I was told that I needed to get my Passport changed within three months from having my stateside Social Security updated and that once my Passport was updated I could then update my BRP card. We did my first FLR(M) in Sept 2014, so I believe I have to renew that start of next year?
Have you already changed your name on your SS card?
If not, it would make things much easier for you, because then you won't need to change your name on your US passport yet, which also means you won't need to change your name on your BRP yet either.
If your FLR(M) was issued in September 2014, then it will expire in March 2017... and you cannot apply for the next visa until 28 days before the expiry date... so presumably sometime in February 2017.
If you change your name on your passport now, then you are legally required to change your name on your BRP within 3 months... or you can be fined £1,000 and they may cancel your visa.
However, if you were to wait until November 2016 to change your passport, you would not need to change the BRP because you would be applying for a new FLR(M) within 3 months.
But, this is all dependent on you not having changed your name on your SS card yet.
If you haven't changed your name on the SS card yet:- change name on passport in November/December 2016, takes about 4 weeks, cost $110 by mail
- don't change BRP, cost $ 0
- apply for FLR(M), cost £1,311
- change name on SS card, $0
Total cost =
$110 for the passport renewal by mail
£1,311 FLR(M) visa fee
If you have changed your name on the SS card:- change name on passport now, cost $110 by mail
- change name on BRP card, cost £223 by post, takes 2-3 months (must send off passport and BRP) or £223 + £500 = £723 in person for a same-day decision
- apply for FLR(M), cost £1,311
Total cost =
$110 for the passport renewal
£223 or £723 for the BRP
£1,311 FLR(M) visa fee
As for the doing the renewal at the embassy, I just assumed it would be a bit safer than posting all my documents and we travel in September; I wasn't sure how long it would take to get everything back by post.
The entire process just confuses me.
I wasn't aware you could attend an in-person appointment unless you weren't eligible to apply by mail (which would only be if you are under 16 or your passport was issued more than 15 years ago).
The US Embassy FAQs state that you should not submit your application in person unless you are required to, because appointments are limited and reserved for those won't can't mail it:
Do I have to submit my passport application by courier?
If you are eligible to apply for the passport renewal by courier, you should use this service. Appointments are limited and are reserved for those who are required to apply in person. Please see the instructions for your specific passport service for more information.
Also, the appointment is just to submit the documents in person instead of by courier - the passport is not processed or issued in London and you won't get it that day... it has to be mailed to the US by the embassy for processing, which can take up to 4 weeks
- In order to apply by mail, you mail the passport application to the US Embassy in London using a registered courier (DX), they mail it to the US for you, then they receive it back from the US and mail it back to you by registered courier (DX). It costs $110 and takes about 4 weeks.
- If you apply in person, you submit the documents in person, then they mail it to the US for you, then they receive it back from the US and mail it back to you. It costs $135 and takes about 4 weeks.
If it were me, I would just apply by mail - it still takes the same amount of time to be processed and it seems much easier than having to attend an appointment in London first... because you'll have to pay to travel to London, and possibly stay overnight, plus pay extra to attend the appointment, plus you could end up sitting in the embassy for hours waiting to be called up... and it will still be 4 weeks before you get your passport.
