Passport renewal

If it’s the well known photo chain that I think it is, I’m sure it will all be in order. We only had our photos taken by them and they were electronically sent with a reference number to the Passport Office. We sent our old passports to the PO.
The passport office email you when it’s processed and I thought sent it back directly to you.

The last time I renewed my passport I did it all online. OH took my photo and it all worked a treat.

Why are you worried? Has a long time elapsed since you did this and you have heard nothing? You don't say how long ago
your passport was sent away for renewal.

Do you have any particular reason to be so worried? On the face of it it does not seem that you have done anything stupid. You could either contact the photo shop or the passport office with your concerns if you need your passport
urgently or just want information and reassurance.

I know from experience that passport renewal can take quite a long time, especially during the holiday season.

I renewed mine online on 1st August, received the new one in under two weeks.

Lets name names. I had my photo taken by Timpsons, who sent it direct to the passport office and I had my new passport within a fortnight.

Thanks for the reassurance. I'm just worried if it gets lost and the implications.
M0nica, I assume Timpsons sent your old passport for you ?

We went through Timpsons too. Sent our old passports back ourselves though. Very quick turnaround. New passports within the week. That was in February though. Not a very busy time.

We got our photos in Tesco's photo booth and then did the rest online, including the reference number which came with the photos. We sent our old passports back by post. The new ones came very quickly, followed soon by the old ones. That was in November.

I'm sure that you will be fine, Nana56, as Timpson's are probably doing that job regularly. It's bound to take a bit longer in the summer, but the Passport Office does seem to be pretty quick.

I think you’ve done it in the safest way possible. I use Max Spielman for photographs and they’ve always been pretty good.

I did it online but photos were refused several times before I got it right, was a bit of a faff for this reason but quite easy after that.

You can get your photo done at max spielman...they email you a code...then you apply online and put the code in when you get to the photo bit ....easy to track when you've done it online...you get regular text updates

LOUISA1523

You can get your photo done at max spielman...they email you a code...then you apply online and put the code in when you get to the photo bit ....easy to track when you've done it online...you get regular text updates

They also take quite flattering photos too! I started using them after a series of disasters using photo booths.

The booth we used in Tesco was a Max Spielman one! It gives you 10 chances to get a photo you like enough to use. You get the actual photos and a code with them and then use the code in your application.

I have said this before ,but it's true that if you look like your passport photograph, you are not fit to travel.

Nana56 As I remember (it was 6 years ago, so things may have changed) the Timpson man took the photo and sent it off, gave me a code number then I went home, filled the form in online, typing in the code on the request for a photo and sent the old passport back myself.

Did mine at the local Crown post office where they take the picture and check the form is correctly filled in. No problems.

We did ours at a Post Office too, small charge but worth it as you know your photo is accepted and all completed and sent electronically, they return your old passport too. All very efficient.

Cagsy

We did ours at a Post Office too, small charge but worth it as you know your photo is accepted and all completed and sent electronically, they return your old passport too. All very efficient.

My experience exactly

I renewed my passport last year and had hours of fun with the photo. I tried several variations and they used different excuses to refuse it and suggest I go to a photo booth. Eventually I used the "I cant go to a photo booth as I am a disabled non driver and you are discriminating against me" approach. It was approved within 5 minutes of my sending. Its an automated process and you have to fill in the box to make a human look at it.

My DH has a lovely head of white hair. When photographed at Timpsons it disappeared into the light background making him look like an egg with glasses. What a laugh. Eventually the man managed to capture him with his hair too.

I know passport photos are never usually flattering, but had mine taken at the Post Office.
Well,it was dire. I looked like a witch and it was in black and white.
I was shocked as last photo was coloured and much more flattering.
Is black and white the norm now?
Please anyone let me know if their renewal photo was in black and white.
Thanks.

I did mine wholly online myself
The first photo was rejected as was the 2nd but the third was accepted.
It came back very quickly indeed but that was may time not the height of summer

Our photos were in colour, Greciangirl.

Aveline

My DH has a lovely head of white hair. When photographed at Timpsons it disappeared into the light background making him look like an egg with glasses. What a laugh. Eventually the man managed to capture him with his hair too.

As I understand it you can't wear glasses in a passport photo unless things have changed since my last one! Mine is due next year so I will find out then!

I know! I'm happier now in the automatic passport booths as I've had my cataracts done so don't wear glasses. When I had to wear them it was always difficult having to take them off. I couldn't see what to do. I was blind as a bat!