V-Flyer

Just about to renew my passport for the first time.

Do they send you back your old passport? I would like to keep all the old stamps as a souvenier of my travels.

Yup, they send it back seperately with the corner of the cover clipped off.

Pix

Thanks

Just renewed my passport. I would reccomend the Post offices "Check and send" system.
Went in last Tuesday, my passport was back by Saturday. The old passport came back on the Friday (they are sent seperate)

Another alternative is the online application. My sister has just used this and her new passport came back quickly (I think between a week and two weeks, the old one arriving back first).

You fill in your details online, they then post you a pre-completed form and envelope. You return the fee, your photos and your old passport, and sit back and wait.

Except they have now updated the system, so you pay online at the time you fill in the form using a credit/debit card. Saves having to write a cheque.

Comes down to personal preference at the end of the day - many people prefer the Post Office to have a look over the form before sending it, but you do pay for this of course.

I did it online and paid online.

Posting the application and my pictures to them tomorrow by Special Delivery (don't trust Royal Mail).

Thanks

I don't trust Royal Mail either. Anything even vaguely important, and I'll send it by Recorded so i can check online that it's been received and if necessary, request a copy of the signature.

In my work, there is zero trust for the Royal Mail. Virtually all firms and goverment departments use the DX system and that always gets the documents there next working day.

In fact, moving back on-topic, the Passport Service should be on the DX system too as an agency of the Home Office, but I can't see the details anywhere...

Had to reply with an update.

Sent passport by Special Delivery on Tuesday afternoon. New passport arrived today! [:0]

How quick is that!!!