Free to travel

My new UK Passport arrived in the post yesterday, and today, my soon to expire old passport, was also delivered by Royal Mail. The latter was just a week after returning the document, whilst the actual application took just 9 days from filling out the online application, attaching the electronic photos and paying the fee, prior to approval. Three days later, my shiny new passport arrived in the post, as advised via email, from HM Passport Office.

I have to say I was really impressed with both the speed of the service, plus the ease of the renewal process itself. I remember talking to some friends about this process, back in the late summer whilst on a CAMRA – organised day out in Broadstairs. They said how easy and straightforward the process was, and I am delighted to discover they were right, despite my reservations that the run up to Christmas might not be the best time for dealing with renewal applications.

 So, no more hunting around for a “person of character” – doctor, lawyer, priest etc to verify my photo, and no more struggling to position the photo onto my application (Cunard & DVLA please take note). And for anyone looking to do the same, then nip along to your nearest branch of Snappy Snaps, and they’ll take care of the photographic process for you. Not only will they take a photo with the right posture, they will frame in for you, cut the sheet into four, and then email a unique, time-bound code which when inputted onto your electronic n form, will upload the photo directly onto your application. Easy, peasy, as the saying goes!

So now, I am the proud holder of a new UK Passport, and whilst it does have the blue cover that Johnson and the rest of the Brexiteer loons were getting all het up about, the colour used is such a dark shade of navy blue, that to all intents and purposes, it might as well be black! Finally, full marks to HM Passport Office who, after many years of criticism, have finally got their act together, and come up with a system that works, as well as being user friendly. I know it goes against established wisdom, but sometimes, government departments, can get things right!!