The Lemon Fool

I’m due to make a trip to the Wife’s family in Crimea at the end of the month.

On checking my passport last week it is due to expire in 5 months. Gah!!!!

Without much hope, I applied for my passport to be renewed and fast tracked.

To my absolute amazement, it arrived today. I’m sure it wasn’t that long ago that they had a backlog and it was taking a number of months to get it back.

Phew! Very happy. Something is working in this Country for a change.

HYD

Speedy response from even just the standard service has been reported recently: viewtopic.php?p=635914#p635914

For me, 8 calendar days, including a Sunday, a bank holiday (New Year) and an extra day 'cos I was a cheapskate and used 2nd class post....

Renewed mine just under a year ago, when the long waits were being reported. New one arrived about a week or so after sending in the application.

It probably helps that I'm not a person of concern to the police or spooks, and that my name and mugshot were entirely recognisable from my previous passport.

UncleEbenezer wrote:Renewed mine just under a year ago, when the long waits were being reported. New one arrived about a week or so after sending in the application.

It probably helps that I'm not a person of concern to the police or spooks, and that my name and mugshot were entirely recognisable from my previous passport.

I doubt that you are on a list of people of concern, if this guy isn't:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/0 ... y-of-lies/

Arsimi Murati, 46, successfully appealed an attempt by the Home Secretary to strip him of his citizenship after he falsely claimed to be Kosovan to stay in the UK and failed to disclose he had served a long jail sentence for armed robbery in Albania.

I renewed my British passport last week. I used a photographic shop for the photo. They email a link to the Gov website. It took about 10 minutes to apply online, and another 10 to package up my old passport to send to the Passport Office. It was all done and dusted within about 4 days. Royal Mail even told me my passport was being delivered at 3.00pm, so I went out in the morning and when I got back the envelope was on the door mat (inside).

UncleEbenezer wrote:It probably helps that I'm not a person of concern to the police or spooks, and that my name and mugshot were entirely recognisable from my previous passport.

Help! My passport mugshot (as augmented by all the holograms and stuff) makes me look quite a lot like Ronnie Biggs!

He's dead, of course. Well, that's what they're telling you......

BJ

The passport improvement was mentioned in the budget.

If only all the other gov departments had the same improvement.

bungeejumper wrote:

UncleEbenezer wrote:It probably helps that I'm not a person of concern to the police or spooks, and that my name and mugshot were entirely recognisable from my previous passport.

Help! My passport mugshot (as augmented by all the holograms and stuff) makes me look quite a lot like Ronnie Biggs!

He's dead, of course. Well, that's what they're telling you......

BJ

Well, it's only funny until you pass through an airport. The face recognition cameras and software are extremely efficient.

So to avoid any embarrassing incidents, I suggest wearing a black balaclava when you walk through security. Maybe a striped jumper and one of those new fashionable duffle bags from the French fashion house 'SWAG'?

Steve

Those facial recognition whatsits are not really very good. Most operators deliberately ignore the shade, they get paid to get as many people through as quickly as possible and that's one way to do it.

Is HYD back from Crimea yet? I'm fascinated to hear how that trip went.

Leo