ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, September 29th, 2011  – The Governor’s Office would like to advise British nationals resident in the British Virgin Islands that there will be some changes to British passport applications from September 29, 2011.

• The Regional Passport Processing Centre (RPPC) in Washington DC will continue to process your passport, but the passport will now be printed in the United Kingdom (UK).• Applicants will receive two packages via DHL: one containing the supporting documents they submitted, and the second package directly from the UK with the new passport.

• There will be an increase to the courier fee costs to cover the return of supporting documents from Washington DC and for the return of each passport from the UK.

• Total processing times advertised on the website remains unchanged.

• For more information, including application forms, guidance and processing delays, see www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk or call Careline Passport Information Line at +44 208 495 8079 on a user pay basis.
British nationals can renew their passport up to nine months before it expires with unused time added to the new passport. Travel should not be booked until a passport has been issued and received. There is no fast track service.

If you travel frequently to the UK and have a UK residential address, you can also apply to renew your passport by post or at your nearest IPS regional office. Details, including a different application form, can be found at www.direct.gov.uk.

British Nationals should be aware that the Governor’s Office is no longer involved in the UK Passport process and is not able to answer general passport questions or give information on passport applications in progress. If you cannot find the information you need on the website, you can contact Careline Passport Information Line at +44 208 495 8079 on a user pay basis.

The BVI Passport Office may be able to help with a one-page emergency passport for a single journey to the UK. The British High Commission in Barbados may also be able to help with emergency travel documents if other countries need to be transited. Please note that not all countries accept these emergency documents.

This change does not affect applications for British Overseas Territories Citizen passports, which will continue to be processed by the Civil Registry and Passport Office as before.

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