Opinions on whether to replace passport or not

[Deleted User]

Please delete.

pendragon_arther

Pay a bit extra and do it through the Post Office's express service.

PeacefulWaters

1) I wouldn't change it.

2) If I was changing it, I'd be comfortable with a ten week gap available.

jackieblack

How long has your passport got left until it expires?

If it helps, I sent off my daughter's passport renewal on 5th May at about 4.30pm, it was signed for at passport office at about 11am on 6th, they took the payment on the 7th, the new passport was issued on the 8th and landed on my doormat on the morning of 9th.

Don't waste your money using the Post Office's Check & Send service, it doesn't give you any kind of express service and I know several people who have used it and still had, for example, the photos rejected or were told the form was incomplete (despite having been 'checked' by Post Office counter staff)

Voyager2002

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hey everyone!


I called the passport help line and the woman said if it was her she wouldn't get it changed and that the damage to her sounded like nothing to be concerned about, but I'm flying out at the end of July so I'd rather not miss out on a holiday for the sake of a crease.
/QUOTE]

So you have already taken expert advice, of far greater value than any opinion you will get from a discussion board like this.

Anyway, where are you going? If it is somewhere like Syria they might be sensitive about the condition of your passport, but for a mainstream holiday destination this will not be an issue: if in doubt, check with the embassy of the country concerned.

[Deleted User]

No and I appreciate that, I'm just worrying over nothing. I'm going to Malta and then Iceland in October. Planning a trip to Mexico early next year too.

jackieblack

How long has your current passport got left until it expires?

[Deleted User]

Sorry forgot to say, I've had it just over a year so it's pretty new.

jackieblack

So I guess whether it's worth getting it renewed now depends on whether you're going to spend the next 8+ years stressing about it every time you plan to travel vs £72.50

badskindollheart

Given that passports are intended to last many years, immigration officers will expect a reasonable degree of wear and tear. They are specifically looking for evidence of tampering. What you're describing seems pretty minimal but without seeing it, how can we say?

There are something like 10 security features on a passport, that most people would not even notice. Providing that the security features are all in place, you won't have any problems.

callum9999

I have the old style - is the observation page still on the back of the photo page or separate? I assume it's separate (otherwise you presumably would have mentioned it!), in which case it should be completely fine.

Even if it was a page that immigration were particularly interested in (my observations page is blank, and I've never noticed immigration of any country specifically check it), creases aren't a major deal. My passport is pretty battered (creases in the covers, bent pages, the string binding it together is starting to unravel) but it's never been questioned. As long as it doesn't look like it's been tampered with then it should be fine.