How long for new UK passport after marriage?

[Roosterwife 0]

Hello fellow VJ-ers and UKC's:

I am a UKC H1B recently married to a USC and about to apply for AOS.

I need to get a new UK passport in my married name and was wondering if anyone knew roughly how long it would take at this time of the year?

I am currently without any official photo ID in my married name (been trying to get a new SS card in the married name but am stuck in manual verification hell!) so I want to get this done asap so I can start changing my accounts etc over to the new name.

I imagine that with the summer over it shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks, but I just wanted to check to see if anyone had any experience or info to share as I'd like to minimise the amount of time I am without my passport. I feel lost without it!

Many thanks.

[Dr_LHA 3]

When I had my passport renewed at the UK Embassy in Washington, it took 7 days from Fedexing it, to receiving my new passport. That was a couple of years ago however, and in March.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I did mine this time last year and it took 10 days from the day I mailed it.... I sent mine by USPS and had no problems....

Good Luck

Kezzie

[Roosterwife 0]

Thanks for your input. I'll be Fedexing my application off to Washington on Monday.

[Jo1973 0]

This may seem a silly question, but on the Passport form, at the end you have to get 2 photo's (or the form) countersigned by a UK Citizen, what happens if you don't know of anyone who is a UK Citizen?

I will need to renew mine in 2009 so I am not worrying too much about it at this stage, but was just wondering what everyone else did etc.

Thanks

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I had to call the phone line to ask about that.... I was told it is ok to get a USC to sign as long as they are a person of standing... i.e Doctor, lawyer, Teacher. they dont have to have known you for 2 years but they must know you in an official capacity...

I used our lawyer.. she had only known me for 3 months...

Kezzie

[Dr_LHA 3]

Agreed with Kezzie, I got my boss to sign for me.

[Roosterwife 0]

Just to let you know, I Fedexed my passport application to the British Embassy on Monday and got my new passport back this morning.

The office called me on Tuesday to let me know that 48-page passports won't be available till mid-2007 and to ask me what I wanted to do since I had applied for one. In the end, I got the regular size which is a completely new design with a stiff cardboard photo page with a electronic chip embedded in the back. Very high tech!

Anyway, just wanted to let any other UKCs out there what the waiting time is for a new passport. Fast and efficient service - as it should be for 188 bucks!