icodeecono/US Embassy London Passport Renewal Experience

## US Embassy London Passport Renewal Experience
US Embassy London Passport Renewal Experience

TL;DR

Get an early appointment, park at St George Wharf Car Park (SW8 2LZ), be organized.

Hello, I wanted to detail my trip to London for a passport renewal for my 4 kids in hopes that it will be helpful to others…  Our appointments were at 8AM on the day.  This is earlier than I would have liked, but really worked out well in the end. We woke up very early to drive to London, which worked out well because the trains were tricky and overall it was cheaper.  We parked at St. George Wharf Car Park (10 St George Wharf, London SW8 2LZ).  It’s open 24 hours.  The shutter at the front makes it look like the parking is closed, but when you take a ticket the shutter goes up automatically.  You can exit next to the entrance gate via a steel door.  To re-enter you’ll need the code printed on the parking ticket, so make sure you take it with you.

We ate a quick bite at Pret a Manger at the other end of St George Wharf.  It was out of the way, but welcome for my teenage sons.  Then we walked back over to the US embassy at about 7:15.

You’ll want to cross over to the other side of the road when walking to the embassy until you see the sign directing you up the path.  You’ll likely first encounter a security building, this is not for passports or visas, so you’ll need to keep walking to the far security building.

At the far security building there will be a couple of lines.  Make sure you are in the line for US citizen services and NOT the one for Visas (the first long link you’ll see).  They started to let us in at about 7:30, so it was worth being early.

We had to show ID for all the kids, my wife and myself.  They also checked our phones and made us open an app.  Then we went through security, which was pretty tight and they didn't allow anything that you couldnt take into an airport.

Once we walked inside and kept to the left to go to the elevators up to the 2nd floor, then we went to the window as instructed to check in (to the right of the elevators).  We were given a number (in our case P2), then we were immediately seen by an agent who received all the applications for the family in one go.  I was very organized, with each application and all the supporting documents, prepaid envelopes etc. in separate organizers  (see the US embassy website for info), so it went pretty smoothly.

Next we waited a few minutes to pay.  The payment widow is the last window at the complete other end of the floor.  I paid with my US bank account in US dollars via debit card.  Keep the receipts, they’ll need it in the next stage.

After that we waited 5 minutes near the bank of windows to the right of the payment windows.  Our number was called up to the window. There they checked the identity of everybody and asked my youngest son who my wife and I were (I guess to make sure we didn’t steal him). Then we had to swear and sign the application forms.  And that was it.  Passports will be delivered via the pre-paid envelopes in 2-3 weeks.

We were out of there by about 8:15, so the whole thing only took a half hour or so.  We only had to pay for about 2 hours of parking, so it was pretty cheap.  Also, the car park is just outside the congestion zone, but INSIDE the low emission zone, so you’ll have to pay that charge online. We were back home by 10 AM.  I’m glad we had an early appointment, as I think it made a big difference in how quickly we got through the system compared to the last time we renewed them.

Hope this write up helps!
	US Embassy London Passport Renewal Experience

	TL;DR

	Get an early appointment, park at St George Wharf Car Park (SW8 2LZ), be organized.

	Hello, I wanted to detail my trip to London for a passport renewal for my 4 kids in hopes that it will be helpful to others… Our appointments were at 8AM on the day. This is earlier than I would have liked, but really worked out well in the end. We woke up very early to drive to London, which worked out well because the trains were tricky and overall it was cheaper. We parked at St. George Wharf Car Park (10 St George Wharf, London SW8 2LZ). It’s open 24 hours. The shutter at the front makes it look like the parking is closed, but when you take a ticket the shutter goes up automatically. You can exit next to the entrance gate via a steel door. To re-enter you’ll need the code printed on the parking ticket, so make sure you take it with you.

	We ate a quick bite at Pret a Manger at the other end of St George Wharf. It was out of the way, but welcome for my teenage sons. Then we walked back over to the US embassy at about 7:15.

	You’ll want to cross over to the other side of the road when walking to the embassy until you see the sign directing you up the path. You’ll likely first encounter a security building, this is not for passports or visas, so you’ll need to keep walking to the far security building.

	At the far security building there will be a couple of lines. Make sure you are in the line for US citizen services and NOT the one for Visas (the first long link you’ll see). They started to let us in at about 7:30, so it was worth being early.

	We had to show ID for all the kids, my wife and myself. They also checked our phones and made us open an app. Then we went through security, which was pretty tight and they didn't allow anything that you couldnt take into an airport.

	Once we walked inside and kept to the left to go to the elevators up to the 2nd floor, then we went to the window as instructed to check in (to the right of the elevators). We were given a number (in our case P2), then we were immediately seen by an agent who received all the applications for the family in one go. I was very organized, with each application and all the supporting documents, prepaid envelopes etc. in separate organizers (see the US embassy website for info), so it went pretty smoothly.

	Next we waited a few minutes to pay. The payment widow is the last window at the complete other end of the floor. I paid with my US bank account in US dollars via debit card. Keep the receipts, they’ll need it in the next stage.

	After that we waited 5 minutes near the bank of windows to the right of the payment windows. Our number was called up to the window. There they checked the identity of everybody and asked my youngest son who my wife and I were (I guess to make sure we didn’t steal him). Then we had to swear and sign the application forms. And that was it. Passports will be delivered via the pre-paid envelopes in 2-3 weeks.

	We were out of there by about 8:15, so the whole thing only took a half hour or so. We only had to pay for about 2 hours of parking, so it was pretty cheap. Also, the car park is just outside the congestion zone, but INSIDE the low emission zone, so you’ll have to pay that charge online. We were back home by 10 AM. I’m glad we had an early appointment, as I think it made a big difference in how quickly we got through the system compared to the last time we renewed them.

	Hope this write up helps!