British Consulate Florida

andy208833

I am off to florida in May. When we went a few years ago i am sure there was a website where you registered with the embassy/consulate that you were in florida for 'emergency' purposes. Does this still exist?

I have checked the uk.gov website and cant seem to find this anywhere. Is it because the orlando office is now closed?

rochja

There is an advisory that whatever country you are in you register your presence at the embassy or consulate. This information can then be used in the event of a disaster to rapidly establish that you are indeed dead. There is no requirement to register. If you must then I think emailing UKinFlorida@fco.gov.uk should do the trick. The office is now in Miami

agrinnall

You used to be able to register your travel plans and contact details on the FCO website. However, I can't see an obvious place to do it any more, and I have a vague memory that the service might have been withdrawn.

rochja

The FCO website scheme has indeed been withdrawn. If you are in a crisis, are still alive and still have access to a phone then:
if you need consular assistance, call the FCO on (+44) (0) 207 008 1500.

I bet you have got that one saved on your phone!

Voyager2002

rochja wrote: »

The FCO website scheme has indeed been withdrawn. If you are in a crisis, are still alive and still have access to a phone then:
if you need consular assistance, call the FCO on (+44) (0) 207 008 1500.

I bet you have got that one saved on your phone!

If I were in a crisis and had a 'phone, I would not bother calling the FCO! Local friends and/or my insurance company would be my immediate priorities, but I expect that my friend's pet hamster would be a good deal more effective than the FCO.

PompeyPete

All our Consular Services have to be paid for by the taxpayer. Trouble is it's all very expensive, and there are too many tw*ts about who think the FCO have got nothing better to do.

All the information provided by the FCO is online, and takes a couple of seconds to find...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-british-nationals-abroad-a-guide

Read on for some of the stupid things that Consulates have to deal with...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2325418/Foreign-Office-releases-list-bizarre-requests-overseas-staff-receive.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15654414

- A man asked consular staff in Stockholm to check the credentials of a woman whom he had met online.

- A number of British Consulates have been asked to book hotels or to advise on where to watch the football.

- A man asked staff in Rome to translate a phrase for a tattoo that he wanted.

- A man required hospital treatment in Cambodia when a stone dislodged by a monkey hit him. He demanded help getting compensation and wanted an assurance that it would not happen again.

- A man called the consulate in Florida to report that there were ants in his holiday villa and asked for advice on what he should do.

- A lady complained to the embassy in Moscow about a loud buzzing noise in her apartment.

- A man asked a consulate in Greece for information on how to go about putting a chicken coop in his garden.

- A man asked consular staff in Dubai to meet his dog on arrival at customs and help it through the customs process.

- A caller asked staff in Malaga in mid-September where she could get a Christmas lunch as everywhere was already booked up.

- Staff in Greece were asked for tips on the best fishing spots and where to purchase good bait.

The list of stupid requests that waste our money is endless, and having been at the sharp end, they're endless and relentless.

PompeyPete

The Aussies are just as bad. This is a good one...

As political chaos spread across Egypt, a QANTAS jet chartered by the government prepared to airlift hundreds of Australians out of Cairo. One couple on board had a burning question for the Aussie Consular Staff. Could they claim frequent flyer points on the free evacuation flight?

duchy

Bet they were flyertalkers !!

(https://www.flyertalk.com )

Mighty_Hunter

With all the information currently available on the various websites it is rather diffiicult to grasp that in fact the British Consulate in Orlando closed on 30 Jan 14 and all consular services have been transferred to the British Consulate in Miami. In the words of the 'transferred' consul in the press shortly afterwards, the FCO decision was taken 'to provide a better service to customers'. Consequently if a British tourist loses or has stolen his/her passport, or indeed if the passport has been eaten by an aligator, since 30 Jan 14 it has been necessary to go in person to Miami (approx 220 miles/3+ hours drive) in order to obtain emergency replacement travel documents; alternatively one could always go to the Embassy in Washington or to the Consulate in New York instead. Many of the local authorities (tour operators, police and airlines' staff) seem to be unaware of the closure too. In view of the number of British tourists who visit Orlando etc (as opposed to Miami) each year it seems a little short-sighted of the FCO - but should one really be surprised? Posted on 26 May 14.