UK Passport Renewal - Anyone smell a rat?

I'm in the process of applying for another passport due to my current one being full of visas and having no pages left.

Checking on the website I notice the cost for the standard 32 page Biometric one is £91...Sharp intake of breath, but we all knew that anyway!
But what riles me is a small footnote saying that "48page biometric passports are not yet available".....

So I will need to apply for the 32page Biometric one (assuming i want to use it to go the US), and then get hit with another renewal charge sooner than I should have been becuase I couldn't get a 48 pager.
More rip off Britian!!!! I mean, how much different can the production process be for a 32 or a 48 pager. Why is one available but not the other?

How typically British! And I suspect I'll be doing the same as you soon too1

[mcmbenjamin]

In the USA we can have visa pages added. Maybe you could have the visa pages addes at a later point.

We used to be able to get Visa pages added... but no more... Where would be the profit in allowing that?

[fozzyo]

Assuming most of your travel is business can't you claim your passport costs as expenses from your company?

[HighFlyer]

It annoyed me that a renewal was the same price as a brand new passport. (I presume it still is?) How stupid. Surely there is a lot less work for a renewal than a new application?

I need a new passport soon (even sooner what with countries using whole pages for a small stamp) and i simply baulk at the cost.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by PVGSLF


So I will need to apply for the 32page Biometric one (assuming i want to use it to go the US), and then get hit with another renewal charge sooner than I should have been becuase I couldn't get a 48 pager.
More rip off Britian!!!! I mean, how much different can the production process be for a 32 or a 48 pager. Why is one available but not the other?

I've just renewed mine and paid £66 and received a Biometric one. I guess you could take a chance and hope you get one of these ?

[Decker]

Originally posted by fozzyo
Assuming most of your travel is business can't you claim your passport costs as expenses from your company?

I'd be surprised - the Revenue normally have a "wholly and exclusive" clause on BIKs...

Originally posted by Decker

Originally posted by fozzyo
Assuming most of your travel is business can't you claim your passport costs as expenses from your company?

I'd be surprised - the Revenue normally have a "wholly and exclusive" clause on BIKs...

Yes fozzyo, my company does pay for passports, but that doesn't make it any less a rip off.

Interesting and valid point Decker, but one that is probably such a grey area and for the sake of @ ten pounds per year for ten years benefit is probably not worth the revenue pursuing.
My job is currently exlusively overseas mostly to countries requiring visas, therefore I need pages in my passport to be able to carry out my job... The fact that most of the pages are used with Visas for personal visits to China is neither here nor there!

Something that needs to be clarified here is that the cost quoted by PVGSLF is for the 1 week Fast Track service, see here for details.

The usual cost is £66 and you cannot choose Biometric or not - it is still a transitional period.

ah yes, sorry, I forgot to clarify, I am applying at the embassy in Korea where the only options available seem to be the fast track service, biometric and no 48pagers.

Originally posted by PVGSLF
I'm in the process of applying for another passport due to my current one being full of visas and having no pages left.

Checking on the website I notice the cost for the standard 32 page Biometric one is £91...Sharp intake of breath, but we all knew that anyway!
But what riles me is a small footnote saying that "48page biometric passports are not yet available".....

So I will need to apply for the 32page Biometric one (assuming i want to use it to go the US), and then get hit with another renewal charge sooner than I should have been becuase I couldn't get a 48 pager.
More rip off Britian!!!! I mean, how much different can the production process be for a 32 or a 48 pager. Why is one available but not the other?

I thought all passports issued after 26th October 2006 were to be biometric (which is why I'd held off renewing Dragobaby's for as long as I possibly could)?

Originally posted by DragonLady


I thought all passports issued after 26th October 2006 were to be biometric (which is why I'd held off renewing Dragobaby's for as long as I possibly could)?

That is my belief too. All passports issued now should be biometric.... Except for some unfavomable reason, they can't yet stick 48pages into a biometric passport, so only 32 pagers are available.

Originally posted by PVGSLF
That is my belief too. All passports issued now should be biometric.... Except for some unfavomable reason, they can't yet stick 48pages into a biometric passport, so only 32 pagers are available.

No,not unfavomable (unfathomable?)- it just means they can relieve you of twice as much cash, almost twice as fast,for twice the inconvenience[:(!].

When are we going to have to queue for passport interviews?

My passport expires in six months and I have a few trips to complete so will need to get a new one ASAP?

£66 if we post in??

Ian

Originally posted by DragonLady

Originally posted by PVGSLF
That is my belief too. All passports issued now should be biometric.... Except for some unfavomable reason, they can't yet stick 48pages into a biometric passport, so only 32 pagers are available.

No,not unfavomable (unfathomable?)- it just means they can relieve you of twice as much cash, almost twice as fast,for twice the inconvenience[:(!].

I can confirm you don't need to P11D passports or visa costs. It's a specific Revenue allowance where there is 'significant' business travel outside the EU.