If there’s any Aussies out there who have had to renew your passport abroad you are going to understand this all to well.
Firstly when I moved here 9.5 years ago I wasn’t expecting that I would have to renew my passport here so low and behold when it came up for renewale this year I needed to find out the process rather swiftly.
Probably through naivety I thought it would be a case of filling in a form, having some hideous photos taken and the posting it off and it coming back a few months later.
Oh if only it was that simple.
Yes I had to fill in a form and have the hideous non smiling photos (I actually had two lots done as the first ones were so bad) but rather than posting the form I had to 1) organise an appointment at the high commission in London and 2) attend said appointment.
London for me is a good 2.5 hours away which in Aussue terms is nothing but in British terms this required a long weekend break to the capital. I even considered flying home for 2 weeks to get it renewed as it would have been cheaper.
After realising a quick trip home was a little excessive I booked my appointment to get it renewed.
Going to Australia House was like a little taste of home. Aussie flags everywhere and all the staff have our beautiful accents.
I got there and was told I was late for my appointment which was strange as I was actually 45 min early. Called the help desk and was told my appointment was supposed to be the month before. Which I wasnt according to the paperwork I had so there was no way I was leaving without getting this form in. I really didn’t want to have to go out and tell my hubby that the trip to London was for nothing. So after chatting to the lady on the phone and explaining that something had happened and how far I had travelled she found some time to squeeze me in. She was a legend.
Once that minor issue was sorted I then barely had to wait and within 10 minuets was back out again. My current passport had be cut to cancel it, which felt like she was cutting off my legs.
Then within a week my new passport was here on my doorstep in all its glory and FYI the new passport design is fabulous.
Now my next drama is getting my residence visa moved from my old passport to my new one but I’ll save that for another day.
X
renewing your passport OS is a big hassle, Ive done it a few times, in China!
you can imagine!
then last Xmas when we went home for hols, had passports stolen from thm the plane,
and spent the whole hols getting my daughter and my passports renewed!
I think that was even worse!
I guess you must be Debbie H’s daughter, from the comment on her
‘meeting fellow blogger’ post? Thats what drew me here!
Cheers
Debbie
That could be why when we travel they advise to have at least 6 months on the passport. My sister has to renew hers before we fly in August.
Good on you for not allowing them to send you home and waiting for another appointment.
But a weekend in the smoke even if you had to sell a kidney to fund it has to be Worthwhile!!
Exactly!! We got to see so much while we were there was great playing tourists