check and send passport

buxtonrabbitgreen

I need to get my DD passport renewed quickly, as she has been invited to go to France with a friend in the summer holidays. Is there any time advantage in paying £7.50 for check and send at the local travel agent. I am confident I have filled out the form correctly. I sent for the originals myself. But I just wondered if it would be returned more quickly with check and send. I need it in 3 weeks.

steveandel

I think it says on the Post Office website that it is usually a 2 week service (but not a guaranteed 2 week service). you can pay a bit more and get a guaranteed quicker turnaround though, or if you happen to be near a passport office you can go in person.

buxtonrabbitgreen

Unfortunately miles away from a passport office. off to get the photos now. I just wanted to know if it might be quicker by check and send.

Janeyjaz

Hello,
it makes no difference to the time the passport takes - just post it and if it is straightforward it will take probably about a week, and save yourself £7.50

rach29

Titch is right it doesn't speed up the process but it does IIRC give you a tracking number so that you can see the progress online.

I have same problem as you & need a passport in 4 weeks. can't decide whether to send it or go in person to the Passport office (what with post strikes 'n all)

hellofreebies

i have renewed three in the last 18 months, one for my dad, two for my children and one for myself all on different occasions and each time they have sent the old passport back to me within 3 to 4 working days and then the new passport is hand deliverd and signed for within 7 days after. is a pretty efficent service and so it should be the amount we have to pay with all the price hikes they have had. each time i have just used special delivery to ensure its signed and recieved by them.

BernadetteN

If you are pretty certain you have not filled the form in incorrectly, I wouldn't bother with the extra checking service.

We have hassle every time we renew our children's passports because I keep my own surname even though we are married and all the kids have the same father. For example, even though 3 kids' passports have already been renewed, the last one to be renewed asked yet again to see our original marriage certificate to prove the kids' nationality! Each time we have had this hassle, the people who answer their helpline have been spot on with thier advice. I have even phoned the helpline for advice for a British child with an Irish dad and American mum to ask for what they needed for proof of residency (to prove nationality of the child) and the advice was good then too. So if you have any doubts about how to fill in the application form, phone the helpline and talk through your application. It's the cost of a phone call which is far cheaper than the checking service.

trets77

personally i would get it checked so then you know for sure it is not going to come back due to a mistake. £7.50 for peace of mind for you holiday is small price to pay.

i made 3 mistakes on mine that i was sure was correctly filled in. fortunatly the post office picked them up and i had my new passport a week later.

affordmylife

I recently had to renew my ds1 and ds2 passports and they were hand delivered within a week. I too was worried about time but it was fine. Check and send only checks they are correct doesnt make them any faster. Mind you I was really impressed. I was expecting it to take much longer. Very pleased with service. Good luck.

rach29

Thanks everyone,

I think I will send it in then rather than pay the extra charges.

Will phone passport agency Monday a.m. though, just to make certain they are still on reasonable timescale what with the holidays fast approaching!

rach29

PS. To the OP,

Even if you are certain you have filled in the form correctly, please ,make CERTAIN that neither yourself or the countersignatory has gone over the lines in the signature boxes. Passport agency WILL decline to issue for this reason. I know 'cos I have fallen foul of this in the past.