How Long Till Passport returned?

This topic was really scary for me to read because I eventually want to get my citizenship after the appropriate amount of time.  WHAT DO THEY EXPECT YOU TO DO WITHOUT YOUR PASSPORT?  Gosh,  I suppose you could travel in the EU, but like it was already said what about family emergencies?!  It's like putting a ball and chain on you for six or more months.  That length of time seems a little rediculous to me... I don't understand the reasoning behind this?  Does anyone else?   
***modified --->OK, duh, this was already answered, I'm a dork... so a certified copy then?  I'll definitely be doing that!!!

A certified copy will be soooooo expensive. They want each page of the passport certified, a general passport has about 26 pages. Some solicitors charge anywhere from £10-£20 PER page so if my math is correct , you are looking at anywhere between £260-£520 to certify your passport

A certified copy will be soooooo expensive. They want each page of the passport certified, a general passport has about 26 pages. Some solicitors charge anywhere from £10-£20 PER page so if my math is correct , you are looking at anywhere between £260-£520 to certify your passport

You can't be serious,... that much PER PAGE?  That's even more insane than sending away my passport for 6 months!  I'm going to have to find me a solicitor buddy   Maybe someone who knows a solicitor would do it for ceaper, I don't understand why it's so much to get it certified.  In the US it barely costs anything to have a guaranteed signiture, etc.  Do solicitors just charge that much because they can or does it take them tons of time to actually do it?  BLAH  frusterating! 

You can't be serious,... that much PER PAGE?  That's even more insane than sending away my passport for 6 months!  I'm going to have to find me a solicitor buddy   Maybe someone who knows a solicitor would do it for ceaper, I don't understand why it's so much to get it certified.  In the US it barely costs anything to have a guaranteed signiture, etc.  Do solicitors just charge that much because they can or does it take them tons of time to actually do it?  BLAH  frusterating! 

Solicitors don't have a monopoly.  You can also use Police Officers or MP's, and a few more unlikey alternatives, like a Vicar 

Solicitors don't have a monopoly.  You can also use Police Officers or MP's, and a few more unlikey alternatives, like a Vicar 

Good to know... thanks garry!

Or you could work for solicitors and get it done for free! 

Hiya All..
I sent my application in last month. Sept.. and im going to be traveling back to the US over xmas.. I am leaving Edinburgh on the 15th of Dec.. How long before that should i request my passport back?I don't want to panic last minute.. I also don't want to hold up my application.
Thanks guys.
Kaylesh

I still don't understand why it takes so long to 'process' this?  Am I missing something?

would vicars, mp's etc charge for this service?

I have never known an MP or a vicar do this - to be honest, would an MP have time? 

If you want a solicitor to do it, the costs vary.  When I used to work in a high street solicitors, we'd usually do them for about £30, so shop around.


Victoria

I still don't understand why it takes so long to 'process' this?  Am I missing something?

Sheer amount of numbers and backlog I expect.  And there are likely a *lot* of checks they have to do with the citizenship applications.  They have to be doubly careful about ensuring citizenship applications are legitimate.  Makes sense to me that they would take some time, and I'm sure there is a rather large back log.

In my case, I think it took so long because the application sat for a few months on the mailroom floor. At least that's my explanation for why I never even received an aknowledgment previous to trying to get my passport returned. In retrospect I should have been more proactive.

I can't imagine paying more than £25-30 to get a certified copy made; IMO well worth it.

If I needed my passport back by mid December, I would start in early November and tell them that I was flying at the end of the month. Maybe it's better now, but it was nearly impossible for me to get through on the phone and they ignored emails.

I still don't understand why it takes so long to 'process' this?  Am I missing something?

Since when have they ever needed a 'reason'?!     

I have never known an MP or a vicar do this - to be honest, would an MP have time? 

If you want a solicitor to do it, the costs vary.  When I used to work in a high street solicitors, we'd usually do them for about £30, so shop around.

Victoria

Victoria,  You mean you didn't charge £30 PER PAGE?!  WHEW that's much better... and paying £30 for the whole thing would defintely be worth it.  Thanks for the info

Is a Vicar in the UK like the same thing as a Pastor?  In my church we have a Vicar that's one rank underneath the head pastor.  I'm not understanding the whole Vicar thing, can anyone explain?