Passport renewals no longer accepted at UK Embassy starting on Sept 16

Starting on September 16, the applications for renewing United Kingdom (UK) passports will no longer be processed through the UK Embassy in the Philippines. British Consul Joanne Finnamore-Crorkin said the move aims to streamline passport services and maintain a high quality of customer service. "On 16 September 2010, we will no longer be accepting British Passport Renewal Applications at the British Embassy. As with other passport renewals across Asia, these will be processed by our Regional Processing Centre in Hong Kong," she said in an article posted on the UK Embassy website. "This will not affect the present four-week turn around time expected. All renewal applications will therefore have to be sent by the applicant directly to Hong Kong. The Embassy will be unable to process renewal applications or send them on to Hong Kong," she added. Emergency Travel Document She said the British government now issues an emergency travel document (ETD) to any British national who needs to travel urgently. “We are pleased to announce that this week we have issued our first emergency travel document for UK citizens. This travel document makes it easier for British Nationals who suddenly find themselves with an immediate need to travel and find out their passport has been lost, damaged, unavailable or full," said Finnamore-Crorkin. "The document is valid for a specific journey within a set period of time. British Nationals here in the Philippines are advised to apply for a full passport at the Regional Processing Centre in Hong Kong at the same time," she added. LOCATE service Finnamore-Crorkin also called on British Nationals to register using the embassy’s LOCATE service. “If we can find you, we can help you. Once you’re registered with us, we will ensure that you are kept up to date with all the information received by the Embassy on issues that are relevant to the British community. It takes only a few minutes to register, and doing so means that we can send you valuable information at the touch of a button," she explained. "If there’s a typhoon where you are, British Embassy staff would be able to pinpoint your location and provide you with assistance. If there’s a security problem in your area, Embassy staff can help with possible evacuation. All you need to do is sign up," she added. Bank Certificate Verification System Meanwhile, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) launched the Bank Certificate Verification System (BCVS) to verify the authenticity of bank certificates and fight against fraud associated with visa applications. Under the system, visa applicants who request bank certificates to support their visa applications are advised to use the official request form available on the VFS Philippines website. The bank will then confirm the information on the BCVS, allowing the UK Border Agency staff to verify the certifcates authenticity. This system was developed together with the Bankers Association of the Philippines and Philonline, in agreement with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. BCVS is evidence of the continued efforts of the UK Border Agency and the British Embassy, working with the Philippine authorities, in their The banks currently registered with the BCVS are: Allied Bank, BDO, BPI, Chinabank, Landbank, Maybank, PNB, Phil.Veterans, RCBC, PBCom and Standard Charter, UnionBank, Security Bank Corporation. –VVP, GMANews.TV