aibu to get the rage trying to apply for passports?

[WexlerandMcGill]

So,
We stupidly booked a holiday for 5 weeks time then realised the DDs don't have passports and that I have lost mine while moving house recently.
I have been trying to fill out the forms to DDs first passports and it is ridiculously difficult.
I need to find out all of the GPs dob, marriage date, place, etc. Then as I don't have a passport currently. Try to get their birth certificates.
We are not even in touch with these people.
I want to scream!!

crazywriter, why did you have to travel to London?
you can just post your application to Canada House, thats what I do!

I got my renewal and three brand new kids ones in exactly a week. But I didn't need the GPs details as I'm clearly older than you!

I sent away our apps on monday and have already received a text saying that the passport will be with us within the next few working days. expecting maybe tuesday or wednesday?

It's an absolute pita. We were supposed to do ours in November. DH, spirit of efficiency, immediately located his old passport, filled in form, got it signed and sent and had it back in 10 days.

I no longer have my last passport, which was originally in my maiden name, then changed to my married name. DD hasn't had one at all.

After about 4 attempts to complete the forms and get everything signed and dated correctly, and the PO bods finding some minute issue every time I gave up and still haven't gotten round to it.

Just as well we're not planning on going abroad this year now.

Were your previous passports British ones (and burgundy british ones, not the big old style blue-ys)? If you've had one of those, then all you'd need is an LSO1 form in addition to your application. Any post office that offers the check and send service will have them.

Am one of those PO bods who does lots of check and sends. Feel free to PM me if you want any help?

You need GPs dates of birth for the children if their parents were born in 1983 or later.

Ah right, I was just about to comment saying that I've recently applied for children's first passports and definitely didn't need to include grandparent's dobs!
Then saw this and realised it'll be because I was born before 1983 and I'm probably classed as old, lol.
I sympathise, passport applying is a complete pain in the arse. You feel like banging your head off the wall when they come back with some other tiny minor thing when you think you've done it all correctly and they send you back off to do it again!

I work there. You'll be hard pushed to get these in time. Normal renewals take a matter of days atm but first timers with a lost parent passport will be very difficult.

The post office fuck up check and send a lot. Not worth the money imo, just read the pamphlet you get.

I posted off a child renewal and adult renewal with change of surname two weeks ago, and recieved them back mid-week, so about a 10 day turn around. Quicker as it turned out than trying to get an appointment at the "nearest" passport office. There's definitely a need for one in the middle of the country.

Eight will it be more efficient for me to apply for mine, fast track, get it back and then put my new passport number on DDS and then send them fast track?
Our local office is Peterborough, we are very local and it's showing 7-14ish appointments a day. I hope it's the same come Monday.
I have grandparents details now (but not birth certificates) and their dads passport number.
Lizt I had to pay for a 'premium' extortionate service to get it next working day.
Yaniwoo that's is reassuring thank you, yes it was a purple one and due to expire soon anyway. I have submitted the form, they called me and it's been cancelled.
Does this mean that they have located it on their records so the ref number they have given me will link me to it?

I am an idiot forgetting to NC back from an old thread argh!!

Check and send at the PO allowed me to send the wrong birth certificate for dd - they let me send the short version and not the one with parent's names. I will be claiming my £10 fee back - I am capable of ballsing up my own application without paying the post office to do it for me. Have had to send bc separately, which is slowing up the process.

Finding someone to counter sign was surprisingly hard as it has to be a professional who is not related to you. What is wrong with the signature of a shop assistant or cleaner. What makes a doctor or teacher a better candidate? I think this is a horrible, judgy request.

I have recently done three passports and it was a turnaround of less than a week although these were renewals.

You can use your hairdresser as a counter signature.

Thank you Yanni - I'm on annual leave this week so going to have another attempt. I may well be in touch!

missmoomoo I don't have a guarantor for the photos. My aunts don't have passports and optician or minister wasn't on the list. Had to get a form for in lieu of a guarantor and had to wait until I got down there.

I'm actually thinking it will be easier and quicker to get my DDs canadian passports instead of British ones once my passport has come through.

After DH and couldn't terms signatories both went over lines I'm now having to do all the British passport forms again. DH renewal and DDs first passports. Just done most of the stuff online now so waiting for DH to meet his friend again (4th time now) to get counter signator. Such a faff.

optician or minister wasn't on the list

Assuming by "the list" you mean "Accepted occupations for countersignatories", then scrolling down to M yields:

minister of a recognised religion - including Christian Science

and two notches lower down

optician.

See here.

Sorry but I found the process easy.

I have just applied for 3 passport renewals, ( including one lost passport). The forms were straightforward and clear, the new passports arrived within seven days of applying.

Brilliant service.

ricardian we were discussing the Canadian passport list there :) getting a counter signator for a british passport has never been a problem. Just need to make.sure DH friend keeps it all within the bloody box.

littlemaemae I wouldn't know without seeing the letter, but I'd submit as much information as you can. (And when your new passport arrives scan it onto your computer so you've always got the pp number to hand). Good luck with your application. They're coming back quite fast lately.

AvaLeStrange you're welcome. I swear the passport office helpdesk must know me by voice now. I hate giving out wrong information and seem to ring them on a weekly basis!

The counter signature think is a total pain.

WipsGlitter Do you know anyone with a degree? My Co-Sig works in a corner shop, but happens to have a Bachelors Degree so she's able to countersign.

crazywriter one of the reasons I got a Canadian one was the hassle of getting a passport in a country other than you are. PITA!

I need to renew my passport, its just gone out of date and i need to change it to my married name.

I was born in 1987.

Dh has a in date passport and was born in 1978.

Dd is 3 years old so i need to appy for her first passport.

Will i need grandparents birth certificates to apply for dds passport?

This will be a right pain if thats the case.

I need to find someone to sign both of mine and dds passports and the only person i know who could do it is my local car garage were i have taken my car for the last 10 years.

I feel so cheeky and uncomfortable asking someone to sign our passports as i feel like im putting people out.

SaveSomeSpendSome

No you won't, as you've already held a passport (out of date or no) and your DH is born pre '83.

I need to find someone to sign both of mine

Do you? The criteria are:

Get your application form and 1 of your photos signed by someone else to prove your identity if either:

you can’t be recognised from the photo in your existing passport

you’re replacing a lost, stolen or damaged passport

If your appearance hasn't changed too radically from your previous passport, it doesn't need counter-signing.

Ahhh i never knew that! I always thought you had to have a counter signer for everytime you re newed it!

I ve never renewed a passort which is why im clueless