Renewing UK passports in Nicosia. Beware!

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 23:07

Had a weird phone call from some jobsworth at the High Commission today telling me that the photos we provided for our new passports were not acceptable because they had been "Airbrushed"



They were taken at one of the many outlets around Girne, we waited for them and they were printed off in front of us.



The jobsworth said that a lot of folk around the Kyrenia area were being rejected for this reason.



At the moment this only creates hassle but in future when the applications have to go to Madrid people will lose their fees which are currently 144 euros and have to start the process again. Said jobsworth declined the invitation to tell us which camera shop we should use citing commercial reasons.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 23:11

well whats new, they find every way x

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 08:48

We have had 3 passports from High Commission and 1 from UK passport office, all using photos from Yucel (Onurlu Ltd) in Girne. They are in the same street and side as HSBC, walking from HSBC towards town centre the shop is on the left opposite the marine shop.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 09:53

Groucho,



I had my last photos taken there and they were rejected as I wear tinted glasses. I was directed by BHC to a photo shop about 100 yds down the road in Nicosia where my photo was taken WITHOUT glasses, which I wear all the time, and this was accepted.

NCMan



Joined: 19/09/2009
Posts: 670

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 10:26

HI Newscoop

Whish shop did you use. ?

marcosthechef



Joined: 30/11/2009
Posts: 646

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 10:36

I put mine in 2 weeks ago and got a call from a very pleasant lady explaining my photos were wrong, 'too much shoulder', anyway they pointed me to a shop very nearby and got some new ones which were accepted along with a further 17 euros, suffice to say, another nice lady called me this morning to confirm my fathers birth date and to let me know, all is ok and my new passport will be back very soon, in time for my F1 visit in Istanbul, well done BHC

ozankoys


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 905

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 10:38

My photos were rejected because I had some teeth visible, the 2nd ones were OK!

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 10:38

Another 17 euros



What for?

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 10:39

17 Euros for photos?

tiger


Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 245

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 10:45

Does anyone know how much time in advance you can apply to renew a passport before it`s expiry date.

NCMan



Joined: 19/09/2009
Posts: 670

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 10:47

Advance time 9 Months.

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 11:43

17 euros for photos?



Surely not!



An admin charge perhaps?



Hope not.

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 12:13

It will all change for the better when the Conservative Party takes over Government after the General Election.

And yes, I AM a Tory - and proud of it!

Geoff

Famagusta City

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 12:21

That would be the same Tory party that only have a 3% poll lead over the worst bunch of chancers in political history.



The Tories should have committed to a referendum on Europe



They didn't and they blew it.



Back to the 17 euros



What was it for?

Geejay


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 475

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 12:38

newscoop.

You're a bit out of date. The Daily Telegraph poll of polls gives the difference now as 9%. But I totally agree on your comment re the referendum.

The € 17.00 can't have been for photo's. The normal charge is about Tl 10.00 for 8 photo's.

dalartokat


Joined: 14/04/2008
Posts: 734

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 20:00

Newscoop It happened to me over here in UK 3 different retail outlets. Tescos own post office told me to use their photo booth when I joined the queue I got a different woman and she rejected it!!! Told her it was her own colleague who told me to use their booth. I got my money back and went to another place and in the end took off my glasses. Too much hassle with them on. The eyes have to be centre of the glasses which is impossible on mine.

LondonCypriot


Joined: 15/12/2008
Posts: 426

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 20:12

Does anyone know how much time in advance you can apply to renew a passport before it`s expiry date.





It can be anytime but the maximum time they will add on will be one year

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 20:45

Vaughan,

The reason your photos (and others) were rejected was not down to where they were taken but due to the very strict requirements for passports that the government have introduced.

Anyone in doubt should check the following link: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/Applicationinformation/DG_174152