US passport renewal - timing and name change

I need to renew my US passport and I will also be changing my name, which means within 3 months I need to change my ILR biometric residence card as well. I have a trip first week of May and then another in late June. Both family events so can't miss either. So I am trying to time my passport renewal very carefully to make sure I don't get dinged by UKBA for not changing my BRP within 3 months of when my new US passport is valid.

So questions for the board:

1) The Embassy in London says 4 weeks for passport renewal. Is that a fairly accurate timing? I am nervous about pushing it, but it would be ideal for me to wait until mid-March and then get the new passport in mid-April. However if it was in any way delayed I'd be in big trouble for the early May trip.

2) How far apart were the dates of your new passports validity, and the date that you received it? For example, if I get the new passport back on April 1, will the passport actually have been valid since March 20?

3) Has anyone changed their name in the UK by deed poll? I wonder, if I make a deed poll application in May, then I could send that to UKBA as proof of name change, meaning that the 3 month window would be from the date of the deed poll rather than from the date of the renewed US passport.

OK so I've just seen on this website: https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll

"You’ll need a deed poll if you get married or enter into a civil partnership and want to double-barrel your surname."

That is exactly what I plan to do.

So does that mean, my name change is not valid in the UK until I do the deed poll, even if my US passport says otherwise?

Hmm....  wondering if you would be better off making an appointment while in the US for same-day passport renewal.  I know we've had members be successful doing that before (as they have their return ticket to prove imminent international travel).

My passport took 4 weeks and a day for renewal, but that was a year ago.  My passport was issued about a week after I sent it and took nearly 3 weeks to make it's way back to me (so yes, would have already been valid for about 3 weeks by the time I received it).

I've heard that you need to be a citizen to change your name via deed poll but do not know if that is 100% accurate.

And no, you don't need a deed poll to change your name.  I used my US marriage certificate with no issues.

Thanks KFDancer.

I wasn't aware there is same day service for passport renewals in the US. On the State Dept website all I can see is a 2 week expedited service, or something shorter if you need to travel in an emergency. Are you sure about this service being available for anyone, and do you know if it is available at all of the regional offices? I will not be in any large city like NY/Boston/LA on the trip.

My husband just got his citizenship a week ago so he just applied for a US passport. The state department doesn't offer same day to the general public, BUT there are several outside contractors that can get you a 24-48hr turn around for your passport for about $200. Here's one site I just found googling.

http://www.visahq.com/passport.php

We were going to use one, but figured we could wait 2-3 while I wait on my visa application so I can't vouch for any, but there are several out there. They even had a flier for one in his citizenship ceremony packet.

Thanks KFDancer.

I wasn't aware there is same day service for passport renewals in the US. On the State Dept website all I can see is a 2 week expedited service, or something shorter if you need to travel in an emergency. Are you sure about this service being available for anyone, and do you know if it is available at all of the regional offices? I will not be in any large city like NY/Boston/LA on the trip.

Someone on the site did this about 6 months ago.  There was a big debate on here one whether she would be allowed to use the service as she lives in the UK and it wasn't "emergency travel".  But she was successful and had no issues at the passport office... she just had a hard time here!   

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/where-to-apply/agencies.html

I thought it was worth throwing out there as an option.  I think it's a valid option... but you would be best to call the office you would be applying with (if there is one near you) to see if it's worth your time.  They may feel you don't fit the criteria to apply in person.

I think it's a valid option... but you would be best to call the office you would be applying with (if there is one near you) to see if it's worth your time.  They may feel you don't fit the criteria to apply in person.

The thing is, if I contact them in advance, by definition it means I don't have an emergency! I've actually gotten an emergency passport before, it was a case where I was stopped from boarding a plane because the country I wanted to travel to required a certain number of months left on my passport's validity to enter. I got an emergency passport on the same day but I had to show my boarding pass etc to prove I was supposed to have travelled that day. And it was only valid for 6 months.

Of the two places I am going, only one has a passport office anywhere nearby (New Orleans) and that's the shorter part of the trip. Additionally that's the vacation part rather than the family piece, so that would mean writing off one day to sit in the passport office, if they will even consider me.

I think my best bet is to try and time my passport renewal application. The budget Obama signed last month funds the federal government until September. So unlikely to be a shutdown in the new few months.

I am going to look into a deed poll as well, not only to try and stretch the 3 month period but also because I'd rather send a deed poll to DVLA etc (have to change driving license and vehicle registration) than my marriage certificate. I only have one copy and it was a mission to get it from the state we got married in.