Off Topic Holidays

Couldn't agree more, and the women in the Baltic countries are some of the most stunning I've seen. Tallinn in particular.

 

Nothing much there, other than the halls of International Justice, the railway station and a marina. Other than those nothing else springs to mind, though I spent a couple of days there. Always thought the capital of a country was defined as the city where the government sit....Not the largest...ie Washington DC is tiny when compared to New York, LA, Chicago, Houston and many other US cities. Just goes to show!

 

A capital is where the country decides it is going to be. Most are the largest city but a lot are not. Why it is Amsterdam and not The Hague, though The Hague has been more than once and fairly recently is an involved story a lot of which was determined by foreign forces and has nothing to do with it being the largest city.

 

First world problem
I need to renew my passport but I’m struggling to find a ten week gap (which is what they say) when we’re not abroad!
Anyone done it recently and know how long it really took? I can always fast track them…but I’m tight!

 

My other half applied via the Post Office 3 weeks ago where they check before submitting, came back in two weeks Den

 

Thanks Les

 

Two weeks for me anarl, a year ago when the shock, horror panic stories of you'll never see your passport back again were at their height.

As I understand it, straightforward renewals are, umm, straightforward, whilst new applications, lost passports etc take longer.

 

Cheers
I spoke to someone in their advice line which, in a shocking departure for a Govt department, was easy and really useful
They say 10 weeks, but if you don’t have it back in 6 you can pay to upgrade to 1 week fast pass.
So I just need to figure out when to do it.

 

You do live life on the edge!

 

Someone I know booked flights to the USA
It’s then come about before the Donald left office he put in some legislation anyone who’s been to Cuba in the previous ten years is banned from entering the USA

there doesn’t appear to be a way round it
Tonnes of calls to the US Embassy and our foreign office etc etc

he’s got a meeting in London at the US embassy next week to plead his case

clusterfuck

 

I thought you could go, but you needed an actual visa instead of an ESTA.
Maybe that takes longer which is his problem?

 

I thought it was ok as it expires in Nov so was going to do it after holidays in March and April, as just had 6 months left on for those, but I’ve just booked to see Weller in Amsterdam in May and it dawned on me I won’t have 6 months left for that, and not much gaps between the three.

Why the bloody hell passports don’t work until the date they actually expire is beyond me.

 

That's bob on Den, I'm heading to The States in May and was in Cuba last year.

 

Did you attend the US embassy?

 

2 Days. Mind you, I don't suppose you've got Swedish citizenship do you Den?

 

I've recently used the Post Office 'Digital Check & Send' service. https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/renew-adult-passport
It costs £16 (on top of the passport fee obvs), BUT for that they take your photo for you, enter all the info from your old passport onto the digital renewal form and send it, post your old passport off for you. All done in about 10 minutes tops while you are there. Takes all the hassle out of it, and for not much more than if you did it all yourself (getting a new photo, postage, envelope, time, hassle). You then get regular update emails &/or texts as the renewal progresses. My application was 19th January. I've got alerts to say application and then old passport received. Highly recommended.

 

Interesting to see the answer
Killing time on a train so had a look, and amazingly it does seem to suggest you have to, to get interviewed
And it’s £140+
https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/tourism-visitor/the-interview/

 

EDIT.
Spooky!!! 10 mins after posting this I received another alert saying my renewal application has been processed and approved!!! They just need now to send me the new passport.
I had heard it was 2 to 3 weeks in practice atm, which based on my experience seems like it will be the case.
Now to book a holiday with some sun

 

Everything seems really quick now, just had my driving licence renewal (reqd every 10 years) didn't need a new photo as they link to your passport photo, new one came in 2 days.