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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Worried about passport situation

21 replies

PassThePortMrsNorris · 05/11/2022 15:58

I have more than one passport. I needed to renew my British one and there's a problem with it. They've asked me to withdraw my application, sort out the issue and reapply. That's all OK. Annoying, and the problem is so minor and pernickety, but OK. Fortunately, I don't have any holidays booked overseas, so I can live without the British one being renewed which is lucky.

My worry is that they have my old British and my other passports! I called them and asked them to send them back and they said they would. Then I called to see where they were and they told me they actually shouldn't have told me they would send them back as they need a written request to releàse rhem. They sound completely disorganised and segmented. One department can tell me what the problem is, but the other department is the one who sorts out the problem, while another department is the only ones I can actually talk to.

Anyway, I've been told that to get my passports back, I have to post them a letter withdrawing my application and requesting my passports back.

I'm panicking now as, if I need ID or proof I can work in the UK, I need my old British passport or my other passports to travel overseas if anything urgent comes up.

I'm so annoyed with myself for applying when it actually wasn't necessary. Now they're hanging on to them at the minute and it's a horrible feeling. I'm not applying for another British passport again unless I absolutely have to.

Has anyone else had this and how long did it take to get your passports back after you withdrew the application?

OP posts:

Original poster

PassThePortMrsNorris · 05/11/2022 16:24

Hopeful bump!

I know this is quite boring for aibu btw, but at least you know it's genuine 😂. Since the only other thread I've posted on today turned out to be one by a PBP, that's something at least 😁

OP posts:

sakura06 · 05/11/2022 16:32

This sounds so bizarre! Why do they need to keep your passports if the application is withdrawn?! I would keep phoning to be honest. Perhaps ask to escalate to a supervisor? You have my sympathies! DH spent 3 hours on hold to the Passport Office over our daughter's passport.

Bramshott · 05/11/2022 16:35

Sounds like a total bureaucratic mess, but before panicking, why not send them a letter (by recorded delivery if it makes you feel better and they haven't specifically said not to) confirming that you would like to withdraw your application and would like your passports returned to you.

I guess they are trying to guard against a situation where you are sending them an amended/new application and actually you want them to keep the passports in order to process that more quickly.

Original poster

PassThePortMrsNorris · 05/11/2022 16:38

Thank you. I've been on the phone to them so much! They need something in writing or apparently they hang on to the passports even though they won't process my application. It's awful.

I've now sent them a letter asking them to give me back my passports, so fingers crossed they will, but I'm actually a bit shaken by it, which sounds dramatic I know. Also, some of them seem totally imcompetent and the departments are so segregated, I'm really worried theyre going to lose them! I don't have a British birth certificate, so I can't prove I have the right to work here without a passport i don't think..? I'm jobhunting right now and very worried. I have an old scan of my passport and I do have a UK drivers license so maybe it will be ok

OP posts:

SeasonFinale · 05/11/2022 16:45

The reality is the application is still in progress and therefore they hold the passports until it is sorted. They ain't just cancel or withdraw an application by a phone call who frankly could be anyone. That is why you need to wite in to confirm that you are withdrawing the application.

Upon receipt they return passports to you by signed for post. It's not that big a deal.

SeasonFinale · 05/11/2022 16:45

can't not ain't!!

Original poster

PassThePortMrsNorris · 05/11/2022 16:50

I suppose that makes sense that they can't just return my passport to anyone. Bit they asked me a tonne of questions to pass security and I wasn't asking them to send it to some random address; just the home address they already have for me.

They also said they were going to send it and then it didn't appear. I am lucky that I don't need the British one, but I will be in a bit of a pickle if I don't get my other ones back. I'm annoyed with myself as I thought I was being organised by getting a new British one even though I don't strictly need it right now and I absolutely shouldn't have bothered. Lesson learnt I think!

OP posts:

user1494050295 · 05/11/2022 16:55

Yes had to send in my uk alongside my Aust when I renewed. All fine. Took a couple of weeks. Registered post

Lavendersummer · 05/11/2022 16:56

If you don’t get them back go and see/write to your Mp. They should help you sort it.

Original poster

PassThePortMrsNorris · 05/11/2022 17:06

Lavendersummer · 05/11/2022 16:56

If you don’t get them back go and see/write to your Mp. They should help you sort it.

Thanks, I'll do that if I have to.

Hopefully they'll just send them back soon though and I won't have to!

