Still no passport... starting to freak out

I applied for my British passport at the beginning of March initially.  I am a US citizen still living in the US so I sent everything to the British Consulate in Washington DC as instructed.  At the end of March, I received all my documents back and a note stating they needed further information... they needed my marriage certificate as proof of my name change.  So I sent everything back via Express mail with tracking and all that.  Everything was delivered in Washington as of the beginning of April.  My credit card was charged the full passport/shipping fee of $185 back on April 12th.  But as of today (April 24th) I still have not received anything back in the mail.  According to the britainusa.com website:

London is experiencing technical difficulties with the passport issuing system and until further notice we cannot guarantee our 10 day delivery times for issuing passports. We are looking at applications with travel dates and these will be prioritised as soon as the system is restored.

But I guess I'm still freaking out a little because of the fact that my credit card was charged 12 days ago and I have heard nothing.  Should I be freaking out or is this normal?  Do they usually process the payment way before the passport is printed and shipped?  I wish there was an easy way to enquire of my application status but apparently according to the website, all enquiries are handled by a 3rd party e-care and fullfillment center and it costs $2.10 per minute to call in.  How long do you think I should wait before calling to find out what is going on?  I'm leaving for the UK at the beginning of July but moving out of my current address a few weeks before that.

Any reassuring words would be appreciated... or perhaps anyone who  knows more than I do about the way the British Consulate works  and how they issue passports?  I thought the consulate in DC processed all US applications so I'm a little confused why a processing problem in London would hold things up.

Thank you.

Even if you where this side and sent it off you would wait anywhere between 2 and 6 weeks if not longer dependent on your situation. My friends bf got his back in 2 weeks he is a UKC so possibly quicker for us.

Good luck

It is completely different in this situation.

I am assuing it is actualyl citizenship you are applying for, not merely a passport?


Victoria

No, just applying for a plain ol regular British passport.  Perhaps I should backup and give some background... I was born in the US to British-born parents.  I have a British birth certificate in addition to my US one (my mom registered my birth with the British consulate here in the US).  It is my understanding that technically I'm already a British subject?  So basically once I have my passport I will be a dual national.  Unless I'm way off base.  Anyway... I'm not sure what you mean by applying for citizenship... all I did was apply for the standard British passport.  Is there something else I should have applied for as well?  Confused lol.

And sonya, thank you... that does make me feel a bit better.  Guess I just have to be patient.  So I guess it's normal to have the credit card charged first and then have to wait a few weeks after that?

As you said you were a US citizen it sounded as though you were applying to register as British, which is a first step to make before making the passport application.  Even for a passport application, there is certainly no need to panic.

Victoria

Ah ok, sorry for the confusion.  Thanks.

I wouldn't worry just yet if I were you. I still live in the United States and got my British passport last year through the Embassy in Washington, DC. They charged my credit card shortly before Christmas, but I didn't receive the actual passport till about 3 or so weeks after that. Knowing red tape and delays, I'd say wait another week or two before giving them a call or writing a letter.

Thanks so much liberty, that really makes me feel better