"Damaged" passport?

morningtheft

I'm in the UK on a 10-year US passport that expires in 2015.

I sent my passport to the US embassy in London a couple of weeks ago to have extra pages added, as I was coming to the end of it.

I just got a letter back saying that because of the 'poor condition' of my passport, they are holding it in their office until I pay $75 to have a new passport made.

I assume by 'poor condition' they are referring to a couple of very minor marks on it (water damage). These marks have been on the passport for three years and are purely cosmetic - they do not impact anyone's ability to read it. I've travelled with it dozens of times during this period and no immigration officer has ever commented on it...

Anyway, I am due to travel in three weeks' time and I'm very worried about getting my passport/a new passport back in time. I know there's an emergency passport service, but according to the US embassy website, there are not any appointments available until June, which baffles me.

A. Will I be able to get my passport back in time?
B. Does the US embassy have the right to confiscate my passport and make me pay for a new one because of MINOR cosmetic damage?

Mr_Lahey

morningtheft wrote: »

I'm in the UK on a 10-year US passport that expires in 2015.

I sent my passport to the US embassy in London a couple of weeks ago to have extra pages added, as I was coming to the end of it.

I just got a letter back saying that because of the 'poor condition' of my passport, they are holding it in their office until I pay $75 to have a new passport made.

I assume by 'poor condition' they are referring to a couple of very minor marks on it (water damage). These marks have been on the passport for three years and are purely cosmetic - they do not impact anyone's ability to read it. I've travelled with it dozens of times during this period and no immigration officer has ever commented on it...

Anyway, I am due to travel in three weeks' time and I'm very worried about getting my passport/a new passport back in time. I know there's an emergency passport service, but according to the US embassy website, there are not any appointments available until June, which baffles me.

A. Will I be able to get my passport back in time?
B. Does the US embassy have the right to confiscate my passport and make me pay for a new one because of MINOR cosmetic damage?

The US are one of the worlds most anal countries in that often their bureaucracy is staggering. After the events of 9/11 the US has been on panic watch and you only have to cough at US immigration for everyone to dive for cover.

The point being its probable that the embassy staff are simply ticking a few boxes and dotting a few I's. I doubt there is any way to get back your passport without agreeing and paying the fee. You should consider getting it done express since 3 weeks may not be adequate time for the embassy to renew and reissue the passport.

morningtheft

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

The US are one of the worlds most anal countries in that often their bureaucracy is staggering. After the events of 9/11 the US has been on panic watch and you only have to cough at US immigration for everyone to dive for cover.

The point being its probable that the embassy staff are simply ticking a few boxes and dotting a few I's. I doubt there is any way to get back your passport without agreeing and paying the fee. You should consider getting it done express since 3 weeks may not be adequate time for the embassy to renew and reissue the passport.

Do you know what the fee is for an express passport?

And how do you even get it done? On the US Embassy website, it says you have to make an appointment online to apply in person. On their online appointment system, the next available appointment is sometime in JULY!!! Or if you tick the box that says you need to travel in the next three weeks, the soonest available appointment is in JUNE. Baffling. :huh:

I will of course call them when they're open on Monday but until then, the internet is all I have and I'm panicking. :S

ferf1223

for what it's worth, I applied for my new (well, renewal) US passport in December by mail via the Embassy in London...I had it back in 3 weeks (and that was over the Christmas period where I have to assume that things ran slower than usual)...so I would think it would be possible and it could be that you could note to them that you'd sent it in a few weeks ago and just having had their letter today puts you in a difficult position - so perhaps they can expedite it.

Do they say they are holding it at the Embassy or at the passport office in the US the Embassy would have sent it to? From your post it sounds like it's still at the Embassy - but if it's in the US then at least it's where it needs to be to get the process rolling.