HELP. Death in family, getting son's US passport Weds., changing flight date.

 

My grandfather just died, unexpectedly. All of the details aside...

We have our appointment to get my son's US passport on Wednesday (leaving for London tomorrow.)

My big brother wants to pay for any additional costs associated with changing our flights so I can attend the funeral (my grandmother died while I was pregnant and I was unable to, but since I already have tickets booked for the States, it makes it easier to this time in a way), which will be the start of July. We'd be keeping my husband's tickets as they are (September 13th leaving) but change me and my sons to likely June 28th!

So, that is just over three weeks away.

I know that the US Embassy asked before making my appointment if I was planning to travel within two weeks (at the time I wasn't so obviously didn't check that.)

But now it is possible I will be traveling within three weeks from the date of the US embassy appointment.
What do I do? Do I just change the date on the application form for intended date of travel and explain to them at the appointment what has gone on? Will there be an increased fee to receive his passport?? Anyone know? Or anyone know a number I can call?!

Everything is happening so quick and being the appointment is only on Wednesday, I need to figure this out quickly.

I've spoken to the airline, and obviously I can change me and my son's ticket and keep my husband's the same (we're going to be apart for over two months, which will be so hard on all of this, but at the same time, this is really important to me), but in terms of getting my son's passport in time?

Thanks for reading my freak-out...

I'm sorry.   

The embassy's website says you can call the passport unit.  They're definitely closed for the day now, but you could call tomorrow morning.  Passport Unit telephone staff hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 12:30pm.  The number is  0207-499-9000 and follow the prompts.

You can email them as well, but since you're leaving for London tomorrow, you probably wouldn't get a response before departing.

I found all of this here:   http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/passports/contact.html

Good luck.
 

My condolences to you & your family.

My daughter's first US Passport arrived exactly 1 week after our appointment at the Embassy. If your visit is Wednesday then you should get your son's fairly quickly after your Embassy visit... I'd say by the end of next week.

I'm assuming you already have his British Passport?

My condolences to you & your family.

My daughter's first US Passport arrived exactly 1 week after our appointment at the Embassy. If your visit is Wednesday then you should get your son's fairly quickly after your Embassy visit... I'd say by the end of next week.

I'm assuming you already have his British Passport?

No, I do not have his British passport yet.    I was hoping to get away with bringing his British passport for the time being, and maybe phone someone to explain. Any extra expenses, i.e. getting a fast Brit passport, is nothing something I could really afford on such a short notice.

I know it is probably not something I should do, but someone else I know went to the US on her girls US passports but had to travel in a hurry so didn't have their UK passports yet so just brought their birth certificates and she didn't have trouble with it.

I don't know, I figured I could be risking it then... but I just don't know how to get that together at the same time. I can only afford this US passport stuff this month, and if I fly at the latest July 1st... I wouldn't be paid in time enough to sort out his UK passport. I mean, if it is REALLY risky to just do it once, I could try to borrow more money. It's all so stressful.

The only problem is that when you come back your son will be stamped in as a visitor (the hopeful option) and you're going to run into problems in 6 months after that, or the IO will be looking for a visa for him and could potentially refuse entry.

Your husband can do the UK passport application himself whilst he's still in the UK. Just get the passport picture done before you leave and that way he can do it through Check & Send and get it back in about 10 business days (we had our daughters done this way and we had her UK Passport in 2 weeks using standard Check & Send processing). Then he can bring it with him when he travels to the US later in the year.

Good idea. However, now my husband is stressing about the length of time I would be gone and how long it would be before he saw me or the baby. We're talking (and I'm crying) about what is best for both of us emotionally. This is hard. So now he is wondering if we should all just go early and only be there a few weeks.

And then there is the option of me and baby going but him not going all together (because, as he says, when we finally got to be together after two and a half months, he won't want to do fun trips and hang out with family members he's not met yet and would want to do nothing but "get to know" his baby again and be with me.)

So much going on with appointment tomorrow. I am a WRECK.

I have no advice, but I'm very sorry for your loss (((hugs)))

Good idea. However, now my husband is stressing about the length of time I would be gone and how long it would be before he saw me or the baby. We're talking (and I'm crying) about what is best for both of us emotionally. This is hard. So now he is wondering if we should all just go early and only be there a few weeks.

And then there is the option of me and baby going but him not going all together (because, as he says, when we finally got to be together after two and a half months, he won't want to do fun trips and hang out with family members he's not met yet and would want to do nothing but "get to know" his baby again and be with me.)

So much going on with appointment tomorrow. I am a WRECK.

After lots of crying and talking, he's at peace with me going... but really depressed. He is really, really depressed about missing any milestones our son hits while we're apart. I'm depressed about it, too... but I lost my grandmother while I was pregnant with him, and didn't have the chance to get there for her funeral. Now, unexpectedly after anticipating introducing Otis to my grandfather, he's passed away. I haven't been home since moving here (3 1/2 years ago.) There are both pros and cons to this. So hard...

He'll still be joining me in the States at the original date in Sept. So I'll try to get Otis's passport photo for the UK one before I leave.

Thanks for the number; I'll give it a call tomorrow.
I'll also explain at the appointment...

No advice, but I want to offer my condolences. I am so sorry for your loss. ((Hugs))

I'm really sorry for what you are going through. Losing someone you love is hard enough, and when all the complications of living abroad kick in, it must just make it that much harder. Good luck with everything.

I'm so sorry for your loss.  It's hard to say goodbye to family members when you are here.

I agree with the others that you will still need to get a UK passport for DS.  I had a worry recently with my daughter b/c we needed to travel soon and I was worried it wouldn't come in time.  We couldn't afford the fee for the overnight service, but we went one step up from the check and send service and just made an appointment at a passport office and did the application in person.  We were then guaranteed to get our passports back in the week.  It was only about £20 extra pounds and cost under £100 for a child's first passport.

I know that's tough if you don't have the money at all for a passport.  The guy from the passport office I spoke to did reassure me though that children's first passports from within the UK usually just take about three weeks though, so you might still get it with a regular app (I'd pay a smidge for the check and send at a post office and get that timeframe moved up a bit). Then worst case scenario DH could ship it out to you in the States or bring it himself.  If you could come up with the ninety something it takes for the prioritized service then you know you have it--and it is an easy application and process.

Best of luck whatever you decide.  I'm sure it all feels overwhelming now, but it will be good for you to be with your family at a time like this.  Good luck and best wishes.

Thanks, guys. Back from London now (Whooo, exhausted... my son had a big poosplosion at the Embassy in the middle of all the passport stuff. Husband had to go into the bathroom, baby carrier covered in poo... er, everything covered in poo... we forgot a change of pants, so had to go to mothercare to pick up something!)

Everything went okay. I explained everything and they all assured me I should have it back in time. The lady I bought the courier packet from put a note on the system for the embassy to call me as soon as they receive my son's passport. So, they were very helpful.

My husband will work on his UK passport while I am in the States and will bring it with him when he comes mid September (God, that is going to be a long, long time apart...  )

Thank you all for the suggestions/help/phone numbers/etcetera.

I'm just now seeing this and wanted to offer my condolences.  I know it's difficult to be far away from your family during this sad time and it will be difficult to be far away from your husband. 

I'm glad the American passport seems to be settled now and I hope the process for the UK passport will go smoothly.

Thank you. We received his US passport by courier yesterday, so are good to go. My husband will work on his UK passport while we're gone and he'll bring it with him to the States in September. Got me and my son's early flight all sorted out and we're leaving July 1st (my grandpa's funeral is the 2nd! They were sold out of all flights... it cost us nearly £900 to be able to push our flights, minus my husband's, earlier! They really have nothing in place for this sort of thing. Ugh.)

My husband's dad has passed away now... June 13th.      Been a difficult month all around. He's just glad this has all happened while we're still here so we've been able to help comfort him and his mum. And we'll be attending the funeral. Gosh, and then a week and a half later, it's my grandfather's funeral in the States. This month has been TOO MUCH.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions again... we've managed to get everything sorted out now.

(((((((hugs))))))))))) to you and your family