@user1494050295 thanks. That's good to know. I'm sure I've not had to do this before. I've always had more than one passport, but I don't remember having to send them all in when I've renewed before. But maybe I'm wrong there as I haven't had fo renew for ages.

I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, but honestly, the conversations I've had with them just don't inspire confidence. One person said he could tell me the problem but I'd have to phone someone else to get the passports back. Spoke to them and they said they'd send them back. Didn't appear so phoned someone else who said maybe the issue could be sorted without sending them back, then I'd get a missed call from the person who could tell me what the problem is but I had to call back another number where I got put through to people who couldn't tell me what the problem is... anyway, I am sure it will all be fine and I'll try the scans with any potential new employers.

OP posts:

MrsCarson · 05/11/2022 17:10

YANBU they need to change things. Why would there be a problem if they have your old passport as well as your foreign one.
I had to apply for Dd's new UK passport recently, turns out they need to see her current foreign one as she was born abroad. So had to send that after they requested it. All good so I though. Then they sent her new UK one to us and said other documents may take 2 weeks, OK I'm fine with that. However they sent it back with her old UK passport in a flimsy envelope that was ripped on arrival through normal post. Not like the new passport was sent. I am still annoyed about it. It could have easily fallen out and been lost. No security unless it's for their own passports apparently.

PhillySub · 05/11/2022 17:14

Do as they have said and send a letter asking for the return of your passport. If anybody asks tell them who has them.

Mamarsupial · 05/11/2022 17:18

You absolutely did the right thing to sort this out when you don’t need your passport for anything. Imagine the stress of trying to sort this with a travel deadline! Your driving license (coupled with utility bills / bank statements) should be fine for ID for pretty much anything.

emptythelitterbox · 05/11/2022 17:27

Why not just reapply with the correction while they have it and then you'll be done with it?

Original poster

PassThePortMrsNorris · 05/11/2022 17:33

emptythelitterbox · 05/11/2022 17:27

Why not just reapply with the correction while they have it and then you'll be done with it?

The problem involves one of the other passports, so they won't give me a new British one till that's been changed to meet their standards, even though the other passport is fine, legal. It's wording on it they want changed.

They briefly thought it might be OK to just change it, but then changed their minds / spoke to one of their many other departments who said it couldn't be done.

@MrsCarson that's what worries me! They honestly didn't sound like they knew what the hell was going on when I spoke to them, so it worries me they'll just do something stupid with my passports.

If worst comes to worst I'll have reapply for the other ones and report them as lost or something which is going to be an expensive arse pain. Bloody hope that doesn't happen though!

OP posts:

emptythelitterbox · 05/11/2022 17:48

Yikes sounds like a mess.

I think I'd still get it all straightened out now so you won't have to do it later.

unsync · 05/11/2022 18:38

When you redo your application, just send a colour copy of your other passport. I did this, they only need the information to include on the notes section.

Original poster

PassThePortMrsNorris · 05/11/2022 21:05

unsync · 05/11/2022 18:38

When you redo your application, just send a colour copy of your other passport. I did this, they only need the information to include on the notes section.

Thanks, I'll ask them. I'm pretty reluctant to let them have the originals again.

OP posts:

mushroomrice · 05/11/2022 21:25

unsync · 05/11/2022 18:38

When you redo your application, just send a colour copy of your other passport. I did this, they only need the information to include on the notes section.

This is what I did too. Colour photocopy of all pages.

Amicompletelyinsane · 05/11/2022 21:33

It's all madness. The letter should work. I had a childs one being done. They'd done the other children's, but I got a text saying they'd got the birth certificate. Then I got weeks of Messages saying to send it. When I called it was a diff department. So I had to write to say that they already had the birth certificate. It got sorted out as soon as they got the letter so fingers cross your letter works

MrsCarson · 05/11/2022 21:53

unsync · 05/11/2022 18:38

When you redo your application, just send a colour copy of your other passport. I did this, they only need the information to include on the notes section.

I wanted to send colour copies of Dd's other passport But this is a clip of th4 email I recieved.
We need you to send the original document (or colour photocopy if applying from overseas) so we can check if the name matches the name you’ve asked us to show on your British passport.

Of course it matches it's not her first UK passport it's her 3rd one and they had her birth certificate and proof of UK citizenship and all sorts in the past. Bloody annoying we couldn't send copies here in UK.

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