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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Urgent passport anxiety. AIBU?

29 replies

nonamesleftatall · 12/07/2020 18:20

So, yesterday I found out that my Father who lives overseas (for most of the year) was taken very unwell in to hospital. Basically I need to travel to where he lives asap, however I am a single parent with two children (6) and (8).

I knew my DDs passport had expired in April, however with everything Covid-19 related I was in no rush to renew as we had no plans to go abroad and the website said only urgent passport applications be submitted.

I checked yesterday and no fast track or premium service available. I called the helpline today and they took details for the passport office to call me back. He said hopefully today but no guarantee. I had called at 9:00am and when I didn't hear back (they close at 4pm), I called again at 3.30pm. Heard nothing still. The second man I spoke to was quite direct with me and said when they do call they will want proof of what has happened etc. Well my Father lives alone and is 75 so I am not sure what I can provide. I was contacted via telephone by the hospital but they are not that helpful either.

Basically I haven't slept all night and am going crazy. I have no one to leave my DD with. My Fathers illness means that he is now unable to speak. I have no control over when the passport office will call back and even when they do whether they will help me. Do I go to work tomorrow?

AIBU to just turn up at the office? Click yes if you think they'll just turn me away and no if you think they may see me? Also has anyone needed an urgent passport during this time?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 12/07/2020 18:22

Is there noone you can leave the kids with? You can't just turn up at a passport office, they will turn you away

cultkid · 12/07/2020 18:23

Leave the children and go alone
You poor poor thing xx

ChipotleBlessing · 12/07/2020 18:25

I haven’t needed a passport but I did need something else from the foreign office and although it took them a few days to get back to me, it was dealt with very quickly once they acknowledged it was urgent.

Is there no one at all who could have your daughter? It sounds like you need to travel more urgently than they’re likely to process a passport.

heartsonacake · 12/07/2020 18:25

The turnaround is fairly fast; it would be quicker to fill in the application and send it off rather than trying to mess around with contacting the passport office.

And no, you can’t just turn up; they’ll turn you away.

PinkiOcelot · 12/07/2020 18:31

I’ve just renewed DDs passport and it took about 3 weeks to come back. That wasn’t fast track though. I hope you get sorted and your dad is ok x

RedCatBlueCat · 12/07/2020 18:37

Oh, my love.
I'm not surprised you are panicking.
I would go for a 3 pronged attack.

  1. hope that tomorrow (Monday, when hopefully some decision makers are in the office) you get a call back and can rush through an application for you. Pull together all the info you will need to do a passport application, line up a person to countersign the photos if required. If they tell you that a full application is required, you will be all set to do that to.
  2. I'm sure you have done this, but look at a way to leave the kids in the UK and go see your Dad alone.
  3. look at flights, and start gathering what you will need - masks for travel etc, so you are ready to go when the paperwork is sorted. Will you need to quarantine on your return? Also let work know what is going on.

This is going to sound callus and impossible, but panicking isnt going help anyone. Try and take some emotion out of it and focus on what might be possible, rather than what isnt possible.

FlowersDaffodilFlowers

MarioPuzo · 12/07/2020 18:40

Can your children stay with a friend for a day or two? It's a big ask but obviously this is an emergency so I'm sure another family would be willing to help.

Would you even be able to give attention to your father and make medical decisions if you bring two children there to an unfamiliar place? You'd have to arrange a place for them to sleep, food, entertainment for them etc.

22Giraffes · 12/07/2020 18:40

@cultkid What do you mean leave the children? They are 6&8, and OP has said there is no one to leave them with Confused

dementedpixie · 12/07/2020 18:44

if they were going to accept a one off fast track then you will need a paper application and 2 passport photos. As she is under 12 you would also need someone to countersign the application. Get all your paperwork together

Suze1621 · 12/07/2020 18:44

In terms of proof, would the hospital email anything so you have also got this ready

lanthanum · 12/07/2020 18:46

Don't be afraid to ask the kids' friends' parents, assuming there are some you trust. It's a big ask, but you can say that, and say that you'll understand if they can't, especially with all the covid concerns. However there may be one who will happily have them, given the circumstances. Too often people don't get the help they need because nobody knows they need the help.

Newnamenewopenme · 12/07/2020 18:47

Get the forms filled in completely tomorrow morning so that it’s all ready to go. Hopefully they will fit you in!

Cheeseandwin5 · 12/07/2020 18:49

I did a fast track passport and got it back the same day.
Costs a bomb though.
You need to go online and book an appointment asap

2bazookas · 12/07/2020 18:49

Your children have friends. Ask around the friends mothers, I'm sure one or maybe two will keep your children while you fly to your father.

Taking the children along would be a hopeless stress for you, them and your father; what on earth could you do with two kids in a hospital where he's seriously ill etc.

dementedpixie · 12/07/2020 18:50

There are no fast track appointments at the moment, that's the issue

rottiemum88 · 12/07/2020 18:52

They're not accepting fast track applications right now. I applied for a passport on 17 June and just received it on Friday, so just over 3 weeks

nitgel · 12/07/2020 18:53

The turnaround is TV quick. We just did ours. They were back within the week. I was v surprised.

nitgel · 12/07/2020 18:53

Argh very not TV

TW2013 · 12/07/2020 18:54

Will they even let the children into the hospital? I would check before you travel as it might be easier to ask friends parents than have to find childcare in a different country.

SuperficialSuzie · 12/07/2020 18:59

Definitely ask your children's friends parents, when something similar happened to a friend, we all rallied round and came up with a rota of people (that the children knew well) to stay at their house and look after them.

It may seem like a big ask but you will be surprised how willing people are to help in an emergency.

Original poster
nonamesleftatall · 12/07/2020 19:25

I have a friend who lives in Sweden who will be flying to meet me and have the children there when we (hopefully) arrive. I may need to stay with my dad longer term as he has had a severe stroke and wasn't found for quite some time. It isn't practical for me to leave the children with friends as they moved to a new school in September and obviously haven't been in since March and also they have never stayed away from home. I just hope they call me back tomorrow.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 12/07/2020 19:36

In the meantime get paperwork and photos sorted and find a countersignatory

maryberryslayers · 12/07/2020 19:49

Could you apply for an emergency travel document instead? It looks like it's usually for travel from overseas but given the situation you may be able to obtain one to leave the country as an emergency. You'll need a signed consent letter from the other parent though if that's possible for you?
www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document/how-to-apply
Failing that just keep calling hourly, you'll eventually get through to someone who can help, it really is pot luck.
Tweet them also, they are responsive.
Good luck

Original poster
nonamesleftatall · 12/07/2020 20:05

I will look in to the emergency travel document. That is very helpful. Thanks.

OP posts:
RedCatBlueCat · 12/07/2020 21:23

You are in the UK I assume. An emergency travel document will only be granted to British citizens stranded overseas.

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