Job Discussion Forums

bc2rlh · Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 17 Location: UK

Hiya

I was just wondering that if you live away for years and in that time you need to renew your passport what is the easiest way to go about this? Do you just have to go to the nearest home Embassy?

Thanks.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

yes
basil

zaneth · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:08 am Post subject:

I can go to the Moscow embassy and renew my passport. Fill out a form and take some pictures with me and they can even tell you what the new passport number will be before the new one comes. Oh, and pay some money. A lot, by local standards, but hey, it's kind of important.

The problem for me comes in that the Russian government doesn't seem to recognize a change of passport. All those little bits of paper in various government offices with your passport number on them suddenly have an anomaly. If I get a new passport my visa becomes invalid. I think I have to wait until after I get my new passport to apply for the long awaited residence permit, as well. I don't even want to know what happens to my marriage certificate. I'm sure there will be trouble some day when some beauracrat finds non-matching numbers.

Here's the biggest problem. Once I order a new passport my old one has an expiration date. And I will need a new visa based on my new passport. This process takes time. Longer than the shelf life of my old passport. And to even start the process you need a copy of your new passport. So as near as I can figure, a new passport will mean an lengthy stay outside of Russia waiting for the new invitation and getting the new visa (which has to be done outside of the country).

There may be some loophole. Or they may change the law tomorrow. If this all sounds counterintuitive, well, it's Russia, after all. I could be wrong of course. I'd love to be proved wrong, as this headache is breathing down my neck.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

As I live close to Mexico City, I just buzzed over to the US Embassy--where they took my photo, took my photo and tried to give me some bs about next week pick-up. I told them I would pass by for it the next morning at 11. Somehow the job that was going to take them a week to do--paste my photo in and type a few words in the computer--took them very little time, after all.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Every country is different and has their own set of hoops to jump through. If you think renewing a passport is difficult, try to apply for a passport overseas for the first time. I am applying for a Cdn passport for my son who was born last week here in Japan. I was told it takes a year, yes that is right a year, but they will issue a temporary certificate if all your papers are in order before that time.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Gordon, does being born in Japan give your son automatic citizenship there?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

A lot depends on the country. UK embassies are normally quite good for this (if only it were true for everything else!) and in Saudi they are first class!