passport applicaton and documents returned, no new passport??

Ok, last week I sent off a passport application along with my marriage certificate (to show my name change) my old passport, a passport photo, and a credit card payment form to pay the fee, to the Embassy in London. My passport doesn't expire for two more years, but I wanted to renew it now so that I could get one in my married name, before I apply for my ILR in a few more months. Today my returned envelope came back to me, with all those documents, but no new passport or any explanation of why it was returned to me without having been processed (they never took payment either) so now I'm at a loss. I need my new passport, but how do I know why they sent it back to me, so that I can correct whatever the problem is and re-send my application? I read everything on the Embassy's website about passport applicatons by mail before I posted it, and I don't think I missed anything. I just wish they had made a note of why it was being returned. Does anyone have any advice about what to do next?

The US Embassy London website does say the following:

Passport Renewal by Mail

You must renew your passport by mail if you meet all of the following requirements:

Your most recent U.S Passport (http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/passports/renindex.html):

-    Is undamaged and can be submitted with your application;
-    Was issued within the last 15 years;
-    Was issued with 10 year validity;and
-    Was issued in your current name or you have changed your name and can submit legal documentation (e.g. marriage certificate, Change of Name Deed) to prove this change.

If you do not meet all these requirements, please follow the instructions here.

Please note that incomplete or incorrectly completed applications will be returned unprocessed.

(red emphasis mine)

So, from that it sounds like they returned it unprocessed because it was either an incomplete application or incorrectly completed.

Did you complete and include the required application form, DS-82, and abide by the specific requirements for filling it out and printing it?

You didn't mention above whether you included it or not.

I did use that form, and supplied all of the documents needed (marriage certificate, previous passport, and credit card payment form) The only things I didn't write on the app were an emergency contact (don't have one besides my husband, and his contact info. is the same as mine anyways) and upcoming travel plans, because I don't have any.

I did just discover that the passport photo I supplied doesn't quite measure up to the 2x2 size that is required. Which confuses me, because I used one of those photo booths that say they give passport-standard-size photos... but if those photos aren't regulation-standard, than where can I get a passport photo taken?

But a UK passport photo is not the same size as a US passport photo?

You need to go to a shop that does custom sized passport photos. I know Snappy Snaps does them for sure, but probably anywhere that has a person taking the photos they can adjust to fit the US requirements.

To get US & UK passport photos in the other country, I use http://www.idphoto4you.com/

I take a passport-type photo of myself (or have someone do it) and upload it to this site.  They have the adjustment markings for the head and put the photo to the right size (loads of choices of countries besides US and UK).  After adjusting it, it puts several of the adjusted photos into a 4x6 size photo (or another size if you choose).  I save it as a photo, put it on a flash drive and get it printed.    Take them home and cut them and they're all set.   

I've used those for passport photos for visas and had no problem.    It's a lot cheaper than other places- the only cost is the 4x6 photo they're printed as.    A bit more time-consuming, though.    But I don't mind that since I know they're the right size, to the right specifications and (most importantly) I know they are a decent photo of me.   

Thanks everyone, I'll have to have a look online and see if there's anywhere around here where I can get U.S.-standard passport photos taken. I thought the U.K.-standard would be the same size, but when I measured the one I sent to them, it was around 1.75x 1.75 (including the border around the photo) instead of 2x2. I can't think of anything else on my form that would've caused my application to be returned, although I still think it would've been helpful if they had made a note as to the reason, so that I didn't have to guess 

Thanks everyone, I'll have to have a look online and see if there's anywhere around here where I can get U.S.-standard passport photos taken. I thought the U.K.-standard would be the same size, but when I measured the one I sent to them, it was around 1.75x 1.75 (including the border around the photo) instead of 2x2. I can't think of anything else on my form that would've caused my application to be returned, although I still think it would've been helpful if they had made a note as to the reason, so that I didn't have to guess 

Unfortunately, the US Embassy is very strict about passport photo sizes - they must be 2x2 inches in size (not including the border), while UK passport photos are 45 x 35 mm (1.78 x 1.38 inches) (also not including the border).

I have applied for 4 US visas and I had to get special 2x2 inch photos done each time. I usually go to Snappy Snaps, but sometimes they are expensive - I usually have to pay between £8 and £14 for either 2 or 4 photos.

It's annoying because UKBA will accept either UK or US passport photos, but the US Embassy will only accept 2x2 inch size.

Those photo booths that seem to be everywhere offer an option to print out US sized photos.

Those photo booths that seem to be everywhere offer an option to print out US sized photos.

That's good to know! Thanks!

The last time I needed US-size photos to renew my US passport, I just went to a local camera shop. They knew exactly what I needed and only charged me a fiver. But I do like the idea of being able to do it in a booth! More convenient!

Max Spielmann photo shops do US sized, don't know how much they charge

http://www.maxspielmann.co.uk/id-passport-visa

those 'booth photos' are subject to too much error IMHO. Go to a shop; cheap enough, and they know how you should sit, how much hair is too much if in your face, ad all the other little things that can cause a photo to be rejected.

Unfortunately, the Snappy Snaps in Leeds just closed recently, and there's not another one in Yorkshire it seems. But I did discover that Timpsons does passport photos, both the normal size for British passports and the larger size that's standard for American passports. And lucky for me, there seems to be a Timpsons everywhere that I go shopping