. Was most impressed.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 31/12/2014 16:05

This year my MIL wanted to take my BIL on a Seine river cruise - she was terminally ill, and as he has done so much of the work supporting her through her surgery and chemo (dh and I live at the other end of the UK), it was really important to her - and it very nearly didn't happen, because dbil sent his passport off for renewal only a month before they were due to depart, despite having known for weeks that it was about to expire.

Luckily we begged and pleaded, and the Passport Office agreed to,put his passport through the fast track process, and dh and ds1 went down to Durham to collect it, then took it to London to hand it over - the holiday happened, and now MIL has passed away, he has that good memory.

DuchessDisaster · 31/12/2014 16:11

My passport expires in May 2017. I live abroad, so I am always very aware of its validity. It will be interesting to see how I get it renewed next time, though. Luckily, as long as I don't want to go outside the EU or to the UK, I never need to show it.

PastaOutFromTheXmasGin · 31/12/2014 16:21

March 2012. Dd was born May 2012 so I didn't bother to renew it as I knew we wouldn't be going abroad with a baby. Dc2 is due in March so I still haven't bothered. I will sort mine when I apply for their first passports which won't be until we decide to go abroad again in a few years time.

MillionToOneChances · 31/12/2014 16:31

Thank you! Just did it where otherwise I'd have remembered a couple of months before.

grannytomine · 31/12/2014 16:32

Good advice, it is so much better to do it in January than July.

Fluffyears · 31/12/2014 16:48

Need to renew in August but will wait till March as going away in January and get bonus in March. I will pay extra for same day service as I stress too easily.

chilephilly · 31/12/2014 17:20

All our passports have expired. Dog's is the most expensive to renew.
Having checked up on renewal fees, we are learning to love the UK!

Rosa · 31/12/2014 17:32

Even when it expires say in 9 months time they add it onto the new passport . I decided to go and get the premium service for mine recently as living abroad i did not want to risk a long wait despite right now they seem to be turning round quickly. Plus we had a few days in London .

NorksWar · 31/12/2014 19:26

Tobeemoree - I thought I might be able to offer some advice but have had no dealings with Cape Verde, sorry. Good luck!

Tobeemoree · 31/12/2014 19:28

Ah bless you, that is very kind of you anyway. Mwah (is that verboten on this board?!)

wtffgs · 31/12/2014 19:32

Not at all.

Failed to discover an expired passport until the day before the holiday. Cue a sleepless night, a trip via the not-handily-nearby passport office, a rescheduled flight (adding ££)to the holiday and feeling like an utter plank!

SoupDragon · 30/01/2015 11:33

I think it's worth bumping this.

Check your passports now and renew them early if necessary!!

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