Shabby Looking passport replacement question

[woohoo25 28]

So my fiance thinks he needs to replace his passport because it's not in good condition and I've read the London embassy is picky about that. He has a lot of stamps from travels in it and wants to know if that's going to cause a problem if its replaced. He will have to have to surrender his old one.

Also we both lived in Australia over a year, so he will need a police certificate. So would that mean that he has to use the old passport to get the police certificate, and then replace his passport.

Will any of this be a problem? And which one would be best to do first...police certificate or replace passport?

Thanks! This forum is amazingly helpful.

Edited March 14, 2014 by woohoo25

[nobbie 105]

when you get a new passport you get the old one back with the corner cut off. Do you need a passport to get a police cert, you do not in UK but have no idea about aus. You might need a copy of it so get some done.

[woohoo25 28]

when you get a new passport you get the old one back with the corner cut off. Do you need a passport to get a police cert, you do not in UK but have no idea about aus. You might need a copy of it so get some done.

Thank you for the reply. My fiance is under the impression that you don't get it back at all.

[rhirhi 35]

You do get it back.

Also, is he eager to fly out straight away when he gets his visa? If not, it might be worth chancing it and seeing what the embassy say on the day. My passport had a crease on the bio page (it arrived like that when I ordered it 8 years ago) and had a water stain on the inside back page as well as looking a bit sorry for itself after 8 years and they said nothing. If they had, I didn't need to travel straight away so would have just ordered a new passport, sent it to them and they would then have issued the visa in the new passport.

If he wants to fly right away though, or if his passport really is quite tatty, might as well bite the bullet and get the new one. He'll get the old one back before the new one even arrives.

[woohoo25 28]

Yea we don't want to risk it. I filed January and I'm hoping he will get here end of August when I go off to grad school, ortherwise it will be a logistical nightmare. The words on the front of the passport have rubbed off and I think the pages aren't looking too good. It's not really terrible but I've heard of people getting turned back from smaller things.

How long does it take to change your passport?

[stackeria 280]

https://www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently

[Azsara 110]

So my fiance thinks he needs to replace his passport because it's not in good condition and I've read the London embassy is picky about that. He has a lot of stamps from travels in it and wants to know if that's going to cause a problem if its replaced. He will have to have to surrender his old one.

Also we both lived in Australia over a year, so he will need a police certificate. So would that mean that he has to use the old passport to get the police certificate, and then replace his passport.

Will any of this be a problem? And which one would be best to do first...police certificate or replace passport?

Thanks! This forum is amazingly helpful.

I actually failed my interview in London because the corner of my passport was dog-eared. Was just a bit tatty. I told my fiancé I was worried about it and he said itd be fine, and it wasnt

[Kiwinyc 62]

Apply for the police certificate, then replace the passport. Australia only want it to verify identity, then they run a name and finger print check. YES - make sure your fiance get the Police Cert with name AND finger print check, that what the Embassy requires. Its a major PITA but I had to do it as I lived there over two years so I had to mail the application and finger prints down to Australia from London. (I went to Scotland Yard to have mine done - cost an £70 pounds or so)

[woohoo25 28]

Apply for the police certificate, then replace the passport. Australia only want it to verify identity, then they run a name and finger print check. YES - make sure your fiance get the Police Cert with name AND finger print check, that what the Embassy requires. Its a major PITA but I had to do it as I lived there over two years so I had to mail the application and finger prints down to Australia from London. (I went to Scotland Yard to have mine done - cost an £70 pounds or so)

How long does it usually take for the police certificate?

[Kiwinyc 62]

They say how long it normally takes (about 6 weeks I think) but I got mine back in 3-4 weeks. So give yourself plenty of lead time.

[bluebird74 34]

Really? They're picky about some tears? Wow. My wife's passport looks brand new (1 year old), but what bothers me is whether or not she should get a new one before her interview. She took my last name and her passport bares her maiden name. Do any of you guys know whether or not it would be required of her to get a new passport in her married name before getting her visa, or it will be ok to get that visa in the current passport